Birdwatching Breaks 2020 - Over 30 years of guided tours - Amazon S3
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Birdwatching Breaks 2020 Over 30 years of guided tours
Destinations
BLACK ISLE BIRDING – SCOTLAND
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Highlands – spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Highlands – autumn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . Scottish Highlands and Aberdeenshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . Caithness and Orkney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . Islay at New Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . Mull, Tiree and The Uists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . Shetland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . Western Isles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
AFRICA
Ethiopia . . . . . . . . . . . . . Birds and Mammals of NE Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Rwanda . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albertine Rift endemics and mammals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Senegal . . . . . . . . . . . . . SE Senegal and Dindefello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Senegal . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pelagic and The Sahel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
ASIA AND AUSTRALASIA
Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . Northern Territory, Alice Springs & Singapore . . . . . . . . . 42
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyushu and Hokkaido . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Russia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Birds of Lake Baikal and Siberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
EUROPE
Bulgaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring migration in the Balkans . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Cyprus . . . . . . . . . . . . . Birds of the Eastern Mediterranean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Camargue and Corsica . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Northern Ireland and Donegal . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winter birds of the High Arctic . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . . . Autumn migration at Falsterbo . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
THE AMERICAS
Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Last Frontier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . Pampas, Iguazú and North East Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . Long Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . The World's Best birding country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Lesser Antilles . . . . . . . . Birds and islands of The Caribbean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Front cover: Bald Eagle Photo: George Matz
Back cover: Red-necked Phalarope Photo: George Matz
Layout and design www.russellturner.org Printed by Speedprint, Inverness
Copyright © Birdwatching Breaks 2019
2 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495
Tour Calendar
January 2020
Senegal . . . . . . . . . . SE Senegal & Dindefello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 10-23
Colombia . . . . . . . . . . The World's Best Birding Country . . . . . . . . . . . January 11-25
February
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . Cranes, owls and eagles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 7-22
March
Ethiopia . . . . . . . . . . . Birds and mammals of Ethiopia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 6-20
France . . . . . . . . . . . . Camargue and Corsica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 7-14
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . Highlands & Aberdeenshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 28-April 4
April
Norway . . . . . . . . . . . Winter birds of the High Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 4-10
Cyprus . . . . . . . . . . . Birds of the Mediterranean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 4-11
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . Spring in the Highlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 25-May 2
May
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . Mull, Tiree & The Uists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 3-10
Bulgaria . . . . . . . . . . Spring in the Balkans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 4-14
Canada . . . . . . . . . . . Long Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 7-16
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . Birds of Caithness and Orkney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 11-17
Siberia . . . . . . . . . . . Lake Baikal and Buryat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 22-June 5
June
Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . The last frontier . . . . . . . . . . . . June 13-28 (extension to July 1)
August
Australia . . . . . . . . . . Northern Territory & Alice Springs . . . August 27-September 12
September
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . Autumn migration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 19-26
Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . Migration at Falsterbo . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 26-October 3
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . Western Isles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 27-October 3
October
Argentina . . . . . . . . . Pampas, Iguazu and North East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 2-15
Shetland . . . . . . . . . . Autumn in the Northern Isles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 3-10
Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . Northern Ireland & Donegal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 17-24
November
Senegal . . . . . . . . . . Pelagic birds and the Sahel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 6-14
Lesser Antilles . . . . . . Islands of the Caribbean . . . . . . . . . November 20-December 4
December
Rwanda . . . . . . . . . . Birds of the Albertine Rift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 5-17
Scotland . . . . . . . . . . Islay at New Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 30-January 4
January 2021
Senegal . . . . . . . . . .SE Senegal & Dindefello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .January 13-26
February
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . Cranes, owls and eagles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 5-20
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 3
Welcome to Birdwatching Breaks 2020 A warm welcome to our 2020 brochure of Ethiopia, Senegal and Rwanda. These des- birdwatching holidays, this being our 33rd tinations offer you an extremely wide range year of operation. of African birds and mammals from the In 2020, we have introduced new tours to Sahel in Senegal to the birds and mam- interesting countries around the world, all mals of Rwanda. Rwanda is a small coun- of them having had an inspection trip either try in Central Africa and relatively unex- by us or our local tour operators. plored for birds and wildlife. We have a tour In Asia and Australasia, we have desti- here December 2020. In Senegal we have nations to Australia, Japan and Russian a new tour taking in a pelagic trip off Dakar Siberia. For those who wish to witness the and the Sahel region along the Senegal winter wonderland of Japan, we have tours River. Ethiopia has been reinstated with a in February 2020 and 2021. The country comprehensive tour taking in the major continues to be a popular destination and birding sites of this beautiful country. we have modified the winter tour slightly to In The Americas, a birding tour to visit an area for Japanese Murrelet. Siberia Colombia, the world’s best birding country, is repeated in 2020 after our visit to this is planned for January 2020. Later in the stunningly beautiful region of Russia with year we visit the last frontier state of equally impressive bird life. Later in the Alaska, a comprehensive tour taking in year we return to the Northern Territories of iconic birding destinations of Nome, Australia along with the red centre around Barrow, Denali National Park and the Alice Springs. I have added a few days in remote Pribilof Islands. During the winter of Singapore a surprisingly bird-rich destina- 2020 a wonderful tour of the Lesser Antilles tion to add diversity. takes in nine of the Caribbean islands and In Africa, we have departures to their endemic birds. In October 2020 a new Grasshopper Sparrow, Canada Photo: Simon Papps 4 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495
Birding in Siberia Photo: Jo Finn
tour is being offered to NE Argentina where are pleased to say that we have a growing
visits to the pampas, lakes and Iguazú Falls reputation as one of Scotland’s premier
is bound to produce a long bird list and birding companies. Jo and I operate our
spectacular vistas. popular “holiday at home” programme
Closer to home, we have departures to based at Cygnus House. Its location, over-
Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Cyprus, looking the Cromarty Firth and set in two
France, Greece, Ireland, Spain and acres of wildlife habitat, makes it an ideal
Sweden. These countries offer you great base for visiting northern Scotland. We
birding among spectacular countryside and have several other Scottish tours to Islay,
vistas. Extreme Northern Norway is being Shetland and Fair Isle and an island spe-
offered in April – a prime time to watch cial visiting Mull, Tiree and The Uists.
some spectacular winter birds of the High I firmly believe we offer you the best bird-
Arctic. In 2020 a week-long tour to south- ing packages in Scotland, with the coun-
ern France and the island of Corsica try’s top birding guides, along with a friend-
should provide exceptional winter birding ly and welcoming service with no hidden
and two European endemics. Other tours extras.
include the Canary Islands with its endem- The team at Birdwatching Breaks looks
ic species and seabirds where we visit four forward to welcoming you on one of our
islands in total. I have reintroduced our tour tours.
to Northern Ireland and Donegal in Finally, my thanks go to Russell Turner
October for late migrants and winter birds. for proof-reading our 2020 brochure and for
Falsterbo in Sweden in late September is the layout and design.
offered again for the spectacular migration Mark Finn
of birds. Birdwatching Breaks
2020 sees the 15th year of Black Isle Cygnus House
Birding which covers all our holidays oper- Gordons Mill, Balblair
ating in Scotland. This sector has grown Black Isle, Ross-shire IV7 8LQ
significantly over the last few years and we Scotland
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 5
Birdwatching Breaks Leaders
Mark Finn lives on the Black Isle in Scotland and is the principal leader of
Birdwatching Breaks having formed the company in May 1987. In 2005, Mark
set up Black Isle Birding for tours based in Scotland. Mark originally trained in
hotel management and catering before pursuing careers in the Merchant
Navy, industrial catering and, finally, as a sales representative. He has trav-
elled widely in search of birds both whilst leading trips and on reconnaissance
trips for future tours. His travels have taken him to a wide variety of destina-
tions around the world. Mark is also a member of the Scottish Ornithologists
Club. In between leading tours, Mark deals with the administration work of
Birdwatching Breaks. He has a keen interest in sport, particularly cricket and
soccer, and enjoys wine and good food.
Harriet Kemishiga lives in Kampala, Uganda. Harriet is Uganda’s only
female bird guide and one of the directors of Harrier Tours. Her passion for
wildlife and birds started when she was a little girl growing up with her grand-
father at the edge of Kibale National Park. Harriet has successfully guided
many birding trips in Uganda and Rwanda since 2003. She has also worked
for the avian vocalisation centre recording sounds of rare species that have not
been recorded to science. Harriet is probably one of the best birding guides
within Africa today with an incredible knowledge of birds and sounds within her
native Uganda.
Anders Faugstad Mæland lives in central Norway and has been a birder
from a young age. Anders has established himself as a professional guide in
Norway and taken part in a wide variety of ornithological surveys and biodi-
versity projects. He was the main ringer and migration counter at Jomfruland
bird observatory from 1997-2011 before setting up Norwegian Birding. Anders
has an intimate knowledge of his native Norway and its abundant wildlife,
especially in the far north of the country.
Igor Fefelov lives in Irkutsk, Siberia. Igor is a skilled bird guide and natural-
ist having written several papers on waders and swifts which occur around
Lake Baikal. Igor has an interest in anything concerning the natural world. His
ability, professionalism and personality are second to none making him an
ideal guide for Birdwatching Breaks in this huge area of Russia.
Assen Ignatov is one of the most experienced birdwatching and wildlife
guides in Bulgaria. He has an MSc in biology from the University of Sofia and
now he works in National Natural History Museum Assen. He is also an excel-
lent wildlife artist with many paintings and drawings in numerous books, cal-
endars and others. He leads birdwatching, wildlife, butterflies and photography
tours.
6 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495
Mike Jarvis lives in Darwin, Australia and operates his own birding compa-
ny. He has been a nature enthusiast from his earliest memory and has lived in
Perth, Geraldton and Carnarvon on the west coast. Mike and his wife Jenny
are Wildcare volunteers and care for injured and orphaned wildlife, mainly
birds and reptiles. With decades of research, observation and wildlife experi-
ences behind him, he enjoys the privilege of sharing this with others by lead-
ing tours to wild places in Darwin and the Top End.
Simon MacLaughlin lives near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands and is
currently a warden for the RSPB. Simon has worked in conservation for many
years and has a vast knowledge of forestry and the wildlife than occurs within
it. Simon has a good knowledge of birds and is exceptionally good with people
and his enthusiasim and passion for wildlife. He is a welcome addition to the
Birdwatching Breaks team.
Ass Ndiaye lives in Dakar, Senegal. Ass has worked with Birdwatching
Breaks since we initiated tours to Senegal in the mid-1990s. Ass is a skilled
birder with a happy knack of locating unusual birds. He has a particularly good
eye for raptors and owls. Ass lives with his wife and young son and is an avid
follower of football, particularly the English Premier League.
Simon Papps lives in Waltham Abbey, Essex. Simon is a vastly experienced
birder having travelled to a wide range of countries in pursuit of birds. He was
formerly the sub-editor at Birdwatch Magazine, the highly respected monthly
publication for birders. Currently, Simon works as the Commissioning Editor for
Natural History Books at New Holland Publishers based in London. Away from
birding, Simon enjoys all sports, but particularly football.
Jane Stylianou lives in Nicosia, Cyprus. Jane has been interested in birds
since the age of five and has continued birdwatching since moving to Cyprus
in 1985. She has worked as a Development Officer for BirdLife Cyprus for over
four years and is currently carrying out field work and doing conservation-
based projects on a freelance basis. Together with another local birder, Jane
operates Cyprus Birding Tours.
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 7
Holidays with
Birdwatching Breaks
Our holidays are friendly and exciting and America, birds are most active at dawn,
run by professional guides with a passion hence we start birding at this time. We usu-
for birding and natural history. Our guides ally arrange coffee or tea before going out
have a professional background from bod- and come back mid-morning for brunch. In
ies like the RSPB or other conservation countries with a hot climate we take a sies-
organisations. On overseas tours we use ta in the middle of the day or travel between
local ornithologists who are highly experi- sites. We return to birding late afternoon
enced in the country they operate and work when bird activity starts again. To balance
in. Our groups are based on a ratio of eight early starts we try to return earlier in the
clients to one leader. evening. Before dinner, we have drinks and
All tours have inspection trips before we go through the daily log of birds observed.
offer them to our clients
We cater for all abilities of birders, from Where to stay
beginners to those with more experience
and clients who wish to visit more adven- We endeavour to stay in hotels, lodges and
turous countries around the globe in their family homes as close as possible to areas
quest of birds. Our tours range from short of birding interest. Wherever possible, we
breaks in Europe to weeks in Scotland and stay in accommodation reflecting the char-
Eastern Europe. Generally speaking, acter and atmosphere of the country we
African and Asian tours are up to 15 days are visiting rather than ’standard type’
and those to Australia and South America hotels. Rooms have private facilities unless
of 16-28 days duration. To participate in our otherwise stated. In some locations without
tours you need to have a reasonable a tourist infrastructure, facilities may be
degree of fitness for the tour you select. If shared or, in areas without permanent
you wish to know more about a tour we accommodation, a chemical toilet and bush
have bird lists and tour reports or, in the shower are used. Hotels around the world
case of inspection trips, a general informa- are phasing out single rooms and accom-
tion package. You can access these by vis- modating clients in double/twin rooms. This
iting www.birdwatchingbreaks.com or sim- has, in effect, pushed up the price of a sin-
ply contact us by phone, or mail. On book- gle room quite considerably. If you are a
ing your Birdwatching Breaks holiday we single traveller, please consider sharing a
send you all the relevant information includ- room. If you have ticked twin-bedded room
ing flight details, accommodation, maps, on your holiday booking form but we are
what to take with you, health and visa reg- unable to find you a suitable roommate, a
ulations, titles of field guides and where to single room supplement will apply. Food is
obtain them. important to our clients and is on a half-
board basis of breakfast and evening meal
A typical day with a packed lunch in the field. We try to
ensure food is based upon the cuisine of
with Birdwatching Breaks
the country we are visiting. On occasions
Naturally we spend most of our time in the where half-board in not available, you can
field but this does vary on each tour. In tem- choose from a la carte menus. If this is the
perate climates we generally have break- case, we make an allowance for evening
fast early and take a packed lunch with us meals.
for the day. Returning in the evening, we try
to allow you at least one hour before dinner What the tour price includes
to shower and freshen up. In Africa,
Australasia, parts of Asia and South Tour prices are fully inclusive of accommo-
8 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495
American Redstart Photo: Simon Papps
dation, meals, guidance, entry permits into same flight. On departure, flight times
reserves, tips and taxes. Not included in should be after or at the same time as the
your tour price are air fares which are quot- group. Birdwatching Breaks are not respon-
ed separately with our best estimate of the sible for your own flight arrangements and
fare. Also not included are credit card and you must ensure you have adequate travel
baggage charges (where applicable), insurance in place to cover your flights.
drinks, laundry and telephone bills, visa
fees and travel insurance and items of a Flying from regional airports
personal nature and any relevant fuel sur-
charges. On some occasions flights from regional
airports and those which connect with the
Flights London hubs cost more than
London/London flights. Whilst we are
Because of fluctuating fuel prices it is happy to arrange these for you, where pos-
becoming very difficult to obtain accurate sible, the additional charge will be passed
quotes for airfares. Tour prices are broken on to you.
down into two elements – the basic cost of
the tour which includes everything except Your money
the cost of the international and internal
paid to Birdwatching Breaks
flights and secondly our best estimate of
the air fares when the tour was costed. Air holidays and flights in our 2020
Please advise us if you wish us to book brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil
your flights. When we send invoices for the Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is
tour, we will only charge you the exact air- 4324. In the unlikely event of our insolven-
fare and hope that many of these will be cy, the CAA ensures you are not stranded
near the price quoted in our brochure. overseas and will arrange to refund you for
any monies paid in advance to
Arranging your own flights Birdwatching Breaks. Visit the ATOL web-
site www.atol.org. UK for further details.
You should arrive at least one hour before In accordance with Passenger protection
the main group or be booked onto the policy for insolvency cover in respect of the
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 9
Package Travel & Linked Travel oped world, require you to have a visa in
Regulations 2018 all passengers booking order to enter the country. Birdwatching
with Birdwatching Breaks are fully protect- Breaks will supply you contact addresses,
ed for the initial deposit and subsequently email and phone numbers in order for you
the balance of all monies paid to us, includ- to obtain the correct visa. This should be
ing repatriation costs, arising from cancel- done when you receive your final docu-
lation or curtailment of your travel arrange- mentation from us around 12 weeks before
ments due to the insolvency of departure. If you are a non-UK national,
Birdwatching Breaks. There is no require- British Subject or live overseas, you are
ment for Financial Protection of day trips, responsible for obtaining your own visa
and none is provided. Consumer aware: from your country of residence.
Your booking is insured by IPP Ltd and its
panel of insurers. This insurance is only Health
valid for passengers who book and pay
directly with/to Birdwatching Breaks. If you The majority of tours in Europe do not
have booked and/or paid direct to a Travel require compulsory vaccinations when
Agent for a holiday with Birdwatching entering from the UK. We do recommend
Breaks please request proof of how the that your injections are current for polio,
booking is secured as this will not be cov- hepatitis A and tetanus. Travel to Africa,
ered by IPP Ltd in this instance. This Asia and parts of South America require
Insurance has been arranged by protection against yellow fever (if coming
International Passenger Protection Limited from an infected country), typhoid, diphthe-
and underwritten by Liberty Mutual ria and tuberculosis. The threat of malaria
Insurance Europe SE. For further informa- around the globe also makes a course of
tion please go to www.ipplondon.co.uk anti-malaria tablets a necessity. We will
CLAIMS PROCEDURE: You must notify advise you in our final documentation of the
IPP as soon as practically possible giving health requirements you need to enter the
full details of what has happened quoting country. We would also recommend you
the name of your Travel Operator: IPP consult your doctor/surgery to confirm the
Claims at Cunningham Lindsey Oakleigh current requirements.
House 14-15 Park Place Cardiff CF10
3DQ, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 Travel insurance
(0)345 266 1872 Email: Insolvency-
claims@ipplondon.co.uk or online at It is a legal requirement that you have ade-
http://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp quate travel insurance. On your booking
form we require proof of travel insurance
Credit cards before we process the final documentation.
Insurance covers and protects you whilst
We accept most major credit cards with the on tour and also if you have to cancel prior
exception of American Express. Credit card to holiday commencement through illness
payment is ideal for late bookings and air- or accident. If you are over 65 (in some
line seats which we have to secure quickly cases 70) you are subject to additional
if departure is imminent. insurance premiums.
Passports and visas Foreign office advice
You must be in possession of a current The Foreign Office Advice website is at
passport with a minimum of 6 months to www.fco.gov.uk or on television information
run after your chosen holiday has ended. If pages. Generally speaking this is good,
you are applying for a new passport, the sound advice but on occasion it may be
quickest and most efficient process is inaccurate or harsh in its message. If you
through your local high street post office. cancel through advice from the Foreign
This process, in some cases, may take up Office, your insurers may not cover the
to 8 weeks. With regards to visas, many claim of your cancellation with
countries, particularly in the underdevel- Birdwatching Breaks.
10 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495Black Isle Birding –
birding holidays in Scotland
Welcome to Black Isle Birding, one of
Scotland’s premier birding companies spe-
cialising in the Scottish Highlands,
Speyside, Mull, Tiree, Islay, Lothian,
Shetland and the Western Isles.
We offer you the following services:
■ Accommodation at Cygnus House on a
full board basis using locally produced
meat, fish and vegetables. Complimentary
Pine Martens at Cygnus House
drinks and wine at the table
■ Excellent location on the Black Isle over- variety of habitat including rough grass-
looking the Cromarty Firth and Udale Bay land, saltmarsh, woodland, farm land, estu-
■ No single room supplement at Cygnus arine mud and river and eco-friendly gar-
House dens. This combination of habitats ensures
■ Wi-fi access in all rooms a healthy birdlife throughout the year. In the
■ Visits to areas of the extreme north and garden and adjacent area we have record-
islands for birds and other wildlife ed over 155 species of bird to date, with the
■ Complimentary travel by 9 seat minibus most unusual species being Snow and
with individual seats and seatbelts Greenland White-fronted Geese, American
■ Small group size with one leader Wigeon, Hobby, Common Quail, Glaucous
■ One of Scotland’s top birding guides with and Little Gulls, Pomarine Skua, Red-
up-to-date knowledge of where to find and rumped Swallow, Blue-headed Wagtail,
show you the country’s birds Marsh Warbler, Hawfinch and the Northern
■ Complimentary pick-up services from races of Eurasian Bullfinch and Lesser
Inverness Airport or Inverness railway sta- Redpoll. From early April until the end of
tion September, Ospreys regularly fly over the
Flights to Inverness area available from house to fish in the Cromarty Firth.
Birmingham, Bristol, London Heathrow, Numerous bird feeders attract a variety of
London Gatwick, London Luton, species throughout the year including
Southampton and Manchester. If using Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Sparrow,
Flybe, many flights are via Manchester to Eurasian Siskin, tits, Brambling, Reed
Inverness. Bunting and Yellowhammer. The winter
Day trips, private tours and RSPB months bring Waxwing, Fieldfare, Redwing
Groups are also catered for. Please con- and Mistle Thrush. Mammals using the gar-
tact us for details. den on a regular basis include Pine
Cygnus House, our base, is situated on Marten, Badger and Roe Deer
the Black Isle, north of Inverness, the capi- Our base is ideally situated for visiting
tal of the Highlands. Inverness has good the remote and beautiful counties of
air, rail and road connections with the rest Caithness and Sutherland, Wester and
of Britain and Ireland. When we collect you Easter Ross, Speyside, Moray Firth coast
from the airport or railway station, we make and the mountains and forests of
the short journey across the Kessock Cairngorm and Speyside.
Bridge and onto the rolling farmland and Our Scottish programme also includes
forests of the Black Isle to Cygnus House. tours to Mull, Tiree and the Uists,
This gives you a feel of the area and Aberdeenshire, Caithness, Fife, Islay,
scenery and the idyllic surroundings where Orkney and Shetland, many of which can
we live. Our home is located next to Udale be combined with your stay at Cygnus
Bay RSPB Reserve and is surrounded by a House.
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 11Northern Scotland and the Highlands
Spring in the Highlands
Birding in springtime in the Highlands of Scotland is an exciting and rewarding
experience. Our base on the Black Isle gives easy and quick access to the major
birdwatching areas of Northern Scotland and Speyside. Cygnus House and the
adjacent fields, shore and woodland have so far recorded 155 species of birds
since 2003. During your stay we visit the Cairngorm Mountains in search of Rock
Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting and Eurasian Dotterel. Nearby, the ancient Caledonian
pine forests host Capercaillie and a wide range of breeding and resident species.
During the spring, we embark on Black Grouse safaris, and further north visit the
flow country of Caithness and Sutherland for waders, owls and harriers. On the
west coast, interesting species present are Great Northern, Red-throated and
Black-throated Divers, White-tailed Eagles and, from late April, Corncrakes. The
seabird colonies on Handa are present from April. During spring rare migrants are
regularly found and have included White-billed Diver, Ring-billed Gull, Blue and
Green-winged Teals, Smew, King Eider, Snowy Owl, European Bee-eater, Eurasian
Hoopoe and Great Grey Shrike on previous tours. Please note the following
itinerary is subject to change due to tides and other factors.
■ This tour can be combined with Mull, Tiree & The Uists on page 23
Day 1: Travel to Cygnus House, our home
situated on the Black Isle and overlooking Dates
the RSPB reserve of Udale Bay. Depending Saturday April 25th – Saturday
on tides, we check Udale Bay for wildfowl, May 2nd 2020
waders, gulls and terns. On the lower gar- Leader: Mark Finn
den, flocks of Pink-footed Geese linger into Group size: 7
early May before embarking on their long Birds: 125-145
flight to Iceland. Feeders have Eurasian
Siskin and Eurasian Tree Sparrow while
migrants include Barn Swallow, House Otters. Nearby, an isolated village is reli-
Martin, Grasshopper and Sedge Warblers, able for Northern Gannet, Northern
Common Whitethroat and Common Fulmar, European Golden Plover, gulls,
Cuckoo. Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Fieldfare and Redwing, White Wagtail and
Linnet and Yellowhammer occur on the Twite.
entrance track. In the evening you have a
high chance of observing Pine Marten and Day 3: A visit to Strathconon for Common
Badger. Sandpiper and Northern Wheatear, and in
the birch woodlands for Blackcap, Wood
Day 2: Wester Ross is our destination, an and Willow Warblers. Later in the morning
area of huge bays and low cliffs hugging we visit a private estate which has
the Atlantic Ocean. En route we stop for Common and Scottish Crossbills and, on
Slavonian Grebe, Red Kite and wildfowl. occasions, Parrot Crossbill. We travel
Along the valley bottom, lochans and towards Bonar Bridge for Goosander and
marshes may have Whooper Swan, Red-breasted Merganser. The moors and
Eurasian Wigeon, Common Scoter and birch forest beyond offer us Red Grouse,
Wood Sandpipers. Our journey takes us to Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Tree Pipit and
remote areas of Wester Ross with breeding Whinchat. Loch Fleet is reliable for
White-tailed Eagles, and Loch Ewe where Osprey, ducks and waders. Embo is close
the sea loch attracts Red-throated and by with an old jetty and rocks which attract
Black-throated Divers, auks and Arctic waders at high tide including Purple
Terns. Poolewe often has Greenshanks Sandpiper, Common Knot and Sanderling.
and other waders, plus the possibility of We end the day at Nigg Bay for Black-
12 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495Northern Scotland and the Highlands
Wood Sandpiper Photo: Jo Finn
tailed Godwit, Whimbrel and other wildfowl Durness with Little Stint, Yellow Wagtail,
and waders. Ring-necked Duck and Common Crane in
recent years. Accommodation for the night
Day 4: A change of scenery today as we is at Durness.
head into Sutherland and to the island of
Handa. Our journey takes us past lochs Day 5: Loch Eriboll is our first destination,
with beautiful Black-throated Divers. a large sea loch holding Great Northern
Beyond Ullapool, the scenery becomes and Red-throated Divers in summer
more dramatic and rocky. Handa is plumage and, on recent tours, White-billed
accessed by boat from Tarbat. On arrival, Divers. Nearby, the Hope Valley is reliable
we walk around the island on boardwalks for Golden Eagle and Redwing. We follow
and footpaths. Moorland sectors have the coast, stopping at Dunnet Bay, a regu-
impressive numbers of Great and Arctic lar haunt of divers, Long-tailed Duck,
Skuas, Common Snipe and Common Greater Scaup, Great and Arctic Skuas
Stonechat. Handa, however, is famous for and Sandwich Terns. St John’s Pool is a
breeding seabirds on its high-vertical sand- productive area for birds, attracting Arctic
stone cliffs. We can expect Northern and Common Terns, Whimbrel and scarce
Fulmar, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common breeding ducks of Northern Scotland
Guillemot, Razorbill and Atlantic Puffins. including Gadwall and Northern Shoveler.
After leaving Handa we head to Durness, Unusual species on recent visits have been
the most north-westerly village in mainland Garganey, Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked
Britain. After dinner, we can check mead- Duck. In late April we may find lingering
ows for calling Corncrakes and, on the Greenland White-fronted Geese. Later, we
beach, migrant Black-tailed Godwits and travel to Broubster Leans, located in the
Sanderling along with Barnacle and Pink- flow country of Caithness where we should
footed Geese and Whooper Swans. encounter Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl,
Rarities occur on a regular basis at European Golden Plover and Dunlin.
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 13Northern Scotland and the Highlands
Return to the Black Isle with stops for Road we may find Merlin and parties of
divers, ducks and Common Scoter on loch- Red Grouse.
side pools.
Day 7: Corrimony is our first stop today, a
Day 6: Nairn is our destination today remote reserve of woodland and moors.
where the deep waters of the Cromarty Our main interest is in locating Black
Firth attract migrant seaducks including Grouse, which finds a stronghold here.
Long-tailed Duck and in recent years King After breakfast a visit to the Cairngorm
Eiders. Portsoy is further east in Mountains. Recent changes have permit-
Aberdeenshire and is a regular and reliable ted us to walk out from the Ptarmigan
place for migrating White-billed Divers. Restaurant, which is accessed by the funic-
Lossiemouth often has shorebirds includ- ular railway, to search in the boulder fields
ing Common Knot, Sanderling and for Rock Ptarmigan, Ring Ouzel, Eurasian
Sandwich Terns fishing in the bay. Loch Dotterel and Snow Bunting. In Abernethy
Spynie is a new reserve managed by the Forest, a reserve of Caledonian pines
RSPB and often attracts interesting birds in interspersed with lochs, our main interest is
the spring. Later in the day, we venture into to observe Capercaillie, a rare and declin-
the Findhorn Valley for Peregrine Falcon, ing species and we may encounter Coal
Golden Eagle, European Golden Plover and Crested Tits, Eurasian Treecreeper,
and White-throated Dipper, the latter pre- Tree Pipit and Common Redstart. Nesting
ferring boulder-strewn rivers. Along the Farr boxes on the lochs lure Common
Goldeneye while Greylag Goose and
Goosander are regularly observed.
Day 8: Depending on flight and travel
times, a visit to the Black Isle Forest is
planned for woodland birds including Red
Kite, Common and Scottish Crossbills,
Crested Tit and Lesser Redpoll.
Prices
Tour Price: £995
Deposit: £150
This holiday is fully inclusive of
accommodation and meals,
complimentary pre-dinner drinks and
wine at Cygnus House and Durness,
complimentary transport, Cairngorm
railway and any boat fees.
Not included: insurance and items
of a personal nature. Entry into
RSPB reserves if you are a non-
member. Drinks purchased in hotels
away from Cygnus House
Red Grouse Photo: Jo Finn
14 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495Northern Scotland and the Highlands
Autumn in the Highlands
Autumn birding in the Highlands of Scotland is an exciting and rewarding
experience. Our base on the Black Isle gives easy and quick access to the major
birdwatching areas of Northern Scotland and Speyside. During your week, we visit
the Cairngorm Mountains in search of Rock Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting. It is
also an optimum time to visit Caledonian pine forests for Capercaillie and parties
of Crested Tits. Other specialities which are easier to see in September include
Black Grouse, Scottish and Parrot Crossbills and the first winter thrushes of the
autumn. On the Moray Firth and North Sea coasts, the main arrival of geese and
ducks starts along with good seabird passage in north/south easterly winds. If the
former are blowing we expect Sooty Shearwaters, Great and Arctic Skuas and
possibly rarer species in Pomarine Skua and Sabine’s Gulls. Coastal scrub and
bushes along the east coast often lure migrants at this time of the year.
■ This tour can be combined with the Western Isles on page 28.
Day 1: Arrive at our home situated on the
Black Isle and overlooking the RSPB Dates
reserve of Udale Bay. Feeders have Saturday September 19th -
Eurasian Siskin and Eurasian Tree Saturday September 26th 2020
Sparrow while lingering migrants include Leader: Mark Finn
Barn Swallow and Common Chiffchaff. Group size: 8
Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Linnet, Twite Birds: 120-140
and Yellowhammer occur on the entrance
track. In Udale Bay we may find Slavonian
Grebe and Greater Scaup. Chanonry Point Day 3: Today we visit Abernethy Forest, a
is an excellent viewing point for sea birds in reserve of Caledonian pines interspersed
the right wind conditions. If these are blow- with lochs. Our main interest is to observe
ing, we may observe Great and Arctic Capercaillie, a rare and declining species.
Skuas, Common, Arctic and Sandwich In the pinewoods themselves we may
Terns, Razorbill and Common Guillemot encounter Woodcock, Coal and Crested
and the most northerly Bottle-nosed Tits, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian
Dolphins in Britain. Bullfinch, and Scottish and Parrot
Crossbills. Later in the day, we venture into
Day 2: Wester Ross is our destination, an the Cairngorm Mountains for Rock
area of huge bays and low cliffs hugging Ptarmigan, Red Grouse and Snow Bunting.
the Atlantic Ocean. Before reaching the A stop at the Ness Islands in Inverness is
west coast, we visit Applecross, a remote made for Goosander, Dipper and Grey
village. Our main interest here is low-level Wagtail.
Rock Ptarmigans which reside on the boul-
der fields. Further along the coast, a village Day 4: A change of scenery today as we
has White-tailed Eagles. Gairloch and head to Caithness and visit Noss Head and
Rubha Reidh hug the rocky coastline of Dunnet Bay, two migration hot-spots. At
Wester Ross with the former holding con- Noss Head, bushes and shrubs around the
centrations of Black-throated Divers and lighthouse are attractive to Ring Ouzel,
other seabirds. Rubha Reidh is a noted Whinchat, Common Stonechat, Blackcap,
seawatching point and, if the winds are Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and
westerly, we expect a wide range of Pied and Spotted Flycatchers. Rarer
seabirds. Poolewe attracts waders at high migrants regularly appear including
tide including Greenshank. Further along Wryneck, Bluethroat, Red-breasted
the coast, fields regularly host Greylag Flycatcher and, perhaps, Yellow-browed
Geese and Twite. Warbler. Dunnet Bay is further west, attract-
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 15Northern Scotland and the Highlands
Bohemian
Waxwings
Photo: Jo Finn
ing gulls which have included Day 7: We travel to Easter Ross and visit
Mediterranean, Sabine’s and Bonaparte’s in Portmahomack for Purple Sandpiper and
recent years. Within the bay we may see the Ruddy Turnstone. Tarbatness is close by,
first returning Common Scoters and Long- an important migration point. From the
tailed Ducks. St John’s Loch is a privately point we should see Red and Black-throat-
run nature reserve attracting wildfowl and ed Divers, Red-breasted Merganser,
terns. On our return south, we visit Embo Common Eider, Common Scoter and Long-
and Loch Fleet for waders and wildfowl. tailed Duck. Stubble fields regularly attract
Whooper Swans, migrant geese, Peregrine
Day 5: Corrimony is our first stop today, a Falcon and Merlin. If winds are from an
remote reserve of woodland and moors. easterly direction, Sooty Shearwater,
Our main interest is in locating Black Great, Arctic and Pomarine Skuas and
Grouse, which finds a stronghold here. large numbers of auks occur. We end the
Near Dingwall we visit a private estate for day at Nigg Bay for Black and Bar-tailed
Capercaillie and other woodland birds Godwits, Common Knot and other wildfowl
including Common and Scottish Crossbills and waders.
and Lesser Redpoll. On our return to the
Black Isle, a river complex may have Red Day 8: Depending on flight and travel
Kite, Osprey and migrant shorebirds. times, a visit to the Black Isle Forest is
Depending on tides, a visit to Udale Bay is planned for woodland birds including
planned where shorebirds occur including Common and Scottish Crossbills, Crested
Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Knot and Tit and Lesser Redpoll.
Dunlin. Pink-footed Geese, Eurasian
Wigeon and Eurasian Teal numbers
increase in September and attract hunting
Peregrine Falcons.
Prices
Day 6: Today we travel to the coastal Tour Price: £975
towns of Lossiemouth and Burghead in Deposit: £150
Moray. Burghead Bay probably holds the
largest concentration of seaducks in This holiday is fully inclusive of
Britain. October sees good numbers of accommodation and meals,
Long-tailed Ducks arriving to join Common complimentary pre-dinner drinks and
and Velvet Scoters and, in recent years, wine at Cygnus House,
Surf Scoters. Along the shore Arctic and complimentary transport and any
Sandwich Terns may be present. The rocky boat fees.
foreshore at Burghead often has Purple
Sandpiper. Lossimouth is reliable for gulls, Not included: insurance and items
terns and waders including Little Stint, of a personal nature. Entry into
Curlew Sandpiper and Greenshank. Loch RSPB reserves, if you are a non-
Spynie, nearby, has waterbirds and migrant member. Drinks purchased in hotels
passerines and the possibility of Common away from Cygnus House.
Otters.
16 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495Scotland
Late Winter birds of the
Highlands and Aberdeenshire
The wild and dramatic scenery of the Scottish Highlands and the adjacent North
Sea and Atlantic Ocean coasts offer some of the finest winter birding in Britain.
You are visiting at the optimum time for concentrations of divers, sea ducks,
geese and other wildfowl along the coast and inland lochs. In the forests and
glens we have a chance of observing Capercaillie, Black Grouse and birds of prey.
On beaches and exposed headlands we can expect flocks of waders, finches and
buntings. Aberdeenshire is one of the largest counties of Scotland, situated in the
north-east of the country. It has an extremely long coastline bordering the North
Sea, and several headlands which attract migrants. Your tour takes in some of
Scotland’s most important bird areas including Loch of Strathbeg, Rattray Head
and the Ythan Estuary. In recent years, Aberdeenshire has built up a reputation for
rare migrants with Snow Goose, Buff-breasted and Pectoral Sandpipers and Red-
breasted Flycatchers being recorded.
■ Travel arrangements should be into Inverness and out of Aberdeen.
Day 1: Arrive at Cygnus House situated on
the eastern half of the Black Isle, overlook- Dates
ing the RSPB Reserve of Udale Bay, for a
Saturday March 28th – Saturday
four-night stay. Feeders in our garden are
April 4th 2020
well stocked, attracting Eurasian Tree
Leader: Mark Finn
Sparrow, Eurasian Siskin, Brambling and
Group Size: 7
other common garden birds. The lower gar-
Birds: 120-135
den regularly has Eurasian Sparrowhawk,
Common Buzzard, Yellowhammer and
Reed Bunting. Further inland, on the exten- seaducks, auks and gulls. Loch Eye, on our
sive farmland of the Black Isle, we should return journey, is an important roosting site
encounter Red Kite. As dusk falls, we have for Greylag and Pink-footed Geese and
an excellent chance of observing hunting Whooper Swan.
Barn Owl. Mammals at Cygnus House
include Pine Marten and Badger, both of Day 3: This morning we travel southwards
which occur on a regular basis. into Speyside and Abernethy Forest.
Species of interest include Common,
Day 2: Udale Bay is situated in the Scottish and Parrot Crossbills, Crested and
Cromarty Firth, which is literally on our Coal Tits. With luck, we may encounter the
doorstep, an exceptional area for birds. The rare and declining Capercaillie along forest
deeper water sections have Red-throated trails. Later in the day, we head towards the
Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Red-breasted Cairngorm Mountains where we have a
Merganser, Greater Scaup and Black chance of locating Red Grouse, Rock
Guillemot. The new reserve at Nigg Bay Ptarmigan and parties of Snow Buntings at
attracts thousands of geese and shorebirds low levels. Early migrants including Ring
including Eurasian Oystercatcher, Eurasian Ouzel and Northern Wheatear often
Curlew, Common Knot, Dunlin and Bar- appear around the lower car park.
tailed Godwit. Tarbatness is a long spit of
land jutting into the North Sea. Fields Day 4: Early morning visit to Corrimony for
attract geese, swans, finches and buntings lekking Black Grouse followed by visits to
and predatory Peregrine Falcon and Gruinard Bay and Little Loch Broom in
Merlin. Off the coast, we should see divers, Wester Ross. Travelling through the coun-
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 17Scotland
tryside, we pass fast-flowing rivers and dra-
matic mountain ranges to reach the heavi-
ly indented coastline of Wester Ross. An
island in Gruinard Bay may have White-
tailed Eagles. We have excellent chances
of locating Red-throated, Black-throated
and Great Northern Divers. Other species
present include Barnacle Goose, Common
Eider, Golden Eagle, Common Guillemot
and Razorbill. Passerines are few but may
include Lesser Redpoll and Twite.
Day 5: Today we head south-east towards
Aberdeen via the coastal town of Portsoy -
a reliable staging post for White-billed
Divers. Girdle Ness, an exposed promonto-
ry jutting into the North Sea, attracts Great
Northern Diver, Great Skua and possibly
returning Sandwich Terns. As we head
north, we stop at the River Don for waders
with Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits being
possible in late March. Travel to Peterhead Purple Sandpiper Photo: Anders Mæland
for a three-night stay.
Country Park, with its woodland and wet-
Day 6: Rattray Head has a good reputa- lands, is planned. The former has Great
tion for migrants among the nettles and Spotted Woodpecker and variable numbers
docks. Regular migrants include Redwing, of Brambling and Eurasian Siskins. If time
Fieldfare, Common Chiffchaff and permits, we revisit Loch of Strathbeg for the
Goldcrest while the beach attracts Snow spectacle of roosting geese and swans.
Buntings, and on occasions Horned Lark.
Loch of Strathbeg is nearby, one of the pre- Day 8: Return to Aberdeen visiting Black
mier RSPB Reserves in Scotland for wild- Dog en route. Extensive sandy beaches
fowl and waders. We should see Whooper border the North Sea. Offshore we should
Swan, ducks, Pink-footed and Greylag find Common Eider, Common, Velvet and
Geese plus Barnacle and Greenland occasional Surf Scoters. Transfer to
White-fronted Geese and occasional Snow Aberdeen airport for early afternoon con-
and Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Marshes nections to the rest of Britain.
and scrub lure hunting Short-eared Owl,
Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. Recent rari- Prices
ties have included Garganey, Eurasian
Spoonbill, Great Egret, Little Gull, Green- Tour Price: £1,395
winged Teal and Common Crane. Deposit: £150
Day 7: Today we visit the Ythan Estuary This holiday is fully inclusive of
and Sands of Forvie, an interesting tidal accommodation and meals,
area of mud flats, beaches, sand dunes complimentary drinks at Cygnus
and moor. Ythan is an important staging House, complimentary transport and
point for ducks including Common any boat fees.
Goldeneye and Long-tailed Duck and in
recent years King Eiders. The commoner Not included: insurance and items
waders occur in roosts along the river. of a personal nature. Drinks in hotels
Offshore waters have Red-throated Diver, at Peterhead. Entry into RSPB
Greater Scaup and Common and Velvet reserves if you are not a member.
Scoters. In the afternoon a visit to Haddo
18 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495Caithness and Orkney
Birding at the top end
of Scotland
This is a new tour visiting the north-easterly corner of mainland Scotland and the
nearby Orkney Islands. Caithness is relatively unknown for birds but it has several
important sites in a small area. Just across the Pentland Firth are the Orkney
Islands with its seabird colonies and important populations of breeding species.
Please note you should stay in Inverness on the nights of May 10 and 17.
Day 1: This morning we head north along
the A9 towards Thurso, the largest town in Dates
Caithness. We have an afternoon ferry to Monday May 11th – Sunday May
Orkney with a good selection of seabirds: 17th 2020
Northern Gannet, Manx Shearwater, four Leader: Mark Finn
species of auks and the possibility of Group Size: 7
migrant Pomarine and Long-tailed Skuas if Birds: 120-140
the winds are favourable. On arrival in
Stromness we transfer to Kirkwall the main
town of the islands for a four-night stay. Day 4: A check of Kirkwall Harbour for any
lingering Iceland and Glaucous Gulls
Day 2: Today we start our exploration of before heading into East Mainland. Deer
Mainland with a visit to the old red sand- Sound is an important area holding Great
stone cliffs of Marwick Head. During May Northern Diver and seaducks during mid-
the cliffs are home to Black-legged May. On the foreshore we should find
Kittiwake, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, migrant waders including Sanderling and
Rock Dove and Northern Raven. The Ruddy Turnstone. Our journey continues
Loons RSPB Reserve is close by where south to South Ronaldsay and Burray
breeding ducks include Northern Pintail, which is linked by the famous Churchill
Barriers. This is a good area for lingering
Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler. Also
Black-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe.
present in the marsh are Arctic Tern,
If the winds have been southerly or easter-
Common Redshank and displaying ly in nature migrants may be located. In
Common Snipe. In the afternoon a visit to recent years this has included Common
Birsay Moors, which is an important area Crane, Woodchat Shrike, Bluethroat, Pied
for Hen Harrier, Merlin, Short-eared Owl Flycatcher and Common Redstart.
and Red-throated Divers.
Day 5: Head to Stromness for the ferry
Day 3: Today we visit the island of Hoy back to Scrabster. On arrival we can check
which is fairly mountainous in nature and the harbour for Common Eider, Black
holds little in the way of human population. Guillemot and possibly Iceland Gulls. We
Our interest is in the moorland birds which follow the coast, stopping at Dunnet Bay, a
come to breed in the northern part of the regular haunt of divers, Long-tailed Duck,
island and includes substantial numbers of Greater Scaup, Great and Arctic Skuas
Great and Arctic Skuas. Other species and Sandwich Terns. St John’s Pool is a
include Golden Plover, Dunlin, Eurasian productive area for birds, attracting Arctic
Curlew, Common Stonechat and Twite. A and Common Terns, Whimbrel and scarce
visit to the towering cliffs of St John’s Head breeding ducks of Northern Scotland
is productive for auks including Atlantic including Gadwall and Northern Shoveler.
Puffin, Peregrine Falcon and rarely White- Unusual species on recent visits have been
tailed Eagles. Garganey, Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 19Caithness and Orkney
Pink-footed Geese Photo: Jo Finn
Duck. Later, we travel to Broubster Leans, Return to Thurso via Bettyhill where the
located in the flow country of Caithness fields often hold Whinchat and Twite.
where we should encounter Hen Harrier,
Short-eared Owl, European Golden Plover Day 7: We check areas in and around
and Dunlin. Transfer to Thurso for two Thurso before making our way south to
nights. Inverness. Along the way are stops at Brora
where the estuary attracts unusual birds in
Day 6: A change of direction today as we spring, notably Little Gull. Loch Fleet is fur-
cross the county boundary of Caithness ther south with nesting Ospreys and a wide
into Sutherland, a large and sparsely pop- selection of waders and wildfowl. The tour
ulated area of Britain. Our first stop is the concludes in Inverness later in the day.
Hope Valley - a reliable area for Golden
Eagle, Greenshank, Eurasian Woodcock
and in some summers Redwing and
Brambling. The marshy areas around Loch
Prices
Hope often have Whooper Swan. At Tour Price: £1,595
Durness, the most north-westerly village in Single room: £100
mainland Britain, migrant Bar-tailed Deposit: £150
Godwits and Sanderling are joined on the
beach by Sandwich and Arctic Terns. This holiday is fully inclusive of
Slightly inland the water meadows of accommodation and meals,
Balnakeil often have lingering Barnacle complimentary transport and any
and Pink-footed Geese and Whooper boat fees.
Swans. Rarities occur on a regular basis at
Durness with Ring-necked Duck, Common Not included: Drinks, insurance and
Crane, Little Stint, Western Yellow Wagtail items of a personal nature.
and Red-breasted Goose in recent years.
20 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495Islay
New Year
in the Inner Hebrides
The island of Islay is located in the large and spectacular region of Argyll and
Bute. Islay is one of the largest islands in the Inner Hebrides chain and is literally
just north-west of Ireland. The mild climate attracts thousands of wintering geese,
mainly Barnacle, and the distinctive race of White-fronted Goose on the fields and
moors. Islay is almost split into two by the large sea loch of Loch Indaal. This in
turn is an important wintering area for divers, grebes, seaducks and waders,
which find a mild climate to spend the winter in.
Day 1: This morning we travel to Argyll and
Bute from Edinburgh and Glasgow and Dates
along the shore of the spectacular Loch
Wednesday December 30th 2020 -
Lomond. Our journey takes us through
Monday January 4th 2021
increasingly spectacular scenery to
Leader: Mark Finn
Lochgilphead and eventually to the ferry
Group size: 8
terminus at Kennacraig. The ferry crossing
Birds: 90-115
offers us Great Northern, Red-throated and
Black-throated Divers, Northern Gannet,
Common Guillemot and Razorbill. On Common Snipe and the uncommon Water
arrival at Port Askaig or Port Ellen, we Rail. The surrounding dykes and damper
make the journey to our accommodation at areas attract Barn Owl and Eurasian
Bridgend, which is ideally situated for Woodcock at dusk, along with the specta-
exploring the island and views towards cle of geese coming in to roost.
Loch Indaal. Ardnave Point, a remote peninsula, juts
out towards Colonsay. The loch often has
Days 2-4: Islay has many places in which Whooper Swans, Common Goldeneye,
to observe birds in a wide variety of habitat. Tufted Duck and, occasionally, vagrant
Loch Gruinart, situated at the head of a sea Green-winged Teal and Ring-necked Duck.
loch amidst low lying hills and moorland, is The machair at Ardnave has Red-billed
famous for Greenland White-fronted and Chough and Twite and Snow Buntings
Barnacle Geese. Careful scanning of the along the sandy shoreline.
goose flocks may reveal annual but rare Loch Indaal, a large sea loch with mud
visitors in Cackling and Snow Geese from flats, beaches, rocky promontories and
Greenland and Canada. With thousands of several piers, almost severs Islay in two.
geese present their presence attracts good Greater Scaup are numerous along with
numbers of raptors including: Peregrine smaller numbers of Great Northern, Red-
Falcon, Merlin, Hen Harrier and, on occa- throated and Black-throated Divers,
sions, Golden Eagle. The reserve has Slavonian Grebe, Common Scoter, Long-
areas which flood, attracting wildfowl and tailed Duck and Common Goldeneye.
waders which usually include flocks of Rocky beaches and mud flats attract
Northern Lapwing, European Golden Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Bar-tailed
Plover, Eurasian Curlew and on occasions Godwit, and Common Knot. The mud at
wintering Ruff and Greenshank. Loch Bridgend is one of the best areas for
Gruinart is blessed with a well-placed hide waders and we may locate uncommon
where we watch hundreds of wintering birds for Islay including Pink-footed Goose,
ducks including scarcer species such as Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Red-breasted
Gadwall, Northern Shoveler and Northern Merganser, Grey Plover and in some win-
Pintail. The drier islands attract wintering ters the Icelandic race of Black-tailed
☎ 01381 610495 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 21Islay Greater Scaup Photo: Jo Finn Godwit. Near Bridgend the fast-flowing Islay does have a good track record for rar- rivers attract Grey Wagtail and occasional- ities and we will look for these if they turn ly White-throated Dipper. A large freshwa- up during our stay. ter loch often holds Little Grebe and the commoner ducks. Day 5: Today we take the morning ferry Woodland on Islay is generally stunted back to the mainland at Kennacraig and and old, attracting Blue, Great and Long- travel to Glasgow and Edinburgh where the tailed Tits, Eurasian Treecreeper and tour concludes late afternoon. Goldcrest. In the open fields Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle and Song Thrushes form large flocks before making the short migra- Prices tion across to Ireland. In the south of Islay we visit the harbour Tour Price: £1,695 at Port Ellen, which is sheltered from the Deposit: £200 worst of the elements. This is a reliable area for wintering Glaucous and Iceland This holiday is fully inclusive of Gulls although their numbers vary from accommodation and meals, ferry year to year. The maltings around the coast fares, transport and guidance. attract Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. The Mull of Oa is close by, a RSPB Not included: insurance and items reserve with important populations of of a personal nature. Entry into Golden Eagle and Red-billed Chough and RSPB reserves if you are a non- in recent years the huge White-tailed member. Eagle. 22 www.birdwatchingbreaks.com ☎ 01381 610495
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