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Dear Friends Welcome to my first attempt at producing a more professional bi-annual newsletter to relay details from the previous year, and let you know what is happening in the following seasons. Firstly many thanks to everyone involved with what has been a simply incredible 18 months as Oliva Rama Tours goes from strength to strength. As I always say I am very fortunate to be doing something I love and without your continued support I wouldn't be in this situation.
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2008 September October
November 2009 January
February
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April May
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News & Events
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Southern Morocco 2008 saw our inaugeral visit to Southern Morocco and many thanks to all who joined Mohamed & I on this very interesting trip. Most of our target species (Bald Ibis, Houbara Bustard, Pharoah Eagle Owl, Levaillant's Woodpecker, Thick billed, Temminck's Horned & Hoopoe Larks, Moussier's Redstart, Black crowned Tchagra, Crimson winged Finch plus much more) were seen, along with finding a good variety of other wildlife despite it being so early in the year. The highlight for most of the party was our visit to the eastern deserts and our stay at the wonderful Auberge Darkoua, an oasis complex set literally in the middle of the Sahara Desert. This is a magically vivid landscape dominated by the magnificent sand dunes of Erb Chebbi (pictured above), punctuated with a couple of freshwater lakes that attract species as they make their way north. As a consequence of such a success and welcome suggestions, I have added an extra day to our next trip to try and give everyone the chance to fully appreciate this haven for migrant birds. Next year's holiday has already had a lot of interest with a few places having been taken. To view a detailed itinerary follow this link - HERE Wolf watching in N/W Spain Another first this year were the two short breaks to the Sierra de Culebra in N/W Spain looking for the rare and elusive Iberian Wolf. Both of these trips were successful in finding and observing these magnificent mammals along with Wild Boar, Red & Roe Deer, Red Fox, Hare and Soprano Pippistrelle. Sadly our second weekend was somewhat affected by the inclement weather, which hung around for most of the time. Observing wolves involves being at the watchpoints for dawn and dusk as that's when they are most active, with the rest of the days spent visiting some of the fabulous birdwatching habitats. These include Villafafila with it's huge concentrations of Great Bustard, or the Arribes de Duero on the Portuguese border renowned for it's raptors such as Golden & Bonelli's Eagles, Griffon & Egyptian Vultures, Red Kites and Peregrine Falcon. Due to the success of the short break I have added two more weekends for October 2008. To view a detailed itinerary follow this link - HERE
West Latvia Weekend
To see a detailed itinerary follow this link - HERE Spain - Holidays & Short Breaks
New to Oliva Rama Tours Ken & I are always trying to produce a holiday or short break package that will give people a reason to continue using Oliva Rama Tours and over the next year we have a few of these on offer.
Egypt - Red
Sea Specialities - Very much for the Western Palearctic
birdwatcher this all-inclusive week for less than
Autumn in Poland - Autumn is a very colourful time in Poland
and the weather can still be fine and warm after their long hot
Egypt - Red Sea Coast - A contrast to our November holiday
this is a fairly unique opportunity aimed at anyone wanting
....and finally We have been looking at some new locations and over the coming year we hope to offer holidays & short breaks to -
Please continue visiting our website www.olivaramatours.com on a regular basis for information on these and any other new holidays & short breaks on offer. Julian Sykes Please contact Julian - info@olivaramatours.com or by phone on 0034 962854374 |
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Our
third successful short break undertaken for the first time was to
West Latvia although we had gone there the previous year it was as
part of a full week and only getting the benefit of a couple of days
in the area. This short break was under-subscribed with only London based
birders Andy Bates & Dave Stanbridge joining me and my superb local
guide Janis Kuze in this wonderful country. The four full days
produced some major highlights none more so than seeing all seven
species of available woodpecker (Three toed, White backed, Grey
headed, Black, Great, Middle & Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers) in
one day, and the amazing Cape Kolka where we were priveliged to
witness incredible visible migration as 10,000+ finches
(mostly Brambling & Chaffinch) were funnelled to the
headland point in two hours - striking out into the Baltic Sea with
masses of Sparrowhawks picking off the small passerines with
consumate ease. Mammals were also a feature as we got brief
views of an Elk, Beaver, Red & Roe Deer, which were found within the
extensive mixed woodlands and meadows of this Baltic State.
The
backbone of Oliva Rama Tours are it's Spanish Holidays & Short
Breaks, which have gone from strength to strength as our knowledge
of this incredibly diverse Southern European country grows each year. Every trip manages to produce
something a little bit special from 2 Lesser Crested Terns
near Tarifa (.jpg)
£1000
involves searching for several of the regions scarce and rare
species. Most of the week will be spent around our resort on the
edge of Hurghada searching the Red Sea for Sooty, White eyed &
Great Black headed Gulls, Crested, Lesser Crested & White cheeked
Terns, Sooty Falcon, Western Reef Heron and Brown necked
Raven. We shall visit several sites around Hurghada in the hope
of finding many migrants on their journey south such as wheatears, pipits, shrikes and
warblers of many species.
During the week two days will be spent travelling to the Sudanese
border where we hope to find Lappet Faced Vulture, Goliath Heron,
Brown Booby and African Collared Dove possibly the only
place in the W.P. you can find these speciality birds. Unfortunately
we are limited to the number of places on offer for this tour so
please make your interest known soon. See our January trip report
Summer
- it's what the locals call the Golden Polish Autumn. With an unspoiled countryside
where farming has been practised in harmony with nature for countless
centuries and after our daily excursions and nature walks we will finish the
day with some famous Polish cuisine with many dishes containing Wild Boar or Deer but with plenty of choice for
any vegetarians that may join us. The birdwatching will be superb with many
mouth-watering species to be found as we hopefully find a combination of late
Summer and early Winter migrants along with it's residents that may include
Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor, Three toed, White backed, Black & Grey headed
Woodpeckers, Ural & Pygmy Owls, Nutcracker, Capercaillie, Hazel Hen, Golden &
White tailed Eagles, Rough legged Buzzard, Goshawk, plus huge numbers of waders
& wildfowl. The Tatras Mountains are also home to many species of mammal
including a healthy population of Brown Bear, which can be found collecting
berries in the open meadows, plus the Tatras forms of Chamois and Snow Vole.
This short break will have it all..jpg)
to
go on a very relaxed low-key all inclusive holiday with their
(possibly) non-birdwatching partners. Our base will
in one of the many self contained resorts of Hurghada on an all-inclusive basis
with excellent food, drink and extra curricular activities. The optional
schedule will allow plenty of time for yourselves to use the many
facilities within the complex or maybe go on one of the hotel's
diving trips. During the week
we will be dividing our limited birdwatching time between seawatching (Western Reef Heron,
Sooty, White eyed & Great Black headed Gulls, Crested, Lesser
Crested & White cheeked Terns), local walks
(Brown necked Raven, Pied
Kingfisher, Laughing Dove, Bluethroat)
and travelling to some of the birdwatching sites surrounding this coastal town
including the golf course at El Gouna, Safaga Mangroves and the excellent local
Water Treatment Plant (Crowned Sandgrouse, Lanner Falcon, Namaqua Dove,
Isabelline & Desert Wheatears) for the best of the northbound migration. Midweek there will be an optional full day
excursion to take the inland convoy to the historic town of Luxor, here we will
spend the day visiting some of the most famous sites in Egyptian culture - The
Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings and of course the River Nile.