Bobolink

TRAVEL TO THE NETHERLANDS:  WINGS and Avenues to Travel would be pleased to assist with your travel plans. This tour is organized by our British company, Sunbird, and starts and ends in Amsterdam. Please keep the WINGS office apprised of your travel arrangements so that we can make sure that your travel schedule will mesh smoothly with the group schedule at the beginning and end of the tour. Requests for travel arrangements to Amsterdam can be referred to Avenues to Travel. You can contact Avenues to Travel at (800) 736-7320 or (520) 297-7320. Please identify yourself as a WINGS client.                                                                               

ENTERING THE NETHERLANDS: United States citizens will need a passport, which is valid for at least three months beyond intended length of stay. A visa is not required. Citizens of other nations should contact the nearest Dutch embassy for entry requirements.

 

It is always a good idea to take a photocopy of your passport and air ticket with you when travelling abroad. They can prove invaluable in helping you get replacements if your originals are lost or stolen. Obviously you should keep the photocopies in a separate bag to the originals.

 

TIME DIFFERENCE: The Netherlands is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. 

 

CURRENCY: The currency is the Euro (€). Euros can be obtained from your local bank (if given advance notice) and from exchange facilities at the airport. You can phone your bank or check the following web site to find out the current exchange rate: http://www.oanda.com/converter/classic. As the tour price includes all travel, accommodation, meals and drinks with meals, you will require only enough currency to cover snacks, drinks other than at meal times, or other purchases of a purely personal nature.

 

LANGUAGE: The national language is Dutch but English is widely spoken and understood.

 

CLIMATE: We can expect almost any kind of weather during this trip. Warm, sunny days are quite possible but these can often build up into afternoon thunderstorms. Evenings and mornings can be cooler.

 

PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE:  This tour is not a strenuous one. On most days we will have breakfast before heading out for the days birding. Lunch will be in the form of a picnic, or in roadside cafes (which serve some great soup and sandwiches). We will return to our hotel in time to shower before dinner and checklist. On at least one evening we will venture out after dinner to look for some crepuscular species. Dinner will be taken at, or near our accommodation.

HEALTH: Birding in The Netherlands poses no major health hazards. For visitors arriving in The Netherlands, no vaccinations are required, but The Centers for Disease Control recommend that all travelers to Western Europe make certain that their routine vaccinations are up to date.   
               
Please note that any health/medical information contained herein is gleaned by WINGS from websites that are dedicated to traveler’s health issues. Advisories and recommendations by agencies such as the CDC can, and do, change frequently. We urge you to consult with your physician, local health department or the CDC for the most up-to-date health advisories for travel to Iceland. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.            

Water is safe to drink at all the places we stay. It may be difficult to obtain any special medication during the tour, so bring all you are likely to need. Sun – if the weather is good it can be very hot and exposed, so please bring sun screen.

 

TICKS: At this time of year ticks can be numerous in the woodlands and on the heath. Lyme disease is present and anyone finding a tick ‘in’ them should make a note of the date, location, etc. It is important to check yourself each day. The leader will carry special ‘tick tweezers’.

 

ACCOMMODATION: Throughout the tour we’ll be staying in good quality hotels. All rooms will have a private shower and toilet. Hotel lifts are not commonplace and porters are as rare so think carefully when packing. Only bring what you can carry.

 

ELECTRICITY: 220V AC 50Hz. European-style 2-pin plugs are in use so an international adaptor is needed. You may want to consult Magellan’s International Travel www.magellans.com, which features a complete range of adapters and converters.

 

LUGGAGE: Bring what you need, but carefully consider the utility of each item. Soft luggage is more easily packed into the vehicles. Please do not bring any bag that is so heavy that you are unable to lift and carry it yourself. Please bring two smaller, lighter bags rather than one very heavy one.

 

Do not pack important medicines in checked luggage; always carry them in your carry-on luggage. Check with your airline for the latest security restrictions for carry-on luggage. In addition to using your WINGS luggage tags, it is a good idea to affix identification to the inside of each piece of luggage.

 

Since baggage restrictions have been changing rapidly, please check your final information for the most up-to-date luggage requirements. You will receive your final information approximately three weeks before the tour begins.

 

FOOD: We can expect plenty of food, ideal after a day in the field. Soups, bread, apple cake, cookies etc are also usually superb! The leader will provide some local delicacies for lunch, and there may be a chance to try to traditional raw herring for those that wish (entirely optional).             

WINGS tours are all-inclusive, and except for tours in the US, no refunds can be issued for any tour meals participants choose to skip. While our restaurants and ground agents make every effort to insure the comfort of all participants, we cannot guarantee that all food allergies can be accommodated at every destination. Many restaurants offer set menus and are unable to accommodate all special requests within a group. Thus, participants with significant food allergies or special dietary needs should bring appropriate foods with them for those times when their needs cannot, regretfully, be accommodated. Our tours are carefully scheduled to insure the best possible birding experience. Meal times can generally not be adjusted; any participant who needs to eat earlier or later than the times scheduled for the group should bring supplemental food with them. Please contact the WINGS office if you have any questions.

 

DRINKS: The tap water is some of the best in Europe and it is recommended that you bring your own water bottle to fill up from the hotel, petrol stations etc. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee will be available at lunch and dinner, and most restaurants offer local and imported beers. Hot chocolate is served widely and is great with a piece of cake halfway through the day. All other drinks or ‘personal’ drinking water for use in your room and during the day is the responsibility of the individual.

 

DRESS: Dress is informal throughout the tour.

 

FIELD CLOTHING: Since the weather can be very mixed, bring waterproofs, thermals, gloves/mittens, balaclava/hat and a warm sweater. Good walking boots/shoes should suffice as it can be muddy in places.

 

MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT: You should bring the following:

 

Binoculars                                                                                           Shoulder bag or small daypack

Alarm clock                                                                                                       

Personal medication                                                                     

 

Optional: A telescope and tripod will be useful on this tour. Other items to consider are spare binoculars and spare spectacles (in case of loss or damage), notebook, field guide.

 

LEADER’S EQUIPMENT: The leader will provide the following:

 

Telescope & tripod for group use                                             Basic First-aid kit

Reference Books                                                                             Play-back equipment

 

PHOTOGRAPHY: Camera equipment should be packed in moisture and dust-proof bags as a precaution. Although there will be occasions when “dedicated” bird photography is possible, a birdwatching tour is not normally the best means of pursuing this aim. “Digiscoping”, on the other hand is perfectly compatible with the tour, though it is recommended you bring your own telescope if you intend to do a lot of this!          

If you plan to bring a camera that uses film, bring more than you expect to use as it is likely to be more expensive than at home and less common types may be impossible to find.  Likewise, if you plan to bring a digital camera, remember to bring as many memory cards as you think you may need.

 

INSURANCE: Theft is a world?wide concern. If you are bringing expensive optical equipment or other valuable items, please be sure that you have appropriate coverage. If in doubt, please seek the advice of your insurance agent. Please be sure that your medical insurance provides adequate coverage outside the United States, as you’ll be responsible for your medical expenses in the unlikely event that you become ill. You may wish to have coverage for your baggage and personal items as well.

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE: You may want to consider travel insurance. A policy can give welcome protection in the event of a health-related or other trip cancellation.. WINGS is pleased to offer Travelex Insurance to our clients. You can get a quote through our website at www.wingsbirds.com/about/#insurance, or contact Travelex directly by phone at 1-800-228-9792. Please refer to Location # 03-0082 when purchasing a policy.    
If you purchase a travel insurance policy from Travelex or another carrier, make sure it covers you in the event of a medical emergency, cancellation of a trip, or severe delays. Please note that WINGS and Sunbird are not liable for any medical or repatriation costs resulting from injury or illness during a tour, or for any costs, such as extra accommodation, resulting from a flight delay. Please be sure that your travel or medical insurance provides adequate coverage outside the United States, as you will be responsible for your medical expenses should you become ill. Note too that Medicare does not cover medical expenses incurred outside the United States.

 

TRANSPORT: Our transport will be minibuses driven by the leader for maximum flexibility. Please note that the leader will operate a rotation system for seating in the vehicles.

SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group if possible. If any lodge, accommodation, or location where the group is staying or is gathered has a more restrictive smoking policy than the WINGS policy, the more restrictive policy will prevail.

 

TIPPING: All tour-based tips are included in the WINGS tour price. These include tips to local guides, drivers, hotel porters, and waiters and waitresses when we have group meals together in restaurants. You only need to pay tips for personal services such as room service or drinks from the bar. Our leaders do not expect to be tipped for their services, and there is no need for anyone in the group to organize a collection for them.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 

Mullarney, Killian, Lars Svensson, Dan Zetterström & Peter J Grant. Collins Bird Guide. Second edition 2010. HarperCollins. (ISBN 0 00 219728 6). The latest, most up-to-date and portable field guide to the birds of Europe. This book has quickly become established as the standard field guide for the region. Second edition published in 2010. Highly recommended.

 

OBTAINING BOOKS: Most of the field guides and the major ornithological references, at least those in print, are available from booksellers specializing in natural history titles, including

 

Buteo Books / ABA Sales 3130 Laurel Road Shipman VA 22971 (800) 722-2460 (434) 263-8671 fax: (434) 263-4842 allen@buteobooks.com www.buteobooks.com/		Audubon Nature Shop Tucson Audubon Society 300 E. University Blvd., #120 Tucson AZ 85705 (520) 629-0510 http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/
Los Angeles Audubon Society 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90046 (888) 522-7428 (toll free) http://www.laaudubon.org/		Powell’s Toll Free: (800) 291-9676 In Oregon: (503) 228-0540 x482 orders@powells.com http://www.powells.com/
Amazon   http://amazon.com

 

If you have difficulty locating any title, please contact us. We’ll help you if we can.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the General Information and Conditions on the ‘About Our Tours’ segment of the WINGS website. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.

 

FINAL INFORMATION: Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please let us know. We can be reached at: