Heatherlea Brochure 2021/22 by Heatherlea Birdwatching

birding and wildlife holidays

Scotland and the rest of the UK

2021/22

WELCOME TO HEATHERLEA your natural holiday choice! birding and wildlife holidays

GOING FORWARD WITH HEATHERLEA - Welcome to our 'Scotland and rest of the UK' 2021/22 Brochure! Scotland's wide-open spaces are yours to enjoy, and Heatherlea are your premier option for birding holidays. We have been operating tours here for 30 years, and offer a wealth of choice, with 32 different mainland itineraries, and another 25 tours to virtually every major Scottish island and archipelago. All include accommodation, food, travel and, of course, expert guidance. In this Brochure you can see all our UK tours through till the end of 2022. Our full Worldwide Brochure is also available, please see our website or call our office for details, and see our regular E- Newsletters for updates. Here at our own Mountview Hotel in Nethy Bridge, ‘Scottish Highlands’ groups are small, with a high level of personal attention. We are open virtually every week of the year, and whether you join us for a full week or choose a shorter break, all offer great birding and top value. Around the Scottish Islands, Heatherlea offer a unique gateway to beautiful, isolated places where wildlife is special, with fantastic holidays from Islay and Tiree in the south, to distant places including St Kilda, and Unst on Shetland. Our expert, friendly guides make each experience truly memorable. ‘Rest of UK’ holidays are expanding rapidly too, and now many of you are choosing Heatherlea much closer to home. Our Operations Team offer a very personal service. Working full-time to look after holiday planning and delivery, we invest in the support you need and appreciate. Whether you wish to discuss personal requirements for any tour, or just chat about detail at a moment’s notice, please feel free to call or email. Emma, Fleur, Caroline, Jolene and Lindsay are here to help, and both Mark and Kevin are often in the office to advise on birding matters.

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

We are also very pleased to welcome several outstanding new guides to our team this year, in Scotland and further afield. We are delighted that some of the best bird guides in the world want to work with Heatherlea.

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Thanks to all friends old and new who have joined us during the 30 seasons Heatherlea has been in operation, we hope to earn your support again. Here’s to great wildlife watching!

REST OF UK

tea Kevin, Caryl and the Heatherlea

Heatherlea Scotland ‘High standards of customer care and a genuine passion for birding and wildlife make this a most rewarding experience.’ VisitScotland, Heatherlea assessment

COVER PHOTOS Capercaille by Neil McIntyre. See Scottish Highlands and some of our European tours to target Capercaille. Corncrake by Neil McIntyre. See Scottish Highlands and Scottish Islands and some of our European tours to target Corncrake. More photo credits on page 10.

This recyclable Brochure is printed on paper from responsible sources. All postage is made by recyclable envelope or polylope.

WHY CHOOSE HEATHERLEA? Heatherlea is built on a love of wildlife watching, and a real spirit of adventure. There is wildlife to marvel at, flora to enjoy and landscapes and culture to savour! We are firmly focused on finding wildlife for you to see, though only in a sensitive and sustainable way, and plan very carefully in advance to give you the best chances, in comfort and safety. We are always aware of the environment around us. Whether you are viewing Crested Tit and Capercaillie within a few miles of our Hotel in the Scottish Highlands, watching Tiger from a jeep in a remote Indian reserve, or finding spring migrant birds in Skyros or Extremadura, we work hard to give you the ‘real’ experience and treat you as a valued individual, not as part of a crowd. Our Guides are professionals, much more than couriers or day-guides, and they work hard with patience and skill, wherever you are, to make sure that your investment of time and money is rewarded. Back at our office, inside our own Hotel, we know that integral services including accommodation, food and travel are just as important as activities in the field when delivering a wildlife watching holiday. In our specialist part of the tourism industry, there are very few travel companies

who own and deliver hotel services on a daily basis, and even fewer hotelowning companies who understand the complex delivery of wildlife holidays. Heatherlea does both! We own a three-star hotel and take you to places around the world for wildlife. We have the knowledge and experience to deliver everything you need, and our full-time Operations Team are ready to help. Established in 1991, protected by our own ATOL Licence (6113), and with a dedicated UK Bank account solely for clients’ monies, Heatherlea offers the foundation and security you need when deciding who to choose. We hold specialist Tour Operator Insurance, and our Hotel is wholly owned by the company, so we offer added security which might not be available everywhere you look. Our attitude and dedication have established Heatherlea as one of Britain’s leading wildlife holiday providers, and as we enjoy our 31st season we have never stopped striving to be better, to give our clients the best we can. We also take care to make sure you are comfortable, and you won’t feel out of place if you have less experience than others. We are not ‘intensive’ or ‘twitchers’, but are dedicated to showing you wildlife, and above all, we have fun.

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS WITH HEATHERLEA Your gateway to Scottish birds and wildlife! This is where we started, and our lovely Hotel in the beautiful Highland village of Nethy Bridge, on the edge of the Abernethy Forest, is where many of our clients take their first wildlife watching holiday, often continuing with us to new places around the world. Our Highland holidays take you to places where wildlife is special, and we travel in minibuses which are great mobile hides. Many key species can be found close to our Hotel, though our Scottish Highland itineraries might also take you as far away as Handa Island, Orkney, the Isles of Lewis and Harris, Skye, and Mull, including a night or two in a second centre to reduce travel miles. We show you all the wildlife, and include all accommodation, food, travel, access fees and ferry charges. You get terrific value from our fully inclusive holidays, so book with confidence – there are no hidden extras! Turn to page 6 to read more.

SCOTTISH ISLAND HOLIDAYS WITH HEATHERLEA Go a little further! We are experts on the Scottish islands, where Corncrake, eagles, skuas, Basking Shark, Storm Petrel, rare, windblown migrants, wonderful scenery, charming people and exciting places are all waiting for you. These adventures begin to unfold on page 29.

OVERSEAS WITH HEATHERLEA

Do it ‘The Heatherlea Way’

Europe, the Americas, long-haul to Africa, Asia or Australia, there is a world of choice with Heatherlea. ‘The Heatherlea Way’ involves looking after you with care whilst maximising your experience and giving value for money. Most holidays begin before you even reach airport check-in, with our Pre-flight services. Read more in our full worldwide Brochure available to download from our website. Finally, we should point out that this Brochure offers a flavour of our holidays, and most of the basic information you need. More information is available on our website or directly by telephone or email, and details can change. We always issue a full itinerary with each holiday confirmation, though please check against the website to ensure you know exactly what the content will be. New holidays are launched virtually every month, and as some dates fill others are made available. We are always very happy to hear from you. Thank you for reading our 2021/2022 Scotland and Rest of UK Brochure! Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

Twitter: @heatherleabirds

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HEATHERLEA and the ENVIRONMENT RSPB Sponsorship Heatherlea are delighted to announce a new sponsorship with RSPB Scotland. Already underway, our funding will contribute to two projects of significant importance;

Restoration and protection of peatlands at Forsinard ‘Peatlands’ are habitats with a naturally accumulated layer of dead plant material (especially mosses) formed under waterlogged conditions. UK peatlands cover 26,000 km2 of land with over 60% in Scotland, including some of the world’s most important and best examples of blanket bogs, found in the Flow Country. Peatlands are extremely important for wildlife, including rare and specialist birds such as Red-throated Diver, Blackthroated Diver, Golden Plover, Dunlin and Greenshank.

peatlands, the wet conditions slow down decomposition and enable dead plant remains to be laid down as peat. Our peatlands have a major role to play in combating the effects of climate change because carbon removed from the atmosphere by the plants is stored in the peat and remains there for millennia. Peatlands have risen to prominence in recent years because of this role as a carbon store, and as a means of moderating greenhouse gas emissions.

As an ecosystem, peatlands are also incredibly important for human and planetary wellbeing, particularly as a long-term carbon store and as a sponge to soak up water, reducing downstream flooding. In undamaged

We plan to visit the peatlands at Forsinard several times in 2021, join us to see this fascinating landscape for yourself!

Puffins Britain and Ireland hold 9% of the world’s Atlantic Puffin population, of which over 80% breeds in Scotland. Puffins are highly colonial when breeding, typically nesting in burrows dug in soil on islands free from ground predators. However, in recent years Puffin numbers have plummeted at some colonies, and experts estimate that without help more than half the global Puffin population will disappear within the next forty years. Many of Scotland’s Puffins are on islands in the North Sea, however there is a colony which lives on the Firth of Forth, a very short boat trip from Edinburgh. Small islands such as Fidra and the Isle of May have proved to be successful Puffin habitat, until about a decade ago, when a plant called Tree Mallow was introduced to the islands of the Forth. Tree Mallow is an invasive plant which grows so vigorously it stops Puffins from reaching their burrows to lay their eggs. Without the safety of these burrows, eggs and chicks become vulnerable to predation, and as Puffins only lay one egg a year, every puffling is precious! Over recent years we have seen benefits from removing the Tree Mallow, though this process is expensive. Our donation means RSPB Scotland can continue with Tree Mallow removal and continue bi-annual Puffin monitoring on these islands. ‘We are so grateful to Heatherlea for their incredibly generous donation to support both our peatland restoration work in RSPB Scotland’s Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve, and our efforts to protect our Puffin population. In 2015 the Puffin was upgraded to the UK’s highest level of conservation 2

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email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

concern, joining the European Red List and declared “vulnerable to global extinction”. Thanks to the generosity of Heatherlea, we can continue our tree mallow removal in the Firth of Forth and protect their burrows from being destroyed by the roots of this invasive plant. This donation will also support our blanket bog restoration in the North of Scotland; a rare habitat which in total covers just 3% of the world’s land surface but contains nearly 30% of all terrestrial carbon. Half of this kind donation will go towards funding our continued commitment to restoring our threatened and damaged blanket bog and provide a much-needed habitat for an array of wildlife’. Seonaid Mason, Senior Development Officer, RSPB Scotland

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

Capercaillie Land Management in the Heatherlea Private Estate Guidelines for watching Capercaillie have been agreed by responsible bodies, and you can read a full copy on our website. Heatherlea fully supports these guidelines. We have unique access into a privately-owned estate, actively managed for the benefit of Capercaillie. The landowner is regenerating the native Caledonian pinewood to create additional habitat, and our arrangement includes the payment of a fee which contributes towards management of this special place. We enter through secure gates, staying inside our ‘mobile hide’ minibuses as we drive around tracks with keen eyes to all sides! In recent times we are still enjoying good views of the birds on many occasions. We are the only birding tour operator authorised to look for Capercaillie inside these lands and will continue our financial support for the benefit of wildlife … and our customers!

Bursary in Environmental Science We are passionate about supporting the next generation of environmentally conscious students. Every year the Heatherlea Bursary at Lancaster University is awarded to a deserving student by the Department of Environmental Science, and our 2020 recipient has recently been confirmed. We are delighted to fund this important initiative, now in its 15th year. Recent recipient Ami (pictured at Mountview Hotel) said ‘receiving this prestigious Bursary reduced my barriers to returning to higher education to complete a Masters’ Degree. It greatly boosted my confidence and reassured me I had made the right decision’.

Thanks to all Heatherlea clients for making these contributions possible!

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MEET THE HEATHERLEA TEAM! Our highly experienced team are ready and waiting to organise your holiday and show you the wildlife, wherever in the world you want to go! Your holiday includes the services of a Heatherlea Guide, a very valuable asset. We are well-known for great guiding and personal care, and our expert leaders know that the really important part of any holiday is the experience for you, our valued customer. Much more than a friend to help you identify birds, your Heatherlea Guide plans your entire holiday, from briefing on the first evening to round-up on the last. They organise everything to suit wildlife, weather and your progress through the week, and because our groups are small, have time to care about your personal experience. This isn’t just whether or not you saw the bird or animal, but whether you are getting the most from your holiday. Our core team are based in the UK and can be found in Scotland and further afield. Most have been working for Heatherlea for many years, and a quick check reveals around 140 years of guiding for Heatherlea across this part of our team! Read detailed Guide profiles on our website, where you can also see their current guiding itinerary. Jenna Berry A new recruit to Heatherlea, Jenna is a keen birder and experienced Tour Leader in Scotland. Jenna is currently moving north to Strathspey and has already settled into our Team.

Holly Page Holly is a keen birder who we have long known as a valued Heatherlea client. She has a passion for all wildlife including bees, hoverflies and beetles as well as eagles, divers and waders. Holly has spent many years birding across the north of England, with the occasional foray overseas!

Mike Coleman Cheery and friendly, Mike first joined us in 2001, and is particularly drawn to our new holidays in Asia, though you can join him on tours in Scotland and around the world, much to the benefit of our groups!

Dave Pearce Originally from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, Dave now lives in East Yorkshire, and alongside guiding bird tours for Heatherlea, he works as a Consultant Ornithologist, undertaking bird surveys, bird monitoring and research from Scotland to Kent, Wales to Norfolk and many points in-between.

Peter Cosgrove Peter is a professional eco-consultant, keen birder throughout the Highlands and well-travelled overseas, leading for us in the Caribbean, Africa, Americas and elsewhere.

Barry Embling Barry joined us in 2019 and is already popular with many of our guests. A keen birdwatcher and naturalist at home and abroad, Barry joins the team again in 2021 and is looking forward to leading in Europe, Scotland and the rest of the UK. Bernie Forbes Experienced leader Bernie loves sharing his passion for birds and his groups enjoy great birding. Bernie has led many groups around Europe, North Africa and the Americas, and now extends Heatherlea tours into his native Sussex. Ian Ford Ian first joined Heatherlea in 1999 and joins us again in 2021 as a Senior Guide. Ever popular, Ian will be leading groups from Orkney to the Solway Firth in Scotland, and overseas holidays including Gambia, Camargue and Southern Peru. Toby Green Toby first joined us in 2013. A popular Leader in Scotland and around the world, Toby is a top birder with a great sense of humour, and boundless enthusiasm. Phil Knott Phil is a well-established and popular member of the Heatherlea team, with extensive experience throughout the world.

‘

John Picton John joined our happy team in 2016 and will be guiding in Scotland in 2021. His relaxed style and easy manner make for enjoyable days in the field.

Dave Pullan Dave is an exceptional birder who has vast experience in Scotland and worldwide. He joined Heatherlea in 2006 and has been responsible for many sightings of rarities in Scotland. Dave also leads overseas in Spain, Armenia, India and China, amongst other places. Kevin Shaw Founder of Heatherlea with wife Caryl in 1991, Kevin is around most weeks at The Mountview Hotel in Nethy Bridge when not leading in Scotland or overseas. Kevin tends to pop up unannounced on several overseas holidays each year. Mark Warren Mark joined us from North Ronaldsay in January 2016 and is now a popular member of our team in Scotland and around the world. An experienced birder and tour leader, with extensive wildlife knowledge and boundless enthusiasm, Mark looks forward to guiding again in 2021 and onwards. Stewart Woolley A keen birder and photographer, Stewart joins the Heatherlea team in 2020. Having travelled widely in Europe, the USA and Africa, Stewart concludes that, on the right day, West Beach, Berneray in the Outer Hebrides is the best place in the world!

The whole day was very enjoyable and expertly led. To achieve an award of five stars, a score of at least 85% must be achieved. Heatherlea score at this level or higher in every category, and the award of five stars is confirmed.

’

VisitScotland Assessment. 4

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

…. and in the office ….. Emma, Fleur, Caroline, Lindsay, Jolene and Kevin are here to help, please contact us anytime. Please visit our website to read more about the holiday of your choice, and also to download a free ‘Trip Report’ from a recent holiday. Our office team will be very happy to speak with you by telephone or email, and you can check up-to-date availability and reserve your holiday in person.

tel: 01479 821248 email: info@heatherlea.co.uk web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

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2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, though at Heatherlea we were able to reopen for business in Scotland and throughout the UK in mid-August. As many of you know, Mountview Hotel is small and very private. With three large public rooms, and extensive precautions in place, we will keep the building secure for our clients and staff. We are also in arrangement with partner hotels throughout the country to extend precautions wherever you travel with us. We were delighted to welcome Edward Mountain, Member of the Scottish Parliament, to Mountview Hotel on Friday 14th August. Mr Mountain took a great interest in Heatherlea, and said:

“I'm delighted to see Heatherlea and Mountview Hotel resume operations in a covid-responsible manner, and to meet so many of their friendly and capable team today. Whether it is wildlife watching or exploring the great outdoors, our region is ensuring safe tourism can happen so that visitors can return with peace of mind. I am passionate about supporting the recovery of our tourism sector in the Highlands and I will continue to press the Scottish Government to address the challenges Highland tourism businesses face.” In Scotland, Heatherlea have a wealth of holiday choice at Mountview Hotel and around the Highlands and Islands, and we are currently planning to run all scheduled departures. Until further notice, our minibuses will carry a maximum of five passengers each, with everyone guaranteed a free seat next to them. Please contact us for up-to-theminute status on any departure. Keep up to date by reading our regular ENewsletters, and see announcements on our homepage at www.heatherlea.co.uk.

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‘SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS’ WITH HEATHERLEA Your gateway to Scottish birds and wildlife!

Heatherlea are Scotland’s premier birding and wildlife holiday operator. Founded in 1991, we have enjoyed 30 full seasons here in the heart of the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, in the magnificent Scottish Highlands. Our HQ is The Mountview Hotel in Nethy Bridge, and we offer birdwatching and wildlife holidays every week from January until late November. You can come at any season; wildlife is always great in this part of the world. Stunning and varied habitats are close at hand, and from mountains and ancient forest to wonderful coastline and beautiful islands, you will visit Britain’s most breathtaking scenery. We are not ‘intensive’ or ‘twitchers’, but dedicated to showing you wildlife, and above all, we have fun. You won’t feel out of place if you have less experience than others, and many of our guests become friends visiting year after year. We take care to make sure everyone enjoys an unforgettable holiday. We show you all the wildlife, and look after all accommodation, food, travel, access fees and ferry charges. You get terrific value from our fully inclusive holidays, so book with confidence – there are no hidden extras! Our full-week ‘Scottish Highlands’ holidays take you to places close to our Hotel, where wildlife is special. Many also include a night or two in a second centre for your comfort, as far away as Handa, the Orkneys, Skye, Mull, or the isles of Lewis and Harris. This is a unique way to see the ‘Highlands and Islands’ during one visit, made possible with Heatherlea because we own our hotel and keep your room secure while you bird the islands.

Above all, your holiday includes the services of a Heatherlea Guide, a very valuable asset. We are famous for great guiding and personal care, and our expert leaders know the really important part of any holiday is the experience for you, our valued customer. Much more than a friend to help you identify birds, your Heatherlea Guide plans your entire holiday, from briefing on the first evening to round-up on the last. They organise everything to suit wildlife, weather and your progress through the week, and because our groups are small, have time to care about your personal experience. This isn’t just whether or not you saw the bird or animal, but whether you are getting the most from your holiday. We maintain the emphasis on personal service, with a limit of just seven clients per guide on all our full-week Scottish trips. Heatherlea are the first mainland Wildlife Experience to be awarded five stars, the highest possible rating, by visitScotland.

Choose Heatherlea, the Scottish birding specialists with everything you need. GROUPS Heatherlea organise group holidays for magazines, RSPB Members Groups, wildlife organisations, other holiday operators, and groups of friends. We are very experienced and can take the hassle away from holiday organisation and delivery. Just relax and let us look after you! Group holidays can be tailored exactly to suit your needs. You can bring any number of people, any time of year, to see any combination of birds and mammals, and we offer very attractive terms. If you would like to chat over the possibilities, please ring. You will be surprised how easy it is with Heatherlea!

= tremendous quality and value

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

CHOOSE HEATHERLEA GUIDES FOR SCOTTISH WILDLIFE Our resident Guides are very experienced Scottish leaders with unbeatable local knowledge. Jenna Berry, Mike Coleman, Pete Cosgrove, Ian Ford, Toby Green, Holly Page, Dave Pearce, John Picton, Dave Pullan, Kevin Shaw, Mark Warren and Stewart Woolley are highly skilled birders and real ‘people people’, who can’t wait to show you the wonderful wildlife of the Scottish Highlands! We are birding continuously, building knowledge each week as the seasons unfold. Where is the best place for Crossbills this year? Which Blackcock lek is still going strong? Where are Golden Eagles actually being seen? Your Heatherlea Guide knows where the birds have been showing, and the best way to maximise your chances. We gather an enormous reservoir of information not available anywhere else, and always try to make sure everyone sees the birds. Heatherlea work alongside local landowners and estates to develop brilliant birding close to hand, often with unique access, and there are some extra benefits too. As an example, we never leave before 6am to see Black Grouse and Capercaillie. Relax and enjoy your holiday as we look after the details and find wildlife for you. No wonder our groups have a happy and friendly atmosphere! Don’t forget that our holidays show you all Scotland’s birds and other wildlife. We have a huge choice, with full-week holidays and short breaks for busy birders. Whichever you choose, all include everything you need. You may be tempted to ‘do it yourself’, but don’t forget how much more you will spend on fuel, guided trips, lunches, ferries and access to reserves – and that’s before you find the wildlife you came to see! Heatherlea travel by roomy minibus, important for birders. Passengers get lots of leg room, good all-round visibility, the chance to reach out for optics, and great views when we need to stay inside. We probably see Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Red Grouse and Short-eared Owl better inside the minibus than from outside!

NETHY BRIDGE, the centre of Scottish birdwatching You can’t beat Nethy Bridge as a Scottish birding base, as seen recently on BBC Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch! We are on the edge of the Abernethy Forest, and a casual stroll can produce Capercaillie, Scottish Crossbill and Crested Tit before breakfast. Red Squirrel, Siskin and Great Spotted Woodpecker are regular on our feeding station, Osprey and Buzzard pass overhead, and Dipper breed on the clear River Nethy 200 metres away. Kestrel, Hobby, Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and even Golden Eagle, Goshawk and White-tailed Eagle are on our ‘hotel list’. Woodcock are common in spring and summer, Grey Wagtail, Goldeneye, several breeding waders, and even Otter and Pine Marten have all been spotted within a mile or two, especially along the nearby River Spey. In summer we have Tawny Owl and perhaps Long-eared Owl with young, and Black Grouse and Ptarmigan are within a few miles. With extensive local walks and trails in this unspoilt and delightful Highland location, early morning and evening birding is an exciting optional extra! Nethy Bridge has an excellent general store/post office, with postcards, presents, newspapers and all the other little things you might wish. ‘Nethy’ is just right – brilliant for birding, close to services, yet unspoilt and delightful in character. A real Highland village at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park! We have carefully designed each holiday to give you the best wildlife watching according to changing seasons. That’s why our ‘Spring into Scotland’ holidays in April are very different from our ‘Eagles, Divers and Dotterel’ weeks in July, and our ‘Highlands in Autumn’ trips in October differ again. You can count on Heatherlea to find key Scottish wildlife whenever you visit – a wealth of wonderful experiences! Ideally placed to reach every important habitat, we can easily transfer east or west, to see that special bird which puts the cap on a great week.

‘Exceptional’ VisitScotland

‘The whole day was very enjoyable and expertly led. To achieve an award of five stars, a score of at least 85% must be achieved. Heatherlea score at this level or higher in every category, and the award of five stars is confirmed.’ VisitScotland. Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

Twitter: @heatherleabirds

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THE MOUNTVIEW HOTEL – your perfect birding base! Our ‘Scottish Highland’ holidays are based at our own property, The Mountview Hotel, a 3-star Edwardian Country House Hotel in the charming village of Nethy Bridge, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. The Mountview is certainly well named; the peak of Cairn Gorm can be seen from our front door, and glorious views of three ranges extend many miles across the Cairngorms, Monadhliaths, and the four Kincardine peaks. The ancient Caledonian Forest begins behind the Hotel, and the clear River Nethy is just 200 metres away. The Mountview is set in two acres of attractive grounds featuring native Scots Pine and Silver Birch. Guests are welcome to explore, and in season you will find blaeberry and chanterelle. Our busy bird feeding station attracts Crested Tit, Siskin, Redpoll, Goldfinch and our local Red Squirrel population, and our wildflower meadow holds Moonwort and Northern Marsh Orchid. You are also welcome to view our highly productive kitchen garden, which provides our table with seasonal herbs, salad greens and vegetables. From the moment you arrive you will be made to feel at home. Inviting public rooms include a welcoming lounge with deep seated, comfortable sofas and open log fire; a peaceful reading room stocked with natural history books and magazines; a private residents’ dining room with fresh flowers and a well-stocked restaurant bar with glorious mountain views. Guests enjoy attractive en-suite bedrooms with comfortable beds, crisp white linen and fluffy towels, freeview TV, hairdryers and a hospitality tray. WIFI is free of charge. Good company, perhaps with your choice from a well-stocked bar, is an important feature of evenings after dinner. Above all, when birding is over for the day, we have attentive staff who take care and really make you welcome. Non-birding guests are welcome.

GREEN HEATHERLEA Our kitchen is a hive of activity, and we pride ourselves on the artisanal nature of our Hotel. Caryl makes all our jams and jellies herself and sources soft fruit from local farms, handpicks rowanberries in local woodland and chooses just the right fruit for our preserves. Strawberry, damson, worcesterberry, rhubarb and ginger, rowan jelly, apple jelly, marmalade and lemon curd are just a selection, and from the local forests we gather blackberries, chanterelle, porcini, and blewits. Over the years our list of home bakes has become extensive; as well as our renowned flapjacks and shortbreads, we also make banana bread, ginger cake, fruit cake, carrot cake and many different sponge cakes. Baskets of homemade bread and rolls accompany dinner, and these may include buttery brioche, wholemeal plaited bread, Italian-style ciabatta, spelt bread, pain brie, granary rolls, bath buns or ale bread. As part of our policy of using the best, freshest produce, we manage our own vegetable garden, where produce is grown according to organic principles. Our garden provides most of our herbs, and almost everything in summer has a flavour from our garden. Expect a selection from mange-tout peas, sugar snap peas, tomatoes, Swiss chard, courgettes, garlic, pak choi cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, potatoes, curly kale, lovage, tarragon, thyme, fennel, dill, landcress, rocket, sage, lemon balm, ginger mint, applemint, spearmint, and cos, curly endive, freckles, lollo rosso, green salad bowl and red salad bowl lettuces. Our own Kitchen Garden reduces food miles and our salads and vegetables taste great too!

Our award-winning kitchen team is led by Caryl and highly skilled Head Chef Ettienne Els. Expect a wide selection of fresh Scottish produce, bought locally where possible, and prepared with skill and imagination by highly trained chefs. If you have special dietary needs, we cater personally for you and offer imaginative vegetarian and vegan dishes. Dinner is usually at 7pm, allowing time to relax after an exhilarating day in the field, and our groups eat together in our Residents’ Dining Room. You can expect a variety of traditional food, full of flavour and offering a delicious taste of Scotland. To accompany your meal, our Wine List offers high quality wines, and you can also choose from a wide selection of local beers, malts, other spirits (try our range of Scottish gins!) and soft drinks.

THE MOUNTVIEW RESTAURANT Non-residents are welcome in our popular Restaurant. Many of our birding friends join us for dinner here, especially either side of a SCOTTISH ISLAND holiday. Nonresidents/guests are welcome to join you for dinner. See our website mountviewhotel.co.uk for full details including Restaurant Menu.

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

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CAPERCAILLIE and the ‘Heatherlea Private Estate’ Guidelines for watching Capercaillie have been issued by the Scottish Capercaillie Group, a national body whose members include RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry and Land Scotland, Scottish Forestry, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and Scottish Land and Estates. Heatherlea fully supports these guidelines, which are published on our website, and we look for Capercaillie in a safe and responsible manner. We feel our methods give the best opportunity in Scotland to see these spectacular birds. Much of Scotland’s remaining population is within a few miles of Mountview Hotel, and we see the birds all year round. Our experienced and capable guides have their ear to the ground, and our local knowledge and strong contacts give you the very best chances whenever you come. A key advantage is our relationship with local landowners, especially our unique ‘Private Estate’ access, currently in its 25th season. We enter through secure gates, and stay inside our ‘mobile hide’ minibuses, which are high enough to allow good views above the berries carpeting the forest floor, as we drive along tracks with keen eyes to all sides. In spring, birds are often perched in trees, snipping new growth from the branches, and may ‘freeze’, allowing superb views. In summer and autumn, birds are more frequently seen on the ground, and often stand to attention, or slowly walk into the forest. We pay note to areas recently cleared of trees, where berries are exposed and Capercaillie come to feed. Using vehicles is very sensible, as the birds do not generally regard our buses as a threat. Secondly, our group is kept together, so often the bird is enjoyed by everyone, rather than by one or two people at the front of a group on foot, when birds are highly likely to take flight. We are the only wildlife/birding tour operator authorised to look for Capercaillie inside these lands. Our record of finding the birds is very good, however we do not accept specific commissions to look for Capercaillie at any time, so please do not ask us to 'show you a Capercaillie', you should instead join one of our advertised tours, and we will pick the best day to look for the birds. Our highly professional Guides and many clients are equally keen to keep the best interests of the birds in mind, and whilst sightings are not guaranteed, we have a very high success rate over many years – you really can see Capercaillie!

GETTING HERE IS EASY Reaching Nethy Bridge is easy. Here are some suggestions to help you plan. BY CAR

From the west travel north to Perth. From the east travel via Forth Road Bridge and M90 to Perth. From Perth take A9 signposted Inverness and exit north of Aviemore. Follow signs northeast through Boat of Garten to Nethy Bridge (10 miles). In Nethy Bridge, drive through the village, over the River Nethy, and you will see our sign 200 metres ahead on the right.

BY COACH

Scottish Citylink (www.citylink.co.uk 0871 266 3333) Coach travel is possible from England but takes a long time – most of our guests prefer rail or air travel.

BY RAIL

The best train to Aviemore is the ‘Highland Chieftain’ operated by London North Eastern Railway. This leaves London Kings Cross at 12.00, arriving Aviemore at 19.27. This train stops at York (13.54), Darlington (14:23), Newcastle (14.56) and Edinburgh (16.34). Change of train may be required at Edinburgh. We recommend you connect with this service if possible. From the west, travellers can reach Edinburgh direct from Plymouth, Bristol, Birmingham, Crewe or Preston. In general, rail travel via Edinburgh is easier than via Glasgow, where a trip across the city between stations is needed, often followed by a change at Perth. Return trains to Edinburgh leave Aviemore at 08.30 (fast train to London – recommended), and 10.20. Please check details before you travel. Rail enquiries: 03457 484950, www.nationalrail.co.uk.

BY AIR New flights to Inverness are becoming available all the time, for latest info call our office. Fly from: Heathrow – British Airways www.ba.com. (0844 493 0787) Gatwick, Luton, Bristol – Easyjet www.easyjet.com (0330 365 5000) Birmingham, Manchester – Loganair www.loganair.co.uk (0344 800 2855) Amsterdam – KLM www.klm.com Travel from Inverness Airport to Nethy Bridge by taxi, or by rail from Inverness to Aviemore. We can provide current details by phone or email. Disclaimer: This information is published to help you, though we offer no guarantee of services. Please check all details before you travel!

Transfers between Nethy Bridge and Aviemore – FREE! Our courtesy collect and return service runs between Aviemore and The Mountview Hotel. Pick-up is at 16.30 hours and 19:30 hours, and drop-off at 08:20 hours and 10:20 hours, on SATURDAYS ONLY. Please give at least 24 hrs notice when booking.

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PICTURE CREDITS Our thanks go to many people who provided images for use in this brochure. Our apologies to anyone we have missed! Photos: Peg Abbott, David Acfield, Adventure Birding, Jolene Allan, Suchit Basnet, Rod Baker, Nigel Bewley, Birdlife Belarus, Birding Korea, Mark Brazil, Colin Brown, Paul Carter, Mike Coleman, Peter Cosgrove, Peter Csonka, Wilson Diaz, Sally Ducker, Knut Eisermann, Euan Ferguson, Mags Fewkes, Finnature, Jeff Fisher, Ian Ford, George Gay, Dimiter Georgiev, Simeon Gigov, Gerard Gorman, Toby Green, Chris Grady, Chris Hughes, Andy Jones, Rob Jordan, Tang Jun, Phil Knott, Letaka Safaris, Lucas Lombardo, Minh Luyen, Janet Lynch, Paco Madrigal, Leon Marais, Emma McBride, Neil McIntyre, Chrys Mellor, Brahim Mezane, Heather Mills, Derek Mills, Adrian Mills, Scott O’Hara, Carles Oliver, Gabor & Andrea Orban, Holly Page, Jari Peltomaki, Heinz Plenge, Jonny Pott, Matt Prophet, Dave Pullan, Stephen Rutt, Josele Saiz, Kevin Shaw, Ted Smith, Greg Smith, Nigel Sprowell, Richard Stansfield, Matt Sullivan, Judy Swift, Rodrigo Tapia, Chris Townsend, David Tillman, Andres Trujillo, Machiel Valkenburg, Mladen Vasilev, Washington Wachira, Mark Warren, David Whitaker. Cartoons for ‘Getting here is easy!’ Clive Francis.

BINOCULARS and TELESCOPES We recommend you bring your own binoculars and telescope. As an extra service, Heatherlea offer a loan service of high performance Swarovski binoculars FREE OF CHARGE for the duration of your holiday. Your guides are also equipped with Swarovski telescopes which they are happy to share, though of course you might have to wait for a look! Please book loan binoculars in advance; availability is limited and cannot be guaranteed.

‘You have an excellent working relationship with Swarovski Optik who have provided some very expensive binoculars that you offer on free loan to your guests; this is an excellent extra service.’ VisitScotland

MORE BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II SWAROVSKI OPTIK SUPPLIER OF BINOCULARS

NL PURE ONE WITH NATURE SEE THE UNSEEN

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08.07.20 09:10

Field Notes – Scottish Highlands ‘Scottish Highlands’ holidays include everything you need for a great birding holiday. En-suite accommodation, all food including breakfast, packed lunch and dinner, all minibus transportation, ferries, access charges, guidance and much more are included in the price.

Your holiday (based on a full week itinerary) includes: 4 seven nights en-suite accommodation. A VisitScotland approved three-star hotel, The Mountview Hotel in Nethy Bridge has comfortable en-suite rooms including TV and hospitality tray. 4 THERE IS NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT, and guests are never expected to share. Single guests may be upgraded to a double room at no extra charge. Deposit is £200pp. 4 Some Mainland Scotland holidays include a second centre for either one or two nights, usually in hotels, occasionally in good quality B&Bs. Most of these have hosted Heatherlea holidays for many years, and we know them well. 4 six days birding with Heatherlea, including full Scottish breakfast, a substantial packed lunch (six days) and a delicious dinner. 4 The services of your Heatherlea Guide during six full days birding, including optional early and late excursions. Maximum group size seven clients per Guide (or eight clients during four-night holidays). 4 All transport by comfortable minibus. 4 All access fees, ferry charges and transfers. 4 Saturday courtesy pick-up and return service to Aviemore. 4 A checklist specifically prepared for your holiday to record your sightings and notes. There are no hidden charges. Expenses including travel to The Mountview Hotel, insurance, drinks and other items of a personal nature are not included in your holiday price.

How our Scottish Highlands holidays work: u Breakfast is usually at 7.30am or 8.00am. Sometimes we organise an earlier breakfast if we have a distance to travel, you will be given full information during the holiday. We leave for a full day (with a substantial packed lunch!), returning about 5.30pm – 6.00pm for dinner at 7.00pm. Dinner on arrival date may be a little earlier or later to suit train timetables, and early breakfast is available on the final day. u Expect a wide variation of weather, whenever you visit Scotland! Bring warm clothing, waterproofs, and walking boots or shoes. Bring binoculars and a telescope if possible. A camera may be useful too! You don’t need flasks for hot drinks, or wellies.

WALKING Walking is generally light to moderate, and if you can walk a couple of miles in half a day you will find these holidays very comfortable. Many days contain hardly any walking at all, as we take you directly to key sites. An exception is our mountain day, where walking can be strenuous, particularly in the months May – July when we usually require a long walk to see Ptarmigan and especially Dotterel. You can ‘optout’ of this day if you wish. An ‘Easy Walking’ itinerary is available on specified holidays, and we take you to a different location to look for Ptarmigan.

BITING INSECTS Biting insects are not expected January to May, or October to December. In the months June to September, biting insects are not generally a problem. We don’t linger around standing water, and if insects do occur, we move away!

TURNING THE TIDE AGAINST PLASTIC Picnic lunches prepared at Heatherlea are virtually free of disposable plastic (clingfilm is used sparingly). We don’t use plastic water bottles or cutlery, and reusable lunch boxes and mugs are provided for drinks. We ask all partner agents and hotels around the world to do the same.

IMPORTANT NOTES The interests of wildlife come first on a Heatherlea holiday. We never disturb or alarm wildlife, and fully support countryside and birdwatching codes of conduct. We also respect the wishes and instructions of landowners and ask our guests to adopt the same approach.

All itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and elements beyond our control (e.g. weather).

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SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS HOLIDAYS

On our Scottish Highland weeks you can expect 100 – 135 species depending on the season, including all the key Scottish birds. For more details including a Trip Report see our website www.heatherlea.co.uk . If you have any questions, please contact us, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Emma, Fleur, Jolene, Lindsay, Caroline and Kevin are here to help.

Weekly holidays begin with dinner on Saturday evening, though you are welcome to arrive any time after 2pm. The holiday finishes after breakfast on the final Saturday. Don’t forget our courtesy collection and return service to Aviemore on Saturdays – see ‘Getting here is Easy’.

Your guide(s) will be a member of the Heatherlea team: Jenna Berry, Mike Coleman, Pete Cosgrove, Ian Ford, Toby Green, Holly Page, Dave Pearce, John Picton, Dave Pullan,, Kevin Shaw, Mark Warren and Stewart Woolley.

INDEX 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21

Hogmanay Birding Festival New Year Birdlist Booster Short Breaks and Birders Blasts Highland Winter Birding Highlands and the East Coast Highlands and the West Coast Highland Birding in March Spring into Scotland including Mull Highlands and Skye Birding the Highlands in May Highlands and Corncrake High Season across the Highlands Highlands and Orkney The Outer Limits in Summer NEW! Ultimate Scotland Highlands and the Isle of May

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21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 28

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Highland Wildlife Eagles, Divers and Dotterel including Mull Highlands and Wester Ross Highlands and the Bass Rock NEW! Birds & Mammals inc Perthshire NEW! Birds & Mammals incl Eigg & Muck Highlands and the Outer Hebrides NEW! Autumn in the Highlands with ‘Easy Walking’ Twenty Scottish Specials in Autumn NEW! Autumn Migration in the Highlands Raptors & Grouse The ‘Outer Limits’ Adventure Highlands and Skye in Autumn Highland Autumn Birding Birding the East Coast in Autumn Solway Firth

HOGMANAY BIRDING FESTIVAL TUES 29 DEC 2020 – TUES 5 JAN 2021 TUES 28 DEC 2021 – TUES 4 JAN 2022

PRICE: £1295pp PRICE: £1395pp

‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11.

Come to the Highlands and enjoy fantastic birding both before and after New Year. We explore in Strathspey, at the coast and perhaps further afield, depending on weather. During local days we concentrate on finding Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill and Ptarmigan, with Golden Eagle soaring over the often snow-covered hills, scattering coveys of Red Grouse off the summits. Both guides and guests frequently comment that this is the best time of year to see many Scottish species, with prolonged and confiding views of flighty birds such as Crested Tit, Goldcrest and Treecreeper. If weather allows we will head to the West Coast to give our New Year list a real boost with top targets including Great Northern and Black-throated Diver, Black Guillemot and White-tailed Eagle. A real chance of Otter too in some of the most stunning scenery in Scotland. We also enjoy a day in the glens as we target Golden Eagle, Dipper and hopefully a good range of other upland birds, which may include Peregrine, Goshawk or Hen Harrier. Red Deer and Mountain Hare should also show well in beautiful Highland surroundings. Excursions to the coast, perhaps the Black Isle, the Moray Coast or even Aberdeenshire, may yield a range of farmland and coastal species. In these habitats, winter lists can reach 60 species in a day, where wildfowl, waders and passerine flocks can often number into the hundreds. We aim to round up any rarities within reach, perhaps including Ring-billed Gull, Surf Scoter, Great Grey Shrike, Snow Goose, Waxwing and any other northern surprises. Hogmanay is a time of great celebration in the Highlands, and we may visit a nearby village party, which could typically involve live music and dancing. For those who prefer to stay indoors we will clear a space in our restaurant and celebrate ‘The Bells’ in the warmth. Breakfast is usually slightly later on the morning of 1 Jan, though with a brand new birdlist to begin you may wish to be up early! Total species approx. 90. Other wildlife should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal, Mountain Hare, and possibly Otter.

Seven nights at Mountview Hotel. Combine with: SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Short Breaks in Winter (p14).

NEW YEAR BIRDLIST BOOSTER SAT 9 JAN – SAT 16 JAN, SAT 16 JAN – SAT 23 JAN 2021 SAT 8 JAN – SAT 15 JAN, SAT 15 JAN – SAT 22 JAN 2022 PRICE: from £1295pp ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. This holiday is great fun, ideal for both the serious birder or beginner, and a chance to get your 2021 British Yearlist off to a cracking start! Key birds are those you have to visit Scotland to see, so we target Capercaillie, Crested Tit, Ptarmigan, Scottish Crossbill, Black Grouse and Golden Eagle. Next, we seek a host of northern winter visitors, and during the rest of the week round-up rarities, including adventures at under-watched coastal spots. We spend a lot of time at the coast, where American Wigeon and King Eider are regular, and at this exciting time of year anything can turn up, including exceptional rarities. By the end, you should have 'done' Scotland for your yearlist. Target 110+ species, including many 'difficult' birds you might otherwise miss. The holiday is based at Heatherlea’s HQ here at the Mountview Hotel in Nethy Bridge, which gives us full flexibility to maximise our birding. We aim to spend two days in the forests and glens targeting the Scottish specials, striving for good views of all of the tough Highland species, a real boost to any British yearlist! We include a trip to either the rugged West Coast in search of White-tailed Eagle and divers or visit the arable and flat Aberdeenshire coast. Key Targets: Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Ptarmigan, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Golden Eagle, Whitetailed Eagle. Probables: Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Red Grouse, Redthroated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Red Kite, Golden Plover, Purple Sandpiper, Iceland Gull, Peregrine, Dipper, Hooded Crow, Raven, Tree Sparrow, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill, Snow Bunting and Yellowhammer. Highly possible: Tundra Bean Goose, Barnacle Goose, King Eider, Surf Scoter, Grey Partridge, Hen Harrier, Goshawk, Merlin, Black-throated Diver, Glaucous Gull, Waxwing, Great Grey Shrike, Brambling, Twite and Corn Bunting.

Outside chance/rarities (by no means a definitive list, all these have been seen at this time in the past few years): Ross’s Goose, Red-breasted Goose, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, American Coot, American Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Black Scoter, Harlequin Duck, White-billed Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Greater Yellowlegs, Parrot Crossbill, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Kumlien’s Gull, Ross's Gull, Ivory Gull, Brünnich’s Guillemot and Little Auk. Seven nights at Mountview Hotel. Combine with: SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Short Break in Winter (p14), Birders Blast (p14).

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SHORT BREAKS & BIRDERS BLASTS BIRDING SHORT BREAKS IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Price: see panel. No single supp. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. Ideal for your first wildlife holiday, or for busy birders who don't have a full week to spare, these holidays are an exciting ‘dip’ into the birdlife of the Highlands, which should find many of the key specialities, and a host of northern birds difficult to see elsewhere in Britain. Our extensive local knowledge will take us to the best places to maximise our birding time.

SP all

LO SA tes VE £4 FFER UP 9 TO 5pp £30 0 da

All include four nights DBB (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast), plus three full days birding with an experienced Heatherlea Guide. Great fun and superb birding! SHORT BREAKS are easy-paced and target the birds which make Scotland such a special destination for so many birdwatchers. Great for beginners. BIRDERS’ BLASTS are perfect for all levels of birding ability, but run at a slightly faster pace, packing in a lot of birds and lots of sites.

SHORT BREAKS IN WINTER Tues 5 January – Sat 9 January, Sun 31 January – Thurs 4 February, Thurs 4 February – Mon 8 February 2021

Price: £795pp

BIRDERS’ BLAST IN WINTER Sat 23 January – Wed 27 January, Wed 27 January – Sun 31 January, Mon 8 February – Fri 12 February, Fri 12 February – Tues 16 February, Tues 16 February – Sat 20 February 2021

Price: £795pp See Capercaillie, Golden Eagle, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Black Grouse and more. Add waders, seaduck, divers, waders, gulls and farmland birds, and you have an absorbing and rewarding few days of winter birding.

SHORT BREAKS IN EARLY AUTUMN Sat 14 August– Wed 18 August, Wed 18 August – Sun 22 August, Sun 22 August – Thurs 26 August 2021

Price: £795pp Sea and coastal birding should be memorable as we catch early migration on an exciting pelagic birding adventure across The Minch to the Outer Hebrides. We also round-up the best birding inland in August.

SHORT BREAKS IN AUTUMN Sat 31 October – Wed 4 November, Sun 8 November – Thurs 12 November 2020

Price: £745pp Sat 30 October – Wed 3 November, Sun 7 November – Thurs 11 November 2021

Price £795pp

BIRDERS’ BLAST IN AUTUMN Wed 4 November – Sun 8 November, Thurs 12 November – Mon 16 November, Mon 16 November – Fri 20 November, Fri 20 November – Tues 24 November 2020

Price: £745pp Wed 3 November – Sun 7 November, Thurs 11 November – Mon 15 November 2021

Price: £795pp See Capercaillie, Golden Eagle, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Black Grouse and much more. Add rare geese, seaduck, divers, waders, gulls and farmland birds, and you have an absorbing and rewarding few days birding during November.

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Outline Itinerary: DAY 1: Arrival, welcome, dinner and briefing. Don’t forget our courtesy collect and return service to Aviemore. DAY 2: LOCAL SPECIALITY DAY A pre-breakfast outing for Black Grouse, and we should also see Red Grouse. After breakfast, we visit ‘hotspots’ to see Crested Tit and other pinewood species. Scottish Crossbill are usually present in small numbers though tricky to identify. We also seek Capercaillie in our private estate. Red Squirrel are on our Hotel feeders most days. DAY 3: EAGLE DAY A favourite day looking for Golden Eagle, our top target. Other species might include Peregrine, Red Grouse, White-tailed Eagle and Raven, with Dipper at lower elevations. We should see Red Deer, Roe Deer, feral goats and Mountain Hare. Many guests say this is the day they were hoping for when they chose to holiday in Scotland! DAY 3 Early Autumn only: WEST COAST SEATRIP Travel with us all the way to the Outer Hebrides! Seabirds might include Great and Arctic Skua, Storm Petrel, Sooty and Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Kittiwake, terns, gulls and auks including Puffin and Black Guillemot. Scarcer possibilities may include Leach’s Petrel, Sabine’s Gull and both Long-tailed and Pomarine Skua. Close to land, we have chances of White-tailed Eagle and Hooded Crow. Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Bottle-nosed and Common Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are often seen too. Enjoy Scottish pelagic birding with experienced guides at the best time of year! DAY 4: COASTAL DAY The Moray Coast, where winter birding is excellent, good numbers of Long-tailed Duck, Eider and rafts of Common and Velvet Scoter should feature. Goosander, Redbreasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebe, Red-throated and Great Northern Diver can also be seen offshore, and in recent years rarities included King Eider, Surf Scoter and White-billed Diver too. Iceland and Glaucous Gull are regular and many waders and wildfowl can be expected. This is an excellent time to see farmland birds, including Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer, with occasional Twite amongst the Linnets. DAY 5: FINAL DAY Breakfast and depart This outline itinerary is a guide only, actual holiday content may vary according to elements beyond our control (e.g. weather).

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HIGHLAND WINTER BIRDING SAT 20 FEB – SAT 27 FEB, SAT 27 FEB – SAT 6 MARCH 2021 SAT 19 FEB – SAT 26 FEB, SAT 26 FEB – SAT 5 MARCH 2022 PRICE: from £1395pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. February is an exciting month for birding in the extreme north of the British mainland, and this holiday is something a little bit different, featuring remote northern hideaways as we locate the very best Scottish birdlife in winter. Our speciality birds include Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Golden Eagle and White-tailed Eagle, and we look for these during approx. two absorbing days birding the Scottish interior, which may be frozen and/or snowcovered at this time. Flocks of Waxwing, Redpoll, Twite and Brambling are very possible, and northern rarities including Great Grey Shrike and perhaps uncommon geese and gulls are often found inland at this time. We visit local glens with Golden Eagle our top target, and Buzzard, Treecreeper, Siskin, Hen Harrier, Red Grouse, Sparrowhawk and White-tailed Eagle are more than possible. Ptarmigan are all white in winter, as are Mountain Hare. Sutherland and Caithness are the most remote counties in Britain. On the way, Glaucous and Iceland Gull are regular in harbours, and we may get lucky with a Ring-billed or even Bonaparte’s, Ross’s or Ivory Gull. In secluded coastal bays, wintering divers are occasionally joined by a beautiful Whitebilled, or storm driven Grey Phalarope or Little Auk. The far north supports large flocks of winter thrushes and Starlings, and also lots of Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting within which Twite, Brambling and Snow Bunting can lurk. This is a real birding adventure, depending on our skills, weather and a slice of luck – our list in recent years includes Common Crane, American Wigeon, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Ring-necked Duck, Long-billed Dowitcher and Bonaparte’s Gull. Other local birds are Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, ‘real’ Rock Dove, Raven, Hooded Crow, Black Guillemot Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel and Great Northern Diver. in Thurso We visit nearby coastal sites too, for Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and divers, and previous holidays have yielded Kumlien’s Gull, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Surf Scoter and Combine with: King Eider. We may find Corn Bunting, flocks of grey geese and waders perhaps including Purple SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Sandpiper, and Golden Plover. Waxwing and Great Grey Shrike are often seen, with good numbers of Birders Blast (p14), Highlands & the East Coast (p15). seabirds, waders, geese and farmland birds, expect around seventy species on this varied day. SCOTTISH ISLANDS Total species for the holiday approx 120. Other wildlife should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Mull & Islay (p32). Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal, Mountain Hare, and possibly Otter.

HIGHLANDS and the EAST COAST SAT 6 MARCH – SAT 13 MARCH 2021 SAT 5 MARCH – SAT 12 MARCH 2022 PRICE: from £1395pp No single supp. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. This late winter holiday combines favoured birding areas with some new and exciting sites. With two nights away on the east coast, this gives us a superb opportunity to fully explore rural and coastal Aberdeenshire, featuring some of the best birding areas in Scotland. Our coastal birding will focus heavily on waders and wildfowl, with a good amount of time spent seawatching. We have excellent chances of finding our own rarities and will build a healthy birdlist from the mountains down to the sea. We will spend time exploring Royal Deeside too, a great birding area with rich pinewoods, stunning rivers, and glens with the Winterwatch site of Mar Lodge right at its heart. Top local targets include Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Crested Tit and Golden Eagle, with local Dippers near nest sites and Goosander and Goldeneye on the rivers. Local goose flocks often contain migrant birds and we are vigilant for stray Bean, White-fronted, Snow or Ross's amongst the commoner Pinkfeet and Greylags. In Aberdeenshire, we have time to explore, working a good selection of favoured harbours and bays, with journeys between the sites being through mixed open land favoured by finches, waders and a farmland birds. This whole coastline is massively under-watched, with very few resident birders. We have excellent chances of rarities, this being a good time for White-billed Diver, King Eider and rare gulls. Offshore we should find good numbers of Scoter, Divers and Auks, with the bonus of Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone. We return west through mixed farmland, birding near the River Dee and Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel around the previous Winterwatch site of Mar Lodge. With luck we may pick up Scottish or Common on the east coast. Crossbills, Goshawk, Golden Eagle and Red Grouse amid stunning scenery. Combine with: We look for Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting, using telescopes to locate the birds before walking closer SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS (late snow or heavy melt can make conditions difficult). Local waders should be returning, and LapHighland Winter Birding (p15), Highlands and the West wings and Oystercatchers may be displaying in rough pastures. Coast (p16). Our final day may be in Strathspey, dropping down to the Black Isle or perhaps even an extended SCOTTISH ISLANDS day over on the west coast, where we look for White-tailed Eagle, Otter and Black-throated Diver. Mull & Islay (p32). Total species approx. 120. Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

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HIGHLANDS and the WEST COAST SAT 13 MARCH – SAT 20 MARCH 2021 SAT 12 MARCH – SAT 19 MARCH 2022 PRICE: from £1395pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. An exciting spring holiday including an overnight visit to the rugged and remote West Highlands. As spring arrives, we celebrate the season with visits to all of the best birding and wildlife sites. This holiday takes in some of our most stunning and iconic scenery, all the while enjoying superb birding and general wildlife. Local birding should produce Black Grouse popping and cooing at the lek, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Dipper, Buzzard and Goldeneye. We head west, working remote sealochs, bays and beaches as we go. Rugged Wester Ross offers iconic scenery, and we have excellent chances of Otter. There could be good numbers of Great Northern, Black-throated and Red-throated Diver, plus Slavonian Grebe, Common Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser, and passage waders and gulls that often include Iceland and Glaucous. Next day we target eagles, with Golden and White-tailed both likely. Mid-March is also good for passage Merlin, with early Wheatears if winds are favourable. We have another chance for Otters, whilst scanning for rarer seaduck or divers. This time of year can also be a good for White-billed Diver on the under-watched west coast and we will check Great Northern Divers carefully for their rarer cousins.

Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover, many moulting into summer plumage. Watch out also for Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer and Grey Partridge. We often see Bottle-nosed Dolphin, and with auks, Gannet, gulls and more, this is a rewarding day!

Our exclusive private estate woodlands offer chances of Capercaillie. Later we search for moorland specialities including Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Merlin and as spring develops, Wheatear. The day finishes with a moorland drive for Red Grouse. We seek Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Goldeneye and Peregrine, and birchwoods hold Lesser Redpoll and Siskin. Lingering Waxwing and Whooper Swan are sometimes present too.

Six nights at Mountview Hotel. One night at a comfortable hotel on the west coast.

Birds on the Moray Coast can include Osprey, Eider, Goosander, Merganser, Stonechat, Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern and Redthroated Diver, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Bar-tailed

Total species for the holiday approx. 110. Mammals may include Otter, Common and Grey Seals, Mountain and Brown Hare, Red Squirrel, Red and Roe Deer and perhaps Harbour Porpoise or Bottle-nosed Dolphin.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands and the East Coast (p15), Highland Birding in March (p16).

HIGHLAND BIRDING in MARCH SAT 20 MARCH – SAT 27 MARCH 2021 SAT 19 MARCH – SAT 26 MARCH 2022 PRICE: from £1395pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. An exciting holiday across the Highlands, designed to maximise our birding as winter turns to spring. Speciality species include Capercaillie, Scottish Crossbill, Crested Tit, Black Grouse, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Ptarmigan, and good chances of three or even four diver species in breeding plumage at the coast. Winter birds are still with us in good numbers, and one of the main advantages of birding this far north is the opportunity to see many species, perhaps including Longtailed Duck, and Velvet and Common Scoter at close quarters or in sheltered harbours. We will also pay attention to rarities within reach, and this can be an excellent time for ducks, geese and passerines to augment an already outstanding birding experience. Quality local birding includes Black Grouse at the lek, Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill in local Caledonian pinewood, and during these weeks we have good chances of Capercaillie. Other birds inland include Golden Eagle, Dipper, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Peregrine, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin. The first returning Osprey are possible, and breeding wader species include Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Curlew, Common Snipe and Golden Plover. There is the chance of lingering Waxwing and Whooper Swan too. With all nights at Mountview Hotel, we have maximum flexibility to plan according to weather, tides and rare bird reports. The outline itinerary allows three days at the coast and three days in Strathspey, though if we are successful with key targets locally we may change this to maximise our birdlist. A highlight will be a stunning visit to the west coast - we will pick the best day possible; there is nowhere better on a nice spring day! This holiday really does take in some of our most stunning and iconic scenery, while enjoying superb birdlife as the season turns to spring. Total species c. 120. Mammals may include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal. Otter, Mountain Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible. 16

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Seven nights at Mountview Hotel. Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands and the West Coast (p16), Spring into Scotland (p17).

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

SPRING into SCOTLAND including MULL SAT 27 MARCH – SAT 3 APRIL, SAT 3 APRIL – SAT 10 APRIL, SAT 10 APRIL – SAT 17 APRIL 2021 SAT 26 MARCH – SAT 2 APRIL, SAT 2 APRIL – SAT 9 APRIL, SAT 9 APRIL – SAT 16 APRIL 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supp. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. Perhaps the ultimate spring wildlife experience in Scotland! All our resident birds are displaying or breeding, winter birds are still here in good numbers, and summer visitors arrive daily. We also enjoy a two-night expedition to the magical Isle of Mull, where the birding is fabulous and scenery unforgettable. Close to our hotel we visit exclusive private estate woodlands, and staying inside our roomy minibus, have reasonable chances of seeing Capercaillie. Moorland specialities include Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Merlin and as spring develops, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel and roadside Red Grouse and Black-throated Diver. Mull is a ‘must see’ place, and this holiday includes a thorough exploration. As we travel, Black Grouse, Greenshank, Hooded Crow and Common Seal are possible. On arrival, we target White-tailed and Golden Eagle, may see Short-eared Owl and Raven, and off the rugged shore usually find Otter. We have a full day to enjoy the island, with Hen Harrier, Redpoll, breeding Golden Plover, Slavonian Grebe, Twite, Black Guillemot and Stonechat all more than possible. Later we look for Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Red-throated Diver, Goldeneye, Peregrine, Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill. Local birchwoods hold Lesser Redpoll and Siskin flocks, and Osprey, Slavonian Grebe, Whooper Swan and waders combine for the best of local birding. Waxwing are sometimes present, and our guides work hard so we don’t miss any rarities. Coastal birding is particularly enjoyable, newly arriving migrants complementing remaining winter visitors. Sightings can include Osprey fishing, rafts of Common Eider, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, Glaucous and Iceland Gull, and spring waders including Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. We often see Bottle-nosed Dolphin, and with auks, up to four species of tern, Gannet, gulls, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Grey Partridge and more, this is a really rewarding day. Total species for the holiday approx. 120 - 125. Other wildlife should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal, Mountain Hare and Otter. Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highland Birding in March (p16), Highlands & Skye (p17).

Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on Mull.

HIGHLANDS and SKYE SAT 17 APRIL – SAT 24 APRIL, SAT 24 APRIL – SAT 1 MAY 2021 SAT 16 APRIL – SAT 23 APRIL, SAT 23 APRIL – SAT 30 APRIL 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. An adventure including two nights on Skye, a rewarding time to be on this most popular of Scottish islands before the busy tourist season. Birds are settling down to breed and as migrants pass too through we enjoy eagles, seabirds, waders, Otter and spectacular scenery. A cost-effective way of including Skye in your Highland birding holiday! Our award-winning hotel is close to a very active Black Grouse lek, which we visit on our first morning. A local walk takes us to Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill. In quiet moorland we seek Black and Red-throated Diver and Red Grouse, Dipper, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Osprey, Peregrine, Ring Ouzel, Slavonian Grebe and waders including Golden Plover. Our private estate may be visited in our minibus mobile hides to seek Capercaillie, a responsible way to search for the wonderful ‘Horse of the Forest’. Travelling to or from Skye we seek roadside Ptarmigan on a mountain pass if weather allows. On arrival on the ‘Misty Isle’, we visit wild and remote corners where birders seldom venture, with plenty of time to scan for Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, Merlin and Hen Harrier. Along the miles of coastline, we catch up with Great Northern Diver and Black Guillemot, and migrants are possible at these under-watched locations, often showing very well. These may include scarcities such as Whimbrel, Greenshank and White Wagtail, with Wheatear, Stonechat, Whinchat and Meadow Pipit turning up everywhere on the heaths and rough pastures. We have chances of Otter, with seals and Harbour Porpoise offshore too. We have chosen our timing carefully, targeting three diver species (very occasionally four with White-billed!) in full summer plumage. One day we visit the mountain for Ptarmigan if needed, and possibly Snow Bunting. On a round-up day we target missed species or visit the Moray Coast for exciting birding. This time of year produces a high birdlist, with large numbers of wintering birds overlapping with those arriving to breed. Total species for the holiday 120 - 130. Other wildlife should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal and Mountain Hare. Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible. Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on Skye. Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

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SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Spring into Scotland inc

Mull (p17), Birding the Highlands in May (p18). SCOTTISH ISLANDS North Ron & Orkney in Spring for birders (p32), Outer Hebrides in Spring (p33).

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BIRDING THE HIGHLANDS in MAY SAT 1 MAY – SAT 8 MAY, SAT 8 MAY – SAT 15 MAY 2021 SAT 30 APRIL – SAT 7 MAY, SAT 7 MAY – SAT 14 MAY 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. Birding the wonderful Scottish Highlands in May is one of the greatest pleasures available in the UK. With summer visitors arriving in good numbers, and key speciality birds still displaying or breeding, there is so much going on. We enjoy six tremendous days of wildlife watching, and all within striking distance of our Hotel here in Nethy Bridge. Ideal for the firsttime visitor or the seasoned expert, all the special birds of the Scottish Highlands are targeted, and this is a perfect option to make the most of this wonderful time of year. Birding the Highlands in May also includes an exciting birding boat trip! Local Black Grouse are popping and cooing at the lek, followed by a walk for Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill. We stay locally for Osprey, Dipper, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Red Grouse, Black-throated Diver, Lesser Redpoll, Peregrine and Slavonian Grebe. In our private estate we seek Capercaillie, and in secluded locations Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Merlin and Ring Ouzel. A perfect start with many key birds on our first day! An exciting boat trip below Troup Head is sure to be a highlight, visiting one of the largest seabird colonies of the British Isles and mainland Scotland’s only Gannetry. We seek Puffin, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Guillemot, Razorbill and ‘real’ Rock Dove, with a chance of passage skuas, gulls, terns and even White-billed Diver if very lucky! On the Cairngorm plateau, Ptarmigan have paired up and Dotterel are arriving, the latter often giving exceptional views in early May. Look out for Snow Bunting too. Great birding in a very special habitat.

Sandwich, Common, Arctic and Little Tern are joined by auks, divers, and spring waders, including Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot moulting into summer-plumage. Farmland specialities on this fertile coastline include Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Grey Partridge - a really rewarding day! Total species for the holiday 120 - 130. Mammals should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal and Mountain Hare. Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible. Seven nights at Mountview Hotel. Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands and Skye (p17), Highlands & Corncrake (p18).

The rugged West Coast holds both White-tailed and Golden Eagle. Other birds may include Hooded Crow, Twite, Great Northern and Black-throated Diver and Black Guillemot. On the Black Isle, Red Kite, Tree Sparrow, Wigeon and Teal may be joined by migrating Bar and Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Knot and Sanderling with perhaps lingering Iceland and Glaucous Gull or an unexpected rarity!

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ron & Orkney in Spring for birders (p32), Outer Hebrides in Spring (p33) Shetland in Spring for birders (p33), NEW! Birding the North Coast 500 (p34), Shetland Island Explorer (p35).

The Moray coast holds Osprey fishing, rafts of Common Eider, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser and perhaps late departing Long-tailed Duck or Common and Velvet Scoter.

HIGHLANDS and CORNCRAKE SAT 15 MAY – SAT 22 MAY, SAT 22 MAY – SAT 29 MAY 2021 SAT 14 MAY – SAT 21 MAY, SAT 21 MAY – SAT 28 MAY 2022 PRICE: from £1595pp No single supplement. Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. May is a wonderful month for wildlife watching in the Highlands. Summer visitors have all arrived, the breeding season is in full swing, and the weather is normally warm and pleasant. On this exciting two-centre holiday we spend time enjoying all the species which make Scotland so special. We combine the tranquil Caledonian pinewoods and the vast Cairngorm mountain plateau with two nights on the Outer Hebrides, as we add sought-after Corncrake to our enviable target list. A unique holiday, this is our only seven-night itinerary which combines all the key Scottish mainland species with Corncrake, a unique opportunity! Each year Heatherlea watch Corncrake on the Outer Hebrides from early May, so by these dates we know where the birds have been showing, with excellent chances to see them before the vegetation grows too high and obscures the view. On this brief visit Corncrake are our principal target, though with a full day to explore, both White-tailed and Golden Eagle can be expected in reasonable weather. Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl are frequently seen, and on our ferry crossings we can expect any of the four skuas plus auks including Puffin and Black Guillemot, Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Shag, Fulmar and Kittiwake. Waders in bright breeding plumage, and birds of the ‘machair’ including perhaps Corn Bunting will add to a memorable experience.

Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights on the Outer Hebrides.

Back home in Strathspey, all the specialities are settled and breeding, and we search with care for Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Ptarmigan, Dotterel, Snow Bunting, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Osprey, Ring Ouzel, Dipper, Goldeneye, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, and many more. We visit a variety of habitats from the Caledonian pinewoods adjacent to Mountview Hotel, open moorland, lochs, rivers and fields of Strathspey and neighbouring areas which hold these special birds. We will spend most of one day on the Cairngorm plateau targeting key species and another birding the Moray Coast where farmland birds and perhaps a rarity may feature! Total species c. 120. Mammals may include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal. Otter, Mountain Hare, Minke Whale, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible. 18

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email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

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Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Birding the Highlands in May (p18), High Season across the Highlands (p19).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Outer Hebrides in Spring (p33), Shetland in Spring for birders (p33), Mull, Iona & Treshnish Isles (p34), Birding the North Coast 500 (p34), Shetland Island Explorer (p35), Islands on the Edge (p35), Orkney Island Explorer (p36), NEW! Ultimate Skye & Mull Explorer (p36).

HIGH SEASON ACROSS THE HIGHLANDS SAT 29 MAY – SAT 5 JUNE 2021 SAT 28 MAY – SAT 4 JUNE 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. A tremendous two-centre holiday for all the species that make Scotland so special. We visit many habitats including the seabird colony of Handa Island. It really is time to enjoy High Season ACROSS the Highlands! In the Abernethy we seek Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill, where adults with fledged young may be found at this time. Forests also hold migrant Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Pipit, and resident Treecreeper and Goldcrest. Lochs and rivers, birchwoods and moorland may produce Osprey, Dipper, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Red Grouse, Black-throated Diver, Lesser Redpoll, breeding waders and Slavonian Grebe. Handa is a birding treat. Puffin, Guillemot and Razorbill mingle with Fulmar, Kittiwake and Shag on the cliffs. Arctic Skua ‘dive-bomb’ the boardwalk if we are too close, and with Gannet, Great Skua, Black Guillemot, Raven, Red Grouse, ‘real’ Rock Dove, Snipe, Lesser Redpoll, Sedge Warbler, Eider, Hooded Crow and Great Northern and Red-throated Diver too, every minute is absorbing. We stay overnight on the west, giving maximum time on Handa, and a second day to explore the underwatched north-west coast. Your guides choose the best locations in the freedom of the most stunning landscape in Scotland. Black-throated Diver are on remote lochs, Twite, Wheatear and Whinchat on the moorland and Golden and White-tailed Eagles soar over imposing crags. In June, hen Capercaillie are more likely than cock birds. We visit secluded locations with Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Merlin, Red Kite and Ring Ouzel in mind. On the high plateau we head to the right spots for Ptarmigan and Dotterel, and our record in May and June is very good. We also look for breeding Snow Bunting. At the coast Osprey fishing, Common Eider, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Stonechat, Redthroated Diver, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, occasional summering Common Scoter, Sandwich, Common, Arctic and Little Tern can be found. We also seek rarities within reach, perhaps a rare wader at this time. A fitting finale to a great week’s birding!

Combine with:

Total species c. 120. Mammals may include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal. Otter, Mountain Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible.

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Six nights at Mountview Hotel. One night at a comfortable hotel on the west.

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands and Corncrake (p18), Highlands and Orkney (p19). Shetland Island Explorer (p35), Islands on the Edge (p35).

HIGHLANDS and ORKNEY SAT 5 JUNE – SAT 12 JUNE 2021 SAT 4 JUNE – SAT 11 JUNE 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. Further details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. As Scottish summer gets into full swing we visit Orkney, where special breeding birds include Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Red-throated Diver and Twite. With auks, skuas, terns and gulls, our three-day journey is full of excitement amid stunning coastal scenery. We also search the Caledonian pinewoods and rugged glens to find many special birds. We begin locally, looking for Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill in the forests. Your list may include Osprey, Dipper, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Red Grouse, Black-throated Diver, Lesser Redpoll, Peregrine, breeding waders and Slavonian Grebe. The beauty of divers and grebes in breeding plumage spellbinds many of our guests, and we often admire at close quarters. We enjoy two nights on Orkney giving us a real flavour of this fertile archipelago. We visit tiny fishing villages where a late staying Iceland Gull or breeding Black Guillemot is possible. Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl breed, and we often enjoy great views of both quartering rough grasslands and heaths. With the sound of Skylark and Meadow Pipit all around, we may add hunting Merlin to our lists too. We have a full day to visit the stunning seabird colony of either Marwick Head or Brough of Birsay, as well as birding numerous bays where we often find summer-plumaged Sanderling and Turnstone and a late Great Northern Diver. Although primarily a birding trip, there may be the option to visit World Heritage sites such as ‘Ring of Brodgar’ and ‘Stones of Stenness’. Ferry crossings should yield Great and Arctic Skua among the seabirds and in recent years we have seen Orca, Minke Whale, dolphins and Otter, so don’t miss a minute! Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on Orkney. Capercaillie! We visit exclusive private estate woodlands where in June hen birds are Combine with: more likely. Later we seek Golden Eagle, Peregrine and Ring Ouzel to complete a lovely SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS day. At coastal haunts, expect Osprey, Eider, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, High Season across the Highlands (p19), The Outer Limits in Stonechat, Red-throated Diver, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Grey Partridge, plus Summer (p20). NEW! Ultimate Scotland (p20). any rarities within reach. NB, we don’t visit the Cairngorm plateau during this itinerary. Total species approx. 110. Other wildlife should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal and Otter. Mountain Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible.

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Orkney Island Explorer (p36), Shetland & Orkney (p37).

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THE OUTER LIMITS in SUMMER SAT 12 JUNE – SAT 19 JUNE, SAT 19 JUNE – SAT 26 JUNE 2021 SAT 11 JUNE – SAT 18 JUNE, SAT 18 JUNE – SAT 25 JUNE 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. An exciting summer itinerary to see the birdlife of mountain, moor, forest and coast, with special attention paid to the rugged beauty and desolate vistas of the islands of Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, voted as the best island destination in Europe! On this two-centre holiday we enjoy glorious scenery, long evenings and some of the best summer birding in Britain as we combine the summer birds of the mainland with a three-day, two-night visit to the northern Outer Hebrides, one of the most spectacular island destinations in the world! During our time at the Mountview Hotel, we comb all the special habitats, including tranquil pinewoods and the vast Cairngorm mountain plateau. Target birds include Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Osprey, Dipper, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Red Grouse, Black-throated Diver, Lesser Redpoll, Peregrine, breeding waders and Slavonian Grebe. Our exclusive private estate woodlands often produce hen Capercaillie in June, and we use our minibus as a hide as we drive slowly along the forest tracks. We spend a full day on the Cairngorm plateau for Ptarmigan and Dotterel, and at the inner Moray Firth seek fishing Osprey, Eider, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Redthroated Diver, Yellowhammer, Sandwich, Common, Arctic and Little Tern, Gannet, Guillemot and Razorbill, and waders may include Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit and Red Knot in breeding plumage. On Harris and Lewis our activities will suit the weather and any known rare birds. We visit the Butt of Lewis to search for seabirds and vagrants and explore the remote west coast and the peatlands, checking a few hidden lochans that hold nesting waders. White-tailed and Golden Eagle, Merlin and Hen Harrier are realistic targets on the vast moorlands, with Golden Plover and the occasional Greenshank and divers on the peatlands. Our last morning may be spent looking for eagles, Otter and perhaps Cetaceans from viewpoints such as Tiumpan Head. Two very different ferry crossings promise varied and exciting birding, with Manx Shearwater, Great and Arctic Skua, Black Guillemot, other auk species, gulls, terns and Gannet to entertain. A great birding adventure! Total species for the holiday approx. 110. Other wildlife should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal and Otter. Mountain Hare, Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible. Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on the Outer Hebrides.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands and Orkney (p19), Highlands & the Isle of May (p21), Highland Wildlife (p21).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Islands on the Edge (p35), Outer Hebrides and the Shiants (p38).

NEW! ULTIMATE SCOTLAND TUES 15 JUNE – SAT 26 JUNE 2021 TUES 14 JUNE – SAT 25 JUNE 2022 PRICE: from £2995pp Single Supplement £195 Deposit: £300pp ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. This unique and exciting tour is specially designed to seek out the Western Palearctic birds which make Scotland so special. Ideal for UK birders who want the ‘specialities’, this tour is also perfect for those who want time to appreciate the local species of our wildlife rich country. Designed for the 'complete birder', this holiday should also appeal to birders based in North America who want to see all our birds including more common species. During this exciting two-centre tour we spend a week based in Nethy Bridge, the home of ‘BBC Springwatch, Autumnwatch & Winterwatch’ in 2019, and arguably the capital of Scottish birding. We visit a variety of habitats searching for desirable species from the mountain tops through tranquil Caledonian pinewoods and out to stunning coastal locations. An exciting seabound voyage to auk cliffs will be a highlight, as will a three-night stay on the glorious Outer Hebrides, for some very special targets including Corncrake. There will be many highlights, especially for beginners or the first-time visitor to Europe. Up to 80% of the Western Palearctic species we are likely to see have never, or only very rarely been recorded in North America which makes it an ideal trip to consider for our clients from the USA. We take extra time to enjoy our local birds on this tour, though some key targets include Corncrake, White-tailed Eagle, Rock Ptarmigan, Eurasian Dotterel, Black Grouse, Red Grouse and Western Capercaillie (please note we never try to see Capercaillie at lekking sites, these birds are increasingly rare and difficult to see in Scotland). This tour offers a real birding spectacle as we travel around the Highlands to see all the Western Palearctic species which might be overlooked on a shorter birding trip. Traditionally in the Scottish Highlands during June, summer visitors have all arrived and settled for breeding, and the weather is normally warm and pleasant. This is a wonderful time for birding the Scottish Highlands!

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Participants will receive a complimentary copy of the indispensable 'Collins Bird Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe' (2nd Edition) by Svensson, Mullarney et al.

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Seven nights at Mountview Hotel. Three nights at a comfortable hotel on the Outer Hebrides and one night in Inverness. 20

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands & Isle of May (p21), Highland Wildlife (p21). Outer Hebrides and Shiants (p38), Ultimate Outer Hebrides (p38).

NEW! HIGHLANDS and the ISLE of MAY SAT 26 JUNE – SAT 3 JULY 2021 SAT 25 JUNE – SAT 2 JULY 2022 PRICE: from £1595pp No single supplement. Full holiday details are available on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. On this two-centre holiday we offer some of the best birding available in the Highlands, including our first visit to the iconic Isle of May. Just over one mile in length, the island is located in the outer Firth of Forth, about five miles off the coast of Fife, and is owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage as a National Nature Reserve. We visit at the height of the breeding season, when the Isle of May can host around 200,000 seabirds, including Puffin, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Fulmar, Eider, Oystercatcher, plus several gull and tern species. We plan to spend time on the island, working closely with the Observatory team to search out other wildlife including late migrants. Seabirds will feature highly; the Isle of May is famed for its Puffins and other nesting species and we enjoy birding from both land and sea. On our three-day adventure south to Fife we will also explore coastal hotspots for waders and farmland birds, enjoy summering Common and Velvet Scoter, with Little Gull and rarities including Roseate Tern also possible. In the Highlands, summer months are a good time to see many speciality species perhaps including female Capercaillie, and we drive forest tracks to search for them responsibly. Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill and visiting migrants breed in the woods and we will look for scarce Black-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe on local Lochs, and Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Osprey and Peregrine in the hills. We also plan to spend a day on the Cairngorm mountain, exploring the plateau for Ptarmigan, Dotterel and Snow Bunting. Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel in Fife.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Outer Limits in Summer (p20), NEW! Ultimate Scotland (p20) Eagles, Divers & Dotterel (p22).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Inner Hebrides (p37), Ultimate Outer Hebrides (p38).

HIGHLAND WILDLIFE Natural History of Northern Scotland Birds, mammals, insects and plants – ideal for the all-round enthusiast! SAT 26 JUNE – SAT 3 JULY 2021 SAT 25 JUNE – SAT 2 JULY 2022 PRICE: from £1395pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. A cracking celebration of wildlife covering the birds, mammals, insects and plants of this fantastic area. Aimed at the natural history all rounder and the birder who wants to see something extra, our itinerary is designed to be a leisurely and thoroughly enjoyable exploration at a relaxed pace. Stretching from the high tops of the Arctic-alpine mountains, to the summer plants and birdlife of the Moray Coast, this will be a celebration of all the wildlife of the Cairngorms National Park and beyond. We also visit key sites outside the Park for rare dragonflies, butterflies and flora. In our grounds you may see Moonwort, Northern Marsh Orchid, Creeping Ladies’ Tresses and Chanterelle. We check our moth trap daily, finding nationally scarce moths, though for many Poplar Hawk-moth is a highlight. We bird for Capercaillie, Scottish Crossbill and Crested Tit, and see Twinflower, Serrated and Common Wintergreen, Field Gentian and orchids including Fragrant, Coralroot, Greater and Lesser Butterfly. At the coast we search for orchids and wintergreens plus Scots Lovage and Oysterplant. Insects include Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Northern Brown Argus, Dark Green Fritillary, Common Hawker, White-faced and Black Darter, Northern Damselfly, Four-spot Chaser and Northern Emerald. On the mountain are Ptarmigan, Dotterel, Ring Ouzel, Snow Bunting and Mountain Hare, and rare alpines including Moss Campion, Trailing Azalea, Dwarf Cornel, Alpine Ladies’ Mantle, Alpine Saw-wort, Lesser Twayblade, Scottish Asphodel, Alpine and Interrupted Clubmoss and Climax forest of Least Willow, with a chance of Black Mountain Moth. We visit Troup Head by boat to see mainland Scotland's only mainland Gannetry, and breeding Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake, Shag, Fulmar, and occasional marauding Great Skua or flashing Peregrine. Minke Whale, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are also possible. In moorland habitats we seek Osprey, Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Red and Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe and Red Grouse. Orchids include Frog and Small White, plus Grass of Parnassus, Starry Saxifrage, Sundew, Butterwort, Intermediate Wintergreen, Water Lobelia and Stagshorn Clubmoss. Beautiful Yellow Underwing is a speciality moth, and we visit a loch famous for rare dragonflies. We should see Red and Roe Deer, and perhaps White-tailed Eagle.

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

In Highland Perthshire our top target is Mountain Ringlet butterfly, plus Golden-ringed Dragonfly and ‘scotica’ Large Heath. Later we visit one of the best flower meadows in the UK, hoping to see Small Cow-wheat and Birds-nest Orchid.

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Total birds for the holiday c. 100, plus a vast range of mammals, insects and plantlife! Seven nights at Mountview Hotel. Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

Combine with: Outer Limits in Summer (p20), Ultimate Scotland (p20), Eagles, Divers and Dotterel (p22). Inner Hebrides from Canna to Iona (p37), Ultimate Outer Hebrides (p38).

Twitter: @heatherleabirds

Instagram: @heatherleabirds

EAGLES, DIVERS and DOTTEREL including Mull SAT 3 JULY – SAT 10 JULY, SAT 10 JULY – SAT 17 JULY 2021 SAT 2 JULY – SAT 9 JULY, SAT 9 JULY – SAT 16 JULY 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. Where do you go in the ‘quiet’ birding weeks of summer? Glorious scenery, long evenings and the best summer birding in Britain await you with Heatherlea in July. We take you from magnificent mountain-top to the scenic grandeur of Mull, where we search for Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, fishing Osprey, Slavonian Grebe, Red and Black-throated Diver, Ptarmigan, Dotterel and more. Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill are among our early targets, followed by Dipper, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Pipit. Rocky crags may hold Ring Ouzel, Stonechat and Wheatear, plus upland specialities including Red-throated Diver, Lesser Redpoll, Red Grouse, Slavonian Grebe, Stonechat, Common Sandpiper and Osprey plus both Brown and Mountain Hare and Red Deer stags are coming into full velvet. Land of eagles and otters, Mull is truly magical in High Summer, with young eagles newly on the wing. We should enjoy excellent views of both White-tailed and Golden Eagle, with good chances of other raptors including Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin and Shorteared Owl. We aim to find Otter and usually pick up a selection of warblers and chats, with good chances of Twite. As we travel the coast, watch out for Black Guillemot, Common Seal and Hooded Crow. A great adventure! Private woodlands may produce hen Capercaillie, and we stay in our minibus for undisturbed views. Your raptor list should be impressive, perhaps between eight and twelve species by the end of the week. If weather allows, we head up the hill for Ptarmigan and particularly Dotterel, both perhaps with piping young running behind. We also visit Troup Head, to see breeding Gannet at close quarters. Amongst the Guillemot, Razorbill and Kittiwake will be a few breeding Puffin, and the occasional passing Great or Arctic Skua and Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and Rock Pipit are also present. We also round-up any rarities within reach on this coastline, perhaps a scarce wader or gull featuring at this time. Total species approx. 110. Other wildlife might include Red Squirrel, Roe Deer, Red Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal and Otter. Mountain and Brown Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible.

Six nights at Mountview Hotel. One night at a comfortable hotel on Mull. Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands & the Isle of May (p21), Highland Wildlife (p21), Highlands & Wester Ross (p22).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Outer Hebrides and the Shiants (p38), Ultimate Outer Hebrides (p38), Coll & Tiree in Summer (p39), NEW! Shetland Wildlife in Summer (p40), Orkney in High Summer (p40).

HIGHLANDS and WESTER ROSS SAT 17 JULY – SAT 24 JULY 2021 SAT 16 JULY – SAT 23 JULY 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. An exceptional holiday, combining birding with three days exploring remote places on the rugged west coast. We take our time in picture-postcard villages including Applecross, Shieldaig, Pennan and Crovie, giving a different flavour of wildlife and culture on an easy-paced birding tour. We enjoy two nights on the west, watching for Golden and White-tailed Eagle, and perhaps a fleeting Merlin. Black-throated Diver are gathering in sheltered bays, Kittiwake and auks are on the water, a Great Skua may be following terns, and we scout for Otter. Near Applecross we hope to find Ptarmigan, enjoying magnificent views across to Skye, and even the Outer Hebrides on a clear day. We tour to Shieldaig, and other beautiful locations and return via Torridon to Nethy Bridge. Purple heather moors, deep greens in the ancient pinewoods and long days make this a lovely time in the Scottish Highlands. You should see Red Deer stags at their very best before the approaching rut, and we seek Slavonian Grebe, Red-throated Diver, Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill while hen Capercaillie may show in our private estate. On the Black Isle we look for Red Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit in bright colours, with perhaps a scarce wader like Curlew Sandpiper hiding among their number. Red Kite and Tree Sparrow are found at favoured sites, and we may see Bottle-nosed Dolphin on the turning tide. On the east coast, Gannets are probably the most populous bird on the cliffs, which may also hold a few Razorbill, Guillemot, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Shag, Corn Bunting and Rock Pipit. We may see Shorteared Owl feeding large chicks on the open moorland, find Black Grouse beginning to return to their lek, Red Grouse in families with large chicks or a passing Hen Harrier - there are many possibilities!

Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on the west coast.

Total species approx 110. Mammals may include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal. Otter, Mountain Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible.

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Eagles, Divers & Dotterel (p22), NEW! Birds and Mammals incl Perthshire (p23), Highlands and the Bass Rock (p23).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

St Kilda & the Hebrides (p39), Coll & Tiree in Summer (p39), NEW! Shetland Wildlife in Summer (p40).

HIGHLANDS and BASS ROCK SAT 24 JULY – SAT 31 JULY 2021 SAT 23 JULY – SAT 30 JULY 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. On this two-centre holiday we visit tranquil Caledonian pinewoods and the vast Cairngorm mountain plateau, enjoying glorious scenery, long evenings and some of the best summer birding in Britain. We also include two nights in Lothian and take a memorable boat trip to the Bass Rock, home of the largest ‘single rock’ Gannet colony in the world, holding over 150,000 individuals. We watch locally for Golden Eagle, Slavonian Grebe, Red and Black-throated Divers, Peregrine, Scottish Crossbill, Crested Tit and more including Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel, Dipper, Buzzard and Goldeneye. In early July our private estate woodlands often produce hen Capercaillie, seen safely from Heatherlea mobile hides. Breeding Ptarmigan and Dotterel should give us a great day on the mountains, and we also utilise the evening light to seek out quartering Short-eared Owl over local heather moorland and look out for waders including Dunlin, Redshank and Common Sandpiper in smart summer plumage. Our visit to Lothian begins with a drive south through Perthshire, where we may visit Loch of the Lowes or other sites of interest to view nesting Osprey. We take a memorable boat visit to The Bass Rock, famous as the home of the largest Gannet colony in the world. We circumnavigate the island, obtaining wonderful views of Gannet at close quarters, and also enjoying great views of many other seabirds including Puffin. We also visit Musselburgh, where breeding terns and the first early autumn migrants can be expected on return passage and take our time on the return journey to Nethy Bridge for the best available birding. A great new itinerary, with very limited availability. Numbers are restricted, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Combine with:

Total species c.120. Mammals may include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal. Otter, Mountain Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible.

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel in Lothian.

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Highlands & Wester Ross (p22), Highlands & Outer Hebrides (p24). NEW! Birds & Mammals ft Eigg & Muck (p24).

Orkney in High Summer (p40), NEW! Shetland Wildlife in Summer (p40).

NEW! BIRDS & MAMMALS featuring PERTHSHIRE SAT 24 JULY – SAT 31 JULY 2021 SAT 23 JULY – SAT 30 JULY 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details available on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. An exciting new summer holiday, targeting Pine Marten, European Beaver and Highland birdlife. We divide our time between Strathspey and under watched Angus and Perthshire, with a daytrip to the spectacular west coast. Dedicated evening visits to a Pine Marten hide and a Beaver viewpoint give us good chances of connecting with these key species, and we also hope to see Otter, Mountain Hare, Red Squirrel, seals, cetaceans and commoner mammals too. Highland birds might include Capercaillie, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, White-tailed Eagle, Slavonian Grebe and Black-throated Diver amid spectacular surroundings. In Angus and Perthshire, we seek Ptarmigan at close quarters, Black and Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear and raptors perhaps including Golden Eagle and Goshawk. On the coast, Little Gull can be present in high numbers and we search through tern flocks for postbreeding Roseate and Little Tern. Montrose Basin is a famous birding destination, and late summer is a good time to see returning wader flocks on migration (perhaps holding a rarity), with many still in summer plumage. Moulting Common and Velvet Scoter flocks can often contain a Surf Scoter and we also search for Osprey, Dipper, Whinchat and Common Crossbill in the extensive Perthshire forests. Total species c.120. Mammals may include European Beaver, Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal. Otter, Mountain Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible.

Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel in Angus or Perthshire. Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands & Wester Ross (p22), NEW! Birds & Mammals featuring islands of Eigg & Muck (p24), Highlands & the Outer Hebrides (p24).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

NEW! Shetland Wildlife in Summer (p40), Orkney in High Summer (p40).

Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

Twitter: @heatherleabirds

Instagram: @heatherleabirds

NEW! BIRDS & MAMMALS featuring the Islands of EIGG & MUCK SAT 31 JULY – SAT 7 AUGUST 2021 SAT 30 JULY – SAT 6 AUGUST 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details available on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. A holiday for the wildlife enthusiast with a special emphasis on some of the most sought-after mammals of the Highlands. We seek Otter, Common and Grey Seal, cetaceans including Minke Whale, Harbour Porpoise and dolphins during a two-night three-day excursion to the stunning west coast. We use our contacts and experience in west coast areas to give us the best possible chance of success. While in our Nethy Bridge base, we have more opportunities to add to our mammal list, with Mountain and Brown Hare, Red Squirrel and three species of deer possible plus evening excursions locally for Daubenton’s Bat and/or to watch Badgers. Speciality birds include Ptarmigan, Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Golden and Whitetailed Eagle, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Slavonian Grebe, Black-throated Diver, Dotterel and perhaps breeding Snow Bunting. On a dedicated boat trip visiting the islands of Muck and Eigg, we aim to see a variety of seabirds including Puffin and Black Guillemot, rafts of Manx Shearwater, all three divers in summer plumage, raptors including Merlin, Peregrine, Hen Harrier and both eagles plus breeding Twite, Wheatear, Whinchat and Rock Pipit. With over 100 species of bird and 15 species of mammal possible, this is a trip designed to give us many chances to see exciting mammals with great birding along the way! At the end of the holiday, you may like to spend another day in Nethy Bridge to enjoy the famous Abernethy Highland Games, just a short walk away in our beautiful village! If so, please leave your vehicle and/or luggage with us at Mountview Hotel Total species c.120. Mammals may include Daubenton’s Bat, Badger, Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal. Otter, Mountain and Brown Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible. Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on the West Coast.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands & The Bass Rock (p23), NEW! Birds and Mammals incl Perthshire (p23), Highlands & the Outer Hebrides (p24).

HIGHLANDS and the OUTER HEBRIDES SAT 31 JULY – SAT 7 AUGUST, SAT 7 AUGUST – SAT 14 AUGUST 2021 SAT 30 JULY – SAT 6 AUGUST, SAT 6 AUGUST – SAT 13 AUGUST 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. The Scottish Highlands, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Skye, all in one action packed holiday! We target specialities in Strathspey, and enjoy raptors, waders, flocks of passerines, seabirds and sea mammals on the Outer Hebrides. In our private estate, hen Capercaillie may be taking berries and nearby we look for Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Siskin, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Lesser Redpoll. On the Cairngorms, Ptarmigan are skulking in the corries and we explore the moorlands, with Golden Eagle, Raven, Slavonian Grebe, Red Grouse and perhaps Short-eared Owl and Black-throated Diver to entertain. We head west to our ferry, and as we cross The Minch watching for passage seabirds, including petrels, skuas and shearwaters, perhaps with a Sabine's Gull, Great Shearwater or Basking Shark to cap an exciting voyage. On arrival we have a full day to enjoy the delights of the Outer Hebrides in High Summer. Large numbers of migratory waders can be found on the machair, beaches and mudflats, divers feed offshore and good numbers of Twite, Linnet and hopefully Corn Bunting in the arable areas. We have good chances of Hen Harrier, Merlin and Short-eared Owl, and all should have fledged young on the wing. Corncrake and Red-necked Phalarope are present but very hard to see this late in the season. A scarce migrant could feature, perhaps Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs or White-rumped Sandpiper and we have even been lucky to see Snowy Owl on this trip in the past! We make the most of the long summer day with extended time in the field, returning via Skye to target any species outstanding plus Golden and White-tailed Eagle once more. Later we visit the Moray Coast or head east to Aberdeenshire. Expect Gannet, fishing Osprey, gulls, terns and auks, plus occasional Great or Arctic Skua. Passage waders might include Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover, many in breeding plumage. We look for farmland birds and round-up rarities within reach. Total species approx. 110. Mammals may include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal, Otter, Mountain Hare, Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise. Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights on the Outer Hebrides. 24

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Short Break in Early Autumn (p14), Highlands and the Bass Rock (p23), NEW! Birds and Mammals incl Perthshire (p23), NEW! Birds & Mammals featuring Eigg & Muck (p24) Autumn in the Highlands with ‘Easy Walking’ (p25).

AUTUMN in the HIGHLANDS with EASY WALKING SAT 14 AUGUST – SAT 21 AUGUST, SAT 21 AUGUST – SAT 28 AUGUST 2021 SAT 13 AUGUST – SAT 20 AUGUST, SAT 20 AUGUST – SAT 27 AUGUST 2022 PRICE: from £1395pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11.

Would you like to see all the special birds of Scotland, but without too much exertion? On this new ‘Easy Walking’ itinerary, we look for all the Scottish specials including Ptarmigan, perhaps the most inaccessible of our native birds. We explore the dramatic west coast, search for southbound migrants and enjoy a fantastic seabird trip to the Outer Hebrides, on a tour which involves very little walking, and on some days hardly any walking at all. We are based entirely at the Mountview Hotel, giving us flexibility to choose the best day for each of our activities. You can enjoy all the great birding the Scottish Highlands has to offer, visiting many special places by comfortable minibus and getting close to the best birding sites. As well as Ptarmigan, we seek Highland specialities including Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Osprey and much more. Early Autumn is a great time of year when bird numbers and diversity are high, with local breeders joined by migrants originating from Scandinavia as they begin to flood south towards warmer climes. We visit a range of superb coastal sites to search for birds within some of the most attractive regions of Scotland while our boat trip should give us exciting encounters with seabirds including Gannet, Sooty and Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel, any of four skuas, auks and perhaps a rarity. The Minch is a great stretch of sea for Cetaceans, with Common, Risso’s and Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise and Minke Whale all possible at this time of year.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Short Breaks in Early Autumn (p14), Highlands & Outer Hebrides (p24), Twenty Scottish Specials (p25).

Seven nights at Mountview Hotel

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ron & Orkney in Autumn for birders (p41), Outer Hebrides in early Autumn for birders (p41).

TWENTY SCOTTISH SPECIALS in AUTUMN SAT 28 AUGUST – SAT 4 SEPTEMBER 2021 SAT 27 AUGUST – SAT 3 SEPTEMBER 2022 PRICE: from £1395pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11.

This holiday is designed for those who would like a holiday in Scotland to see northern speciality birds, and we target '20 Scottish Specials' to give the holiday a fun focus. Ideal whether you keep a UK birdlist or not, on this holiday we concentrate on rounding up as many key birds as possible, at a relaxed pace on days which are also great fun. Key targets;

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Golden Eagle White-tailed Eagle Capercaillie Black Grouse Red Grouse Ptarmigan Crested Tit

8. Scottish Crossbill 9. Dipper 10. Peregrine 11. Black Guillemot 12. Hooded Crow 13. Raven 14. Black-throated Diver

15. Red-throated Diver 16. Osprey 17. Great Skua 18. Arctic Skua 19. Tree Sparrow 20. Hen Harrier

... and perhaps a few mammals too, including Otter, Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Brown Hare, Mountain Hare, Red Squirrel, Grey Seal, Common Seal, Red Deer and Roe Deer. Early September is a great time to visit the Highlands; all of our Scottish specials have fledged chicks, so bird numbers are at their peak and with dependent young it also means they can be easier to find than in the middle of summer. We also have the excitement of migration, with waders and wildfowl numbers building, with chances of rarities being found too. We visit the West Coast, to find Red and Blackthroated Diver, Black Guillemot, Hooded Crow and White-tailed Eagle, amid stunning late summer scenery. We also have two days around more local coastlines, visiting the Black Isle or Moray Coast to give us the best chances of skuas chasing the soon to depart terns and Kittiwakes, and also to see Ospreys fishing before they head back to Africa for the winter. The rich arable farmland here is good for Tree Sparrow, and with luck we should find Corn Bunting, Stock Dove, Yellowhammer and Grey Partridge too. Around the Cairngorms we work hard to find all four UK grouse species, as well as pinewood specialities such as Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill, with good chances of Golden and White-tailed Eagles over the crags, and the possibility of a roaming Hen Harrier over the moorland. Seven nights at Mountview Hotel

combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Autumn in the Highlands with Easy Walking (p25), Raptors & Grouse (p26), NEW! Autumn Migration in the Highlands (p26).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ron & Orkney in Autumn for birders (p41).

Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

Twitter: @heatherleabirds

Instagram: @heatherleabirds

NEW! AUTUMN MIGRATION in THE HIGHLANDS SAT 4 SEPTEMBER – SAT 11 SEPTEMBER 2021 SAT 3 SEPTEMBER – SAT 10 SEPTEMBER 2022 PRICE: from £1395pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. A fantastic new holiday featuring the special resident birds and exploring migration on both the west and east coasts of the Highland. With Northern breeders on the move, it is an exciting time and we visit some of the best places and habitats for birdwatching on both land and sea. Close to our Highland base, we seek, Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Crested Tit, Osprey, Scottish Crossbill and more. It’s a great time of year, with bird numbers at their highest all year as juvenile birds boost the local populations. At this time anything can turn up and on a dedicated day exploring the attractive Tarbet Peninsular and we will also likely visit the Moray and Black Isle coasts too. All support high densities of farmland birds at the same time offering vast potential for migrant passerines and with busy estuaries and sea lochs nearby, we will accumulate a high day list on these days. An overnight stay on the west coast, gives us more time to search for top quality birds including Golden and White-tailed Eagle, three species of diver, seaduck and perhaps Twite if we are lucky. Otters are possible too, and on our seatrip across the Minch we have chances of cetaceans and hope to see Petrels, Shearwaters, Skua’s or perhaps a rarity among commoner seabirds. Absorbing birding during a busy period in the Scottish birding calendar. Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two night on the West Coast. Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

20 Scottish Specials (p25), Raptors & Grouse (p26), The Outer Limits Adventure (p27).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ron & Orkney in Autumn for birders (p41), Outer Hebrides in early Autumn for birders (p41).

RAPTORS & GROUSE SAT 4 SEPTEMBER – SAT 11 SEPTEMBER, SAT 11 SEPTEMBER – SAT 18 SEPTEMBER 2021 SAT 3 SEPTEMBER – SAT 10 SEPTEMBER, SAT 10 SEPTEMBER – SAT 17 SEPTEMBER 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11.

This is a superb time to come to Scotland – autumn migration is in full swing; the tree and heather colours are turning, and our target birds are at their highest numbers with all youngsters fledged. On this itinerary we seek an ambitious list of raptors heading to the best sites to look for them. The list is mouthwatering: White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Buzzard, Osprey, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel with chances of Merlin, Goshawk and Short-eared Owl. To maximise our chances we include an overnight stay on Magical Mull, a superb place to gain close views of many raptors in stunning Hebridean scenery! Our grouse targets are Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Black Grouse and Red Grouse, the four naturally occurring species in the British Isles. The Highlands of Scotland is the only place to see them all! We seek Capercaillie in remote woodlands, with several options if we aren’t in luck first time. Ptarmigan will be in high corries of the Cairngorms and this is the time of peak numbers so we stand a good chance. Red Grouse are found commonly on the moors around our Hotel in Nethy Bridge, while rarer Black Grouse are active locally. Other specialities inland include Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill while other birds likely on our Mull adventure include Black Grouse, Black Guillemot, Hooded Crow, Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Goosander, Redpoll, Stonechat, Twite and more. September birding along the Moray Coast and on the Black Isle is particularly enjoyable, as newly arriving winter migrants complement remaining summer visitors. Birds may include Osprey fishing, rafts of Common Eider, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Stonechat, returning Common and Velvet Scoter, Black and Red-throated Diver, autumn waders including Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. We search for any rarities within reach and have seen Pectoral Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper and Little Gull at this time. In farmland habitats there are building numbers of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnet and Tree Sparrow, and Merlin visit, perching on bales and fenceposts waiting for flocks of Meadow Pipits and other passerines. Total species c. 120. Mammals may include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal. Otter, Mountain Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible. Six nights at Mountview Hotel. One night on Mull.

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

20 Scottish Specials (p25), NEW! Autumn Migration in the Highlands (p26), The Outer Limits Adventure (p27).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ron & Orkney in Autumn for birders (p41), Outer Hebrides in early Autumn for birders (p41), Shetland in Autumn for birders (p42).

THE ‘OUTER LIMITS’ ADVENTURE SAT 19 SEPTEMBER – SAT 26 SEPTEMBER, SAT 26 SEPTEMBER – SAT 3 OCTOBER 2020 PRICE: £1395pp SAT 11 SEPTEMBER – SAT 18 SEPTEMBER, SAT 18 SEPTEMBER – SAT 25 SEPTEMBER, SAT 25 SEPTEMBER – SAT 2 OCTOBER 2021 SAT 10 SEPTEMBER – SAT 17 SEPTEMBER, SAT 17 SEPTEMBER – SAT 24 SEPTEMBER, SAT 24 SEPTEMBER – SAT 1 OCTOBER 2022 PRICE: from £1495pp No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11.

A real adventure, including two nights in the island wilderness of Lewis, Harris and Skye. With Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill, seabird flocks, migration all around the coast and the possibility of rarities, this is a unique and very exciting holiday. In the Caledonian pinewoods there are good numbers of Crested Tit with roaming Scottish Crossbill also in small flocks. Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel are in the glens and the Red Deer rut reaches its peak. We make a three-day visit to the northern Outer Hebrides, frequently chosen by guides and guests as one of the highlights of the Heatherlea year. We scan for Manx Shearwater, Great and Arctic Skua, Storm Petrel, Gannet, auks and more from our ferry. Sooty Shearwater, Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine and Long-tailed Skua, Grey Phalarope plus Minke Whale, Bottle-nosed, Risso’s and Common Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and Grey and Common Seal are all possible too. On Harris we may see eagles whilst checking sheltered bays for seaduck may reveal rare Surf Scoter, King Eider, three diver species and Slavonian Grebe. On Lewis we visit headlands for seabirds, waders, Twite and migrant passerines, walk the woods for Hebridean races of Wren and Song Thrush, and target boggy lochans for American vagrants. We may get falls of southbound migrants, with Pink-footed Goose, Snow and Lapland Bunting possible. Golden and White-tailed Eagles, Hen Harrier and Merlin are also frequently seen.

Back in the Strath, Black Grouse are returning to the lek, and our private estate woodlands hold Capercaillie. We also visit the Moray Firth to search the concentrations of seabirds that make this coast such a magnet for birders. Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and Red-throated Divers are all possible, as are many waders in autumn. Ptarmigan are our target on the mountain day and Snow Bunting may be seen. Total species approx. 115. Other wildlife should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Mountain Hare and other sea life. Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on the Outer Hebrides. Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

NEW! Autumn Migration in the Highlands (p26), Raptors & Grouse (p26), Highlands & Skye in Autumn (p27).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ron & Orkney in Autumn for birders (p41), Shetland in Autumn for birders (p42), Outer Hebrides in Autumn for birders (p43), Unexplored Orkney (p43).

HIGHLANDS and SKYE in AUTUMN SAT 3 OCTOBER – SAT 10 OCTOBER 2020 PRICE: £1395PP SAT 2 OCTOBER – SAT 9 OCTOBER, SAT 9 OCTOBER – SAT 16 OCTOBER 2021 SAT 1 OCTOBER – SAT 8 OCTOBER, SAT 8 OCTOBER – SAT 15 OCTOBER 2022 PRICE: from £1495PP No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. Autumn on Skye is magical from mountain top to sea, and perhaps the best time for eagles, as young birds make the most of autumnal winds. Waders move through in good numbers, and moorland birds have formed flocks and are ranging on the coast. Back home in Strathspey, specialities and newly arriving thrushes, geese and waders provide superb birding during a classic week. We begin with Capercaillie and Blackcock, in private estate woodlands or other favoured spots depending on where birds are showing. A walk in the nearby Abernethy Forest may produce Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill, and moorland specialities include Peregrine, Red Grouse, Merlin and Hen Harrier, with Goosander and Dipper on the rivers. After breakfast we work slowly west via mountainous Torridon with its long sealochs and quaint villages, favoured coastlines for Otters, waders and wildfowl. In autumn on Skye, magical low light and changing weather give us picture-postcard views around every turn, with concentrations of Golden and White-tailed Eagles, and good chances of Hen Harrier and Merlin. Divers will be returning to the coastline, with good numbers of Great Northern in particular and a wide range of birdlife includes Black Guillemot and Twite. In the hills we concentrate on Ptarmigan, and rarely fail to find the birds. Local birding gives excellent chances of Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch and woodland species, already in winter flocks. Nearby fields often hold freshly arrived Redwing and Fieldfare, and flocks of finches and buntings that may contain Brambling. Autumn along the Moray Coast can be stunning. Rafts of seaduck include Velvet and Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Eider and Red-breasted Merganser. We search for rarities, which in recent years have included Surf Scoter, King Eider and (just once), Steller’s Eider. Geese will be in good number and waders should include Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. With luck farmland will be busy, with chances of Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting and perhaps Whooper Swans. A marvellous feast of autumn birding! Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on Skye. Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

The Outer Limits Adventure (p27), Highland Autumn Birding (p28).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Shetland in Autumn for birders (p42), Unexplored Orkney (p42), Outer Hebrides in Autumn for birders (p43), Islay and Jura (p43).

Twitter: @heatherleabirds

Instagram: @heatherleabirds

HIGHLAND AUTUMN BIRDING SAT 24 OCTOBER – SAT 31 OCTOBER 2020 PRICE: £1295pp SAT 16 OCTOBER – SAT 23 OCTOBER, SAT 23 OCTOBER – SAT 30 OCTOBER 2021 SAT 15 OCTOBER – SAT 22 OCTOBER, SAT 22 OCTOBER – SAT 29 OCTOBER 2022

PRICE: £1395pp PRICE: TBA

No single supplement. ‘Early Birder’ discounts may apply, contact us before booking! Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 11. Exciting ‘local’ birding plus a three day adventure to remotest Aberdeenshire, one of the best yet most under watched birding counties in the UK! We cover all habitats from mountain to sea, giving a full flavour of how good birding can be in the Highlands in Autumn. Particular focus is given to the key spectacle of large numbers of wildfowl, recently arrived from breeding grounds. We enjoy the numbers, and look closely for rarities hidden amongst the commoner species! With big rafts of seaduck, fields full of geese and a good range of migrant and resident birds, this is an unforgettable week.

just about anything can turn up. Passerines originating in Scandinavia can arrive en masse in east winds and in favourable conditions we spend time in coastal scrub searching for them. We work the under-watched Loch of Strathbeg carefully. Often there is a bigger autumn birdlist here than at Titchwell or Minsmere! Scarce wildfowl are regular, and we spend time looking through ducks in particular. In arable farmland we hope to find Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting, Stock Dove and Tree Sparrow, and in busy harbours Iceland and Glaucous Gull. Royal Deeside, famous for Balmoral Castle, is good for crossbills, Goshawk and Golden Eagle, and moors hold Red Grouse and a few Mountain Hare. On high hills we search for Ptarmigan and rarely fail to find them. Snow Bunting are possible too, especially when the tops are snow covered. Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on the east coast.

Capercaillie and Blackcock are targets in exclusive private woodlands and favoured spots. A walk in the nearby Abernethy Forest for Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill is followed by a search for moorland specialities including Peregrine, Red Grouse, Merlin, Hen Harrier and Golden Eagle. Mountain Hare, Raven, and White-tailed Eagle are frequently seen. We head east to the Ythan estuary, where goose flocks can be in the thousands, perhaps containing rarities such as Snow or Red-breasted Goose. Vast rafts of Common and Velvet Scoter are possible, with good chances of rarer Surf, Black or White-winged Scoter and King Eider. More usual are Great Northern and Red-throated Diver and seabirds, sometimes being chased by a late Pomarine or Great Skua. Waders include Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover and

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Short Breaks in Autumn (p14), Highlands and Skye in Autumn (p27), Birding the East Coast in Autumn. (p28).

BIRDING the EAST COAST in AUTUMN SAT 30 OCTOBER – SAT 6 NOVEMBER 2021 SAT 29 OCTOBER – SAT 5 NOVEMBER 2022

PRICE: £1595pp PRICE: TBA

Single supplement: £195

Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Toby Green.

Grebe and divers are possible, and wader numbers will be significant, including wintering Purple Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit and possible American rarities. Residents include Golden Eagle, Black Grouse, Red Grouse and Stonechat in the Angus Glens, Hawfinch, Bittern, Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting, flocks of Snow Bunting, Twite, Fieldfare and Redwing, perhaps Waxwing, and there is a chance of White-tailed Eagle. Mammals might include Otter, Grey and Common Seal, Red and Roe Deer, Red Squirrel, Brown Hare and perhaps newly resident European Beaver! Number of centres: 4.

Top birding in a part of the country not usually explored by visitors. Much underwatched, particularly at this time of year, there is excellent birding from glen to open sea, as residents are joined by flocks of migrants in every habitat, and rarities are possible in favourable winds. Unexpected duck, gulls, geese and passerines will cross our path as we explore the whole north-east coast from Loch of Strathbeg to harbours of the East Neuk of Fife. Large goose flocks should contain Pink-footed, Barnacle, Greylag, White-fronted and Brent. We check for Bean, and perhaps Red-breasted, Snow or Ross's Goose. Regular gulls include Glaucous and Iceland, and we may find Ivory or Ross's Gull. On the open sea, large flocks of Common and Velvet Scoter often contain a single Surf Scoter, and King Eider are sometimes found on open water and in quiet estuaries. Red-necked

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Short Breaks in Autumn (p14), Highland Autumn Birding (p28), Solway Firth (p28).

SOLWAY FIRTH SAT 7 NOVEMBER – THURS 12 NOVEMBER 2020 SAT 6 NOVEMBER – THURS 11 NOVEMBER 2021 SAT 5 NOVEMBER – THURS 10 NOVEMBER 2022 Deposit: £200pp

PRICE: £1395PP PRICE: £1395PP PRICE: TBA

Max 7 clients per leader. Leader Ian Ford

A vast, internationally important area for wildfowl, Solway Firth offers great birding. Caerlaverock is alive with tens of thousands of geese. We scour flocks of Barnacle Goose for rarities including Red-breasted, Richardson's Cackling and Snow Goose, or perhaps a Lesser White-fronted. At the daily feed, the spectacle of wild Whooper Swan is something to both see and hear! RSPB Mersehead holds many Barnacle Goose and wintering ducks including Pintail, and feeders have Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow. We have to be lucky to connect with large Starling murmurations, though we hope to see them as the light fades, and Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier and Peregrine are regular. Westward at Loch Ryan we seek flocks of Scaup, Common Scoter and Eider, with Long-tailed Duck, Black Guillemot, Red-breasted Merganser, plus wintering divers and grebes. Waders include Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Knot, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit and Ringed Plover, and Pale-bellied Brent Geese winter in small numbers.

Single supplement: £100. Single supplement: £100.

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

We close beside a large area of rough grassland, where Hen Harrier, Merlin and the odd Short-eared Owl roost. The Ken-Dee Marshes host Greenland White-fronted and Greylag Geese. Later at the local Red Kite feeding station, expect a very close first-hand experience of these gregarious birds. In the Galloway hills the major prize is locally scarce Golden Eagle, and Merlin, Peregrine, Siskin, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Redwing, Fieldfare and Common Crossbill are found. Five nights in a very comfortable country house hotel and the services of your Heatherlea guide make this a perfect late-autumn break. Total species c. 90. Number of centres: 1.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Birders Blast (p14), Birding the East Coast in Autumn. (p28).

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

SCOTTISH ISLAND HOLIDAYS

Birding and wildlife The Scottish islands are simply stunning, and with Heatherlea the best wildlife watching experiences are readily available. Fancy seeing Corncrake on Coll? How about shearwaters as you cruise to Canna? Many itineraries are unique, and in 2021 we offer more holiday choice than ever, all designed to give you the best of wildlife at the best time of year. You don’t even need a car to visit some of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich places on earth, we take care of your travel arrangements including transfers (see below).

Ideal for birders and general wildlife enthusiasts alike These holidays are ideal if you want to see some of the rarest and difficult-to-find birds of the British Isles. Some holidays target specific species, including Corncrake and White-tailed Eagle, though on all we are keenly interested in mammals (especially Otter and cetaceans), insects, flora and more. We move at a leisurely pace, giving you time in the evenings before a relaxed dinner, though we move quickly when rare migrants and vagrants are in our sights. We also take time to enjoy the scenery; after all, we are visiting some of the most beautiful places on the planet!

If using public transport, we provide a courtesy transfer service between Aviemore and The Mountview Hotel. We pick-up at 16.30 hours and 19:30 hours, on SATURDAYS ONLY. If arriving by public transport on a different day, you can transfer to your overnight hotel by taxi (please contact us for up-to-date taxi details). Morning drop-offs to Aviemore train station are until 10.30am on the day of departure. As an alternative you can join the holiday at a point closer to our destination if that is more convenient - Oban, Aberdeen, Fort William and Uig on Skye are regular meeting points on some itineraries.

Combination holidays You can take any SCOTTISH ISLAND holiday singly, but most are conveniently arranged to be enjoyed alongside either a Heatherlea week in the Highlands, or a second holiday elsewhere on the islands. If you combine, you make good use of time and minimise travel expenses too. Many Heatherlea clients choose this option, and there are lots of possible combinations; please see individual holiday text for suggestions. NORTH

SHETLAND

RONALDSAY

Personal Service We have a maximum number of seven clients per guide for most holidays. This means more personal attention, and more time with your Guide to help you get the best possible sightings. Heatherlea is a small company run BY birders FOR birders, where our clients really do come first. Come and see!

ORKNEY OUTER HEBRIDES

What’s included in each holiday ◆

◆ ◆

◆

comfortable en-suite accommodation. Any exceptions will be identified in advance. We choose from our personally inspected shortlist, where birders are welcome, and the hospitality is special. Guests are never expected to share. Full details with your joining pack. all meals from dinner on arrival, then packed lunch each day, until breakfast on the final day. all ferries, other boat trips and flights as stated in the itinerary. Please note that transport to the joining point is not included, nor are flights from mainland airports to islands (e.g. Aberdeen – Shetland). All access fees. the services of your Heatherlea Guide.

ST KILDA SKYE ABERDEEN

CANNA

NETHY BRIDGE

COLL TIREE

Transfers included

MULL

COLONSAY

Many holidays, particularly to northern islands, begin here in Nethy Bridge, with courtesy transfers to ferry points or airports, saving you money. This is often the most economical way to visit the remotest parts of Scotland – Heatherlea make it easy and give you real savings. You may book an extra night’s stay at either end of your holiday, and drivers may leave vehicles safely parked at Mountview Hotel free of charge. Please note that extra nights are rarely available within Mountview Hotel, which has only twelve guest rooms. Our near neighbours Nethy Hotel are within easy walking distance, and we can transfer luggage on request. See ‘Getting Here is Easy’ on p9 for suggestions to help you reach Nethy Bridge.

SOLWAY FIRTH

ISLAY

More Detail We can’t put everything in this brochure, there just isn’t space! To read an ‘Tour Info Pack’ or a ‘Trip Report’ with more information, please visit www.heatherlea.co.uk or ask our office for a printed copy.

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Twitter: @heatherleabirds

Instagram: @heatherleabirds

SCOTTISH ISLAND HOLIDAYS … ‘for birders’

The Scottish islands are wonderful for wind-blown rarities and sometimes ‘mega’ birds, perhaps never before or very rarely seen in the UK. Many Heatherlea birders have enjoyed exceptional birding on the islands, where we always expect the unexpected!

them. You will need a reasonable level of mobility to appreciate these holidays to the full. At all times, we observe the Birdwatchers’ Code of Conduct, following common sense and good practice in the interests of both wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts.

Heatherlea offer several spring and autumn itineraries where we concentrate particularly on the birds which can take your British list to new heights, and these are designated ‘for birders’ in this Brochure. Select specific ‘for birders’ holidays to North Ronaldsay, Outer Hebrides, Cornwall, Isles of Scilly and Shetland!

Our exceptional guides have a massive amount of experience in finding rare birds in Scotland. George Gay and Mark Warren have previously been employed at North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory, Peter Cosgrove works in conservation on Shetland, and Mike Coleman, Ian Ford, Toby Green and Dave Pullan have been birding Scotland’s outlying islands for many years. Keep in touch with our sightings by subscribing to our social media.

During these holidays we maintain our ‘less intensive’ approach, and sometimes birds are trapped at observatories where we can observe them closely at leisure or are available in roadside locations. At other times, birds are flighty or in places which might be difficult to reach, and then we change plan and move more quickly to find

Here are just some of our recent postings from the Scottish islands! Stunning weather again for our '#Shetland in Spring' group as we explored NW Mainland. Red-throated Divers galore, fab scenery and a nice #rarity find with this Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Eshaness. We enjoyed great views of Golden Oriole on the way home too. MW Weather has really set in now on North Ronaldsay, but today has produced Barred & Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied & Spot Fly, Rosefinch and this American Golden Plover smashing day so far! SO'H Marsh, Yellow-browed and Barred Warblers were today's highlights, in addition to an Otter by the hotel, Porpoises, Purple Sandpiper, breeding plumage Great Northern Diver and non-breeding Red-throated Diver. SO'H & PC Stunning scenery and plenty of Eagles have become the norm in the last two days of our 'Wild #Skye' adventure. Taking time to enjoy commoner species has paid off too, our group enjoying bonus views of two #Corncrake while pausing to watch this Whinchat! MW The mixed weather today didn't do anything to dampen our spirits! With highlights of 30 mins watching a fishing Otter; Melodious Warbler at Lunna; ending the day at the Sumburgh Quarry with Marsh & Yellow-browed Warblers! SO'H & PC St Kilda & Hebrides trip in June - An incredible place to spend 48 hours with magnificent seabirds, endemic St Kilda Wren and the bonus Snowy Owl. @StKildaNTS MW & FW Another spectacular day on Unst with incredible views of a Peregrine, a superb summer plumage American Golden Plover, RIVER WARBLER (what a monster find by Pete Alley's group) and Pied Flycatcher. What a day! SOH & PC A wonderful day on Fetlar for our Shetland group, where we were thrilled to find a Wryneck! Two Common Cranes were also nice and though migrant numbers have been lower than usual on Unst, we've enjoyed the seabirds and unearthed a dusk Green-winged Teal a couple of days ago. MW Another great day despite the weather here in Shetland with highlights of: Marsh Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, LANCEOLATED WARBLER, 8+ Great Northern Divers and PIED-BILLED GREBE. SO'H & PC More Highlights from the last few days on the Outer Hebs: 41 Red-throats, 4 Black-throats & a Great Northern from the ferry; 3 Minke, 25+ Risso's, 5+ Bottlenose & 2 Porpoise from Tiumpan Head; raft of 10 Black-throats; 2 drake Surf Scoters; and lots of passage waders! SO'H Brilliant day exploring #Westray on our #Orkney trip. #Puffins stealing the show first then Gannets and Risso's Dolphins @RSPBScotland Noup Head. Super birding checking wader flocks in the bays & fields leading to the discovery of a Pectoral Sandpiper at Bay of Tuquoy! MW Wow Mega on #North Ronaldsay our group enjoyed stunning views of this Mourning Dove this evening ! Happy Guests!! TG

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

SCOTTISH ISLAND HOLIDAYS INDEX Shetland – Up Helly Aa! Mull and Islay North Ron and Orkney in Spring for birders Outer Hebrides in Spring Shetland in Spring for birders Mull, Iona and the Treshnish Isles NEW! Birding the North Coast 500 Shetland Island Explorer Islands on the Edge Orkney Island Explorer NEW! Ultimate Skye & Mull Explorer Shetland and Orkney Inner Hebrides from Canna to Iona

31 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 37

Outer Hebrides and the Shiant Isles Ultimate Outer Hebrides St Kilda and the Hebrides Coll and Tiree in Summer Orkney in High Summer NEW! Shetland Wildlife in Summer North Ron and Orkney in Autumn for birders Outer Hebrides in early Autumn for birders Shetland in Autumn for birders Unexplored Orkney Outer Hebrides in Autumn for birders Islay and Jura

38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 42 43 43

UP HELLY AA! – SHETLAND IN WINTER FRI 21 JANUARY – THURS 27 JANUARY 2022 PRICE: TBA Deposit: £300pp Price excludes flight from Aberdeen. Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. Rugged Shetland is a wild and beautiful place throughout the year, and this tour explores the isles in winter, its hardy wildlife and the unique Viking heritage. The Up Helly Aa Viking Fire Festival is famous the world over, a real spectacle which will be a feature of this holiday as we take in cultural experiences, marvel at the parades and enjoy local music and storytelling. We mainly focus on coastal wildlife, wildfowl featuring strongly, and we will search local goose flocks for scarcer species such as Tundra and Taiga Bean, Barnacle and White-fronted (both races). Birdwatching in sheltered bays and off the coasts offers Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck and Eider, Black Guillemot (Tysties), Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone. Glaucous and Iceland Gull occur anywhere the fishing industry is active, and there is a chance of Little Auk too. Passerines are scarce at this time, but we should see Twite and Rock Pipit, with Snow Bunting and Waxwing possible, while raptors are likely to include

dashing Merlin and speedy Peregrine. Shetland is renowned for rarities and in recent winters White-billed Diver, Pied-billed Grebe, Lesser Scaup, Ring Necked Duck, King Eider, Surf Scoter, Brunnich’s Guillemot, Snowy Owl and Gyrfalcon have all been recorded. On the moors a few Red Grouse might stand out from the heather and Mountain Hare can be found on the higher ground such as Ronas Hill. It’s a great time of year to look for Otter as individuals wander the coast and lochs in search of food. Cetaceans are fast becoming a feature of a Shetland winter too with Humpback, Fin and Killer Whale more regular in recent years. We will be keen to follow up on any reported animals and we may well see dolphins, Harbour Porpoise, Common and Grey Seal. With dark skies and little light pollution, winter can also be one of the best periods to witness the stunning Aurora Borealis – there can be no guarantees of course, but with luck we might get a show!

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Twitter: @heatherleabirds

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MULL & ISLAY SAT 27 FEBRUARY – FRI 5 MARCH 2021 PRICE: £1645pp Single supplement: £150 SAT 26 FEBRUARY – FRI 4 MARCH 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team.

A late-winter itinerary combining two of our favourite island destinations! We have timed this holiday so the winter wildfowl spectacle of tens of thousands of geese, ducks and waders on Islay can be coupled with both White-tailed and Golden Eagle, plus Hen Harrier, divers and Otters on Mull. A healthy birdlist on two scenic and wildlife-rich islands; what a way to complete your winter birding! Both islands are incredibly beautiful, and with the lovely glow of Scottish light in March, this is a photographer’s dream. We start on Mull, enjoying relatively empty roads to cover many of our favoured wildlife watching areas. Heatherlea have been visiting Mull in March for many years, and we know just the right spots to find our key targets whatever the tide, wind and weather. After a few days of gentle exploration, we head back to the Mainland, making a slow transfer to deepest Argyll. We then board the ferry for our transfer to Islay. The crossing takes around two hours, heading first down West Loch Tarbert, excellent for Great Northern Divers and Slavonian Grebe. This is a stunning voyage and in the right light is absolutely breathtaking. Islay is rightly famous for its wildfowl, we should see many thousands of geese, plus good numbers and diversity of waders and ducks. Islay is much more fertile and low lying than Mull, though we still expect to see eagles. With so much wildfowl diversity the raptors can’t stay away! This period is a key time for scarce winter visitors too, with good chances of Glaucous and Iceland Gull, Purple Sandpiper and Long-tailed Duck, with every possibility of a rarity. In recent years Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Cackling Goose and Gyr Falcon have all been recorded at this time of year. Number of centres: 2.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highland Winter Birding (p15), Highlands & the East Coast (p15).

NORTH RONALDSAY and ORKNEY in Spring for birders SAT 24 APRIL – FRI 30 APRIL, SAT 1 MAY – FRI 7 MAY 2021 PRICE: £1595pp Single supplement: £130 SAT 23 APRIL – FRI 29 APRIL, SAT 30 APRIL – FRI 6 MAY 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Pete Cosgrove This holiday features the best of Orkney in spring, including the fabulous migration outpost of North Ronaldsay. The birding potential here is tremendous, who can forget the 2017 Red-winged Blackbird or the 2019 Mourning Dove! – both enjoyed by Heatherlea groups! We hope to tap into prime-time spring passage, when this tiny island is a magnet for large numbers and a great variety of birds. We transfer from Heatherlea to mainland Orkney with our ferry crossing offering a variety of seabirds. Our first full day in the field will be spent birding Mainland Orkney where we hope to find nesting birds including Red-throated Diver, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl and an abundance of waders. We will take in some of the seabird colonies and if we get word of any scarce migrants or Orca nearby can be flexible. The short (15 minute) flight to North Ronaldsay, in the 8 seat, Islander plane offers a unique opportunity to see the beautiful Orkney Islands from above. We stay at the Bird Observatory, the perfect base where we can witness and learn about the daily ringing and bird census throughout our stay. Our birding schedule will be dictated by weather. The island is flat, with good roads and easy access to most ‘hotspots’. In the right conditions, fantastic falls of Scandinavian bound migrants can arrive, with Tree Pipit, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and a wide variety of warblers and finches. Scarcities including Dotterel, Wryneck, Bluethroat, Red-backed Shrike, Icterine Warbler, Lapland Bunting and Common Rosefinch often turn up during this period. We have timed our visit with one of the best periods for rarities in the last few years. Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, Subalpine Warbler (both races), Black Kite, Glossy Ibis, American Wigeon, Pectoral Sandpiper, Thrush Nightingale, Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll, Red-throated Pipit and Little Bunting all recorded recently. Breeding birds include Twite, Black Guillemot, Raven, Arctic Tern and Fulmar, while thousands of migrant waders can be present with huge flocks of Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Knot and Sanderling, mostly in stunning summer plumage. Please note that this is a Birders tour, principally focused on finding and identifying rare birds of our own. For those who would like a more general tour of North Ronaldsay & Orkney, we recommend our Orkney Island Explorer (p36) or Orkney in High Summer (p40) holidays. Total species c. 90. Number of centres: 2. 32

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Short Breaks in Autumn (p14), Highlands and Skye (p17).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Outer Hebrides in Spring (p33), Shetland in Spring for birders (p33).

OUTER HEBRIDES in SPRING SAT 1 MAY – FRI 7 MAY, SAT 8 MAY – FRI 14 MAY, SAT 15 MAY – FRI 21 MAY 2021 PRICE: £1595pp Single supplement: £60 SAT 30 APRIL – FRI 6 MAY, SAT 7 MAY – FRI 13 MAY 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients per leader. Leaders Ian Ford & Stewart Woolley. This cracking holiday celebrates the tremendous birding available here in spring. We stay for six nights on the Outer Hebrides and popular target species include Corncrake, both eagles, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, four Skuas, waders in summer colours, Otter and perhaps the first returning Red-necked Phalarope or lekking Ruff, on the islands of South Uist, Benbecula, and North Uist. We also target any rarities on the southern Hebrides during our visit, and these can be special; Black-billed Cuckoo, White-winged Tern, Snowy Owl, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Arctic Redpoll, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Wigeon have all been recorded in recent years, and Dotterel are possible too – a great six days! We cross the famous Skye Bridge, travelling through the island to Uig. Sea-watching as we cross The Little Minch to Lochmaddy might include skuas, Manx Shearwater and Fulmar, Gannet, Black Guillemot and the other breeding British auks are expected. Everyone who has ever joined this holiday has seen Corncrake, and we target this special bird almost as soon as we arrive. Corn Bunting, Ringed Plover, Meadow Pipit and Skylark make the machair a special habitat – full of song! Summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver are likely, as are ‘real’ Rock Dove and Raven. Arctic Skua breed, Great Skua are usually seen, and in westerly winds often see passage of Pomarine and Long-tailed Skua offshore, sometimes by the hundreds – unforgettable! Gull numbers are good, with a scattering of scarcities thrown in, such as Iceland and Glaucous Gull. Mountains hold both Golden and White-tailed Eagle, meadows and fields support Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl and we often watch Otters playing on the coastline. Rare and delicate Red-necked Phalarope are expected from the middle of the month, and other waders should include good numbers of Whimbrel, both godwits, and thousands of Dunlin, Knot, Sanderling and Turnstone, many in summer plumage. We return via Skye, before returning to Nethy Bridge on Friday evening after a feast of birds! We stay in comfortable en-suite accommodation throughout. Total species c. 90. Number of centres: 1.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands and Skye (p17) Birding the Highlands in May (p18), Highlands & Corncrake (p18).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ronaldsay & Orkney in Spring for birders (p32), Shetland in Spring for birders (p33), NEW! Birding the North Coast 500 (p34), Shetland Island Explorer (p35), Islands on the Edge (p35).

SHETLAND IN SPRING for birders SAT 8 MAY – SAT 15 MAY 2021

PRICE: £1745pp Single supplement: £195

SAT 7 MAY – SAT 14 MAY 2022

PRICE: TBA

Guide: TBA

Deposit: £200pp Price excludes flight from Aberdeen. Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. This holiday combines the long days of late spring with superb birding. May is a great time, with migrants arriving daily (sometimes in impressive 'falls' of hundreds of birds), many in fine breeding colours. We dedicate time to searching for our own rarities, and typical scarce birds include Red-backed Shrike, Bluethroat, Common Rosefinch, Wryneck, Rustic Bunting and Subalpine Warbler, with ‘overshoots’ from the Mediterranean expected. If the winds shift to the south east, birds of Eastern Europe or even Siberia might be found. Anything is possible! A visit to Hermaness is always superb, with Great and Arctic Skua and nesting waders such as Golden Plover, Snipe and Dunlin at close range on a moorland walk. At the cliffs we have incredible views down into a bustling gannetry and enjoy other seabirds in high numbers at the most northerly part of Britain! Other key destinations include Sumburgh Head, one of the best land-based watchpoints for Killer Whales, and Fetlar, a good place for Otters though more famous for nesting Red-necked Phalarope, which return about this time. We take time to bird many of the voes and inlets, looking for passage seaduck and Great Northern Diver. White-billed Diver and King Eider are annual, and on headlands in the west we may see a late Snow or Lapland Bunting, or Dotterel. There is the possibility of Pomarine and Long-tailed Skua on passage in westerlies and our groups have struck lucky in the past, such as in 2019 when they found a spring Buff-breasted Sandpiper! There are many nesting waders, with Redshank, Lapwing, Curlew, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover at high densities, large numbers of Twite, Rock Pipit and Wheatear, and rare nesting birds including plentiful Red-throated Diver, Whooper Swan and Whimbrel; a feast of birding! This holiday is best suited to birders, because should a rarity turn up, or if we need to spend time identifying a tricky bird, that takes precedent. Historical sites, shops and cultural aspects take a backseat on this holiday in favour of superb birding! Number of centres: 2.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Birding the Highlands in May (p18), Highlands & Corncrake (p18).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ronaldsay & Orkney in Spring for birders (p32), Outer Hebrides in Spring (p33), Shetland Island Explorer (p35).

Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

Twitter: @heatherleabirds

Instagram: @heatherleabirds

MULL, IONA and the TRESHNISH ISLES TUES 11 MAY – SAT 15 MAY 2021 PRICE: £1595pp Single supplement: £195 TUES 10 MAY – SAT 14 MAY 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Ian Ford.

Mull is a wildlife paradise, with higher densities of Golden and White-tailed Eagles than anywhere else in Britain, plus Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Raven and a range of northern moorland species. The fields hold many waders, including Snipe, Golden Plover, Curlew, Lapwing and Oystercatcher, and we also intend to spend time Otter watching. All this amongst magnificent scenery, featuring towering cliffs, picturesque shorelines, rocky foreshores and beautiful pristine beaches. The coastal habitat is extra special, and we enjoy a thrilling boat trip to the Isle of Staffa, where we have enough time to visit Fingal’s Cave and also scan for Great Skua. Later we go to the tiny isle of Lunga, where the ‘Puffin experience’ is one of the best in the British Isles. Passing right by the burrows, the birds are tolerant, and a careful birder can enjoy views at just a few feet. Further along, other auk species, Shag and gulls can be safely appreciated at close range. Photographers will love this! A quiet walk away from the main cliffs and we may hear Twite, Rock Pipit and Wheatear singing. From the boat, we enjoy the breeding seabirds at ‘their level’ and also perhaps Kittiwake, Manx Shearwater and perhaps tiny Storm Petrel, Great Skua and Arctic Tern. As well as thoroughly exploring Mull itself, including a special place or two rarely visited by birders, we visit the small island of Iona. Any lingering Great Northern Diver will be superb in summer finery, and an absorbing day should once again include both eagle species and Red Deer. On Iona at this time the grassy fields around the ancient Abbey hold Corncrake. There can be up to 20 males calling, and although we can’t guarantee a sighting, we are often rewarded with a glimpse or two and should hear the birds rasping. On recent trips we have seen Common Dolphin, Minke Whale, Basking Shark and even a Bearded Seal – a really exciting holiday. Total species c. 70. Number of centres: 1.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Highlands & Corncrake (p18).

NEW! Birding the NORTH COAST 500 SAT 15 MAY – SAT 22 MAY 2021

PRICE: £1695pp Single supplement: £125

SAT 14 MAY – SAT 21 MAY 2022 Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Ian Ford.

PRICE: TBA

Guide: TBA

Wonderful wildlife amid some of Scotland’s finest scenery is firmly on the agenda on this spectacular journey around some of the country’s most northerly coastal points, feted by holiday-makers and travel writers alike as one of the best road trips in the world. Our tour takes you to the best places for wildlife. There will be many highlights, such as Handa Island, Dunnet Head and Duncansby Head for their seabirds. The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is a fantastic and unique, often deemed to be as important a habitat as the Amazonian Rainforest! At RSPB Broubster Leans, breeding waders and passerines are on territory and passage Whimbrel, Short-eared Owl, Merlin and Hen Harrier may be seen. Many other excellent sites on northern coasts are visited on this holiday including Loch Fleet for passage birds, Icelandic bound waders in summer plumage on any number of pristine golden beaches, and Applecross for eagles, and Ptarmigan. Otters and perhaps cetaceans may be encountered off the rugged coastline; this holiday really does offer a huge range of the best wildlife northern Scotland offers in spring! Above all, this is an exciting birding adventure in underwatched places of the country. Visits to seabird colonies featuring Puffin, Guillemot and Razorbill densely packed and huddled together on cliff ledges, many will be about to lay eggs. Kittiwake, Fulmar, Shag and ‘Rock Dove’ can be expected too, the sound and smell of these northern colonies complete the experience. Good numbers of nesting waders and waterfowl, including scarce northern species such as Red-throated Diver, Blackthroated Diver, Hen Harrier, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Black Guillemot, Twite and much more will keep us entertained as we travel. Our tour begins either here in Nethy Bridge or in Inverness, convenient for flights and rail connections. We don’t follow the exact route of the ‘North Coast 500’, preferring deviations to cater for wildlife and birding considerations.

Combine with:

Number of centres 3.

Birding the Highlands in May (p18), Highlands & Corncrake (p18).

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Outer Hebrides in Spring (p33).

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

SHETLAND ISLAND EXPLORER SAT 15 MAY – SAT 22 MAY, SAT 22 MAY – SAT 29 MAY 2021 PRICE: £1995pp Single supplement: £195 SAT 14 MAY – SAT 21 MAY, SAT 21 MAY – SAT 28 MAY 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Price excludes flights from Aberdeen to Sumburgh. Max 7 clients. Leader Mark Warren. Shetland is rugged, windswept and wild, and is best explored in late-spring in either May and June, when long, evenings give way to an ethereal twilight known as the ‘Simmer Dim’. There will be lots of highlights on this trip. We stand on the very far north of Unst, with views past white rocks covered with nesting Gannets to the lighthouse at Muckle Flugga, the most northerly British islands. Another day, we stand by the lighthouse at Sumburgh, Shetland’s most southerly tip, with views to Fair Isle. In-between, our time is devoted to these islands of rolling hills, jagged sea-cliffs and secluded sheltered havens for wind-blown birds. We also take several spectacular boat trips to visit the more remote offshore islands, all busy with birds. The Shetland Isles are the summer home to some of the biggest seabird colonies in Britain. At this time Gannet, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill and Black Guillemot number over half a million in total. Offshore Kittiwake, Common and Arctic Tern are harassed by marauding Great and Arctic Skua to relinquish their catch. The (endemic) ‘Shetland’ Wren is common, as are breeding Wheatear, Meadow and Rock Pipit and Twite. Moorland lochs host Red-throated Diver in stunning breeding plumage, plus wildfowl and waders. Two birds of national significance which breed here are Whimbrel and Red-necked Phalarope, both with very small populations but we have every chance of finding them at known sites. Many guests list a visit to the Storm Petrel colony on Mousa as their highlight. To stand in the best kept iron-age broch in the world at dusk, as tiny Storm Petrels flit around and churr from the walls and stone beaches is truly magical. Shetland is a very good place to see Otters and both Common and Grey Seals too. Cetaceans including Harbour Porpoise, Minke Whale and Orca occur annually, and we will follow up on reports if nearby. We take two dedicated birding boat trips plus several scheduled ferries as we cover the birdlife of at least seven islands. You will visit Fetlar, Mousa and Noss (non-landing), as well as birding extensively on Unst, Yell and Mainland. Truly a holiday for the ‘island explorer’, as we witness some of the most impressive scenery and wildlife in the country; a fantastic experience in the long, northern summer. Total species c. 65. Number of centres: 2.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Birding the Highlands in May (p18), Highlands and Corncrake (p18), High Season across the Highlands (p19).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Outer Hebrides in Spring (p33), Shetland in Spring for birders (p33), NEW! Ultimate Skye & Mull Explorer (p36).

ISLANDS ON THE EDGE from Coll and Tiree to the Uists SAT 22 MAY – SAT 29 MAY, SAT 5 JUNE – SAT 12 JUNE 2021 PRICE: £1995pp Single supplement: £195 SAT 21 MAY – SAT 28 MAY, SAT 4 JUNE – SAT 11 JUNE 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients per departure. Leader Toby Green. This eight-day, nine-island tour takes us to North Uist, South Uist, Benbecula, Berneray, Barra and Eriskay and boasts three nights on Coll and Tiree. With the machair coming into full bloom, Corncrake rasping, Snipe drumming, Redshank, Arctic and Little Terns vociferously guarding territories, and Basking Shark, Minke Whale and Common and Grey Seals around the white, sandy shorelines, this holiday is a wonderful celebration of Scottish island wildlife. The holiday begins in Nethy Bridge. We cross Skye, taking the ferry to the Outer Hebrides, watching for cetaceans and seabirds in ‘The Minch’. We explore North and South Uist, Berneray, Benbecula and Eriskay, to see Otter, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Red-necked Phalarope, terns, skuas, auks, waders, Corncrake, Great Northern Diver, Common Redpoll, and Black Guillemot. Rarities could include Ring-necked Duck, American Wigeon, Glaucous or Iceland Gull, or even Snowy Owl. We reach Barra via Eriskay, and after exploring this small island take the ferry to Tiree, watching again for cetaceans, Basking Shark, auks, divers, Gannets and perhaps Storm Petrel. Everyone loves to see Corncrake, and Tiree is home to more calling males than anywhere else in Britain. Tiree also has a nationally important population of breeding waders, and the machair is full of Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Snipe and Ringed Plover chicks. Pintail is a rare breeder, and sounds at night could include the buzzing song of Grasshopper Warbler, the bizarre call of Water Rail, the liquid song of Quail or even the ‘whip-lash’ call of rare Spotted Crake. On nearby Coll, we listen and look for Corncrake, and search for Basking Shark and Otter along the coasts. Perhaps the most under-visited of all large Scottish islands, Coll and Tiree are special places. Our final ferry takes us between the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and Mull to Oban, keeping our eyes open for Harbour Porpoise, Bottle-nosed, Common and Risso’s Dolphins, Minke Whale and a host of seabirds including Manx Shearwater. From Oban, we drive back to Nethy Bridge. Total species c. 90. Number of centres: 4. Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands & Corncrake (p18), High Season across the Highlands (p19), Outer Limits in Summer (p20).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

NEW! Ultimate Skye & Mull Explorer (p36).

Twitter: @heatherleabirds

Instagram: @heatherleabirds

ORKNEY ISLAND EXPLORER Westray, Hoy, Rousay, Burray and both South and North Ronaldsay SAT 29 MAY – SAT 5 JUNE 2021 PRICE: £1945pp Single supplement: £150 SAT 28 MAY – SAT 4 JUNE 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Mark Warren. This dedicated trip to Orkney is a wide-ranging exploration of these fabulous islands. The main focus is on birding, though scenery and archaeology are important too on this enjoyable holiday. Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl will be settling to breed, and Peregrine and Merlin hunt along the meadow fringes. Eight species of duck, including locally uncommon Shoveler and Pintail plus a variety of waders, including breeding Black-tailed Godwit and Snipe and Water Rail also frequent these areas. We visit seabird cliffs, and see waders, divers and ducks inland, plus Brown Hare, and Common and Grey Seal. Island hopping is a key feature of this thorough exploration of Orkney. We visit Westray for its special seabirds, Rousay is famed for archaeology and Hoy is unique in the archipelago; three very different islands all with very different habitats and associated flora and fauna. On Mainland we have many options selecting the best sites for increased variety, dedicating time to the excellent Birsay Moors, the Loons RSPB and other great wildlife hotspots known to our guides. Another highlight will be our ‘Islander’ flight to the tiny island of North Ronaldsay. Famed for its seaweed eating sheep, we stay at the Bird Observatory, a perfect base to work closely with the wardening team and learn about ‘island life’. In previous years we have seen scarce migrants including Red-backed Shrike, Golden Oriole, Nightjar, Icterine or Marsh Warbler, Bluethroat, Common Rosefinch and even a summering Grey Phalarope. It isn’t all birding though and we have plenty of time to enjoy the unique feel of this enchanting small island. Total species c. 80. Number of centres: 2. On this holiday we also visit some of the finest archaeological sites in Britain. The World Heritage Site settlement of Skara Brae is a must-see, as are Maes Howe, the 6-metre high Standing Stones of Combine with: Stenness and the 5000-year-old Ring of Brodgar. All entry fees are included in your holiday price and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS we will also plan to visit the Italian Chapel, Scapa Flow Museum, Tomb of the Eagles (if time allows) Highlands & Corncrake (p18) Highlands and Orkney (p19). and historic Kirkwall for its sites and for a spot of souvenir hunting in the narrow lanes.

NEW! ULTIMATE SKYE & MULL EXPLORER A complete tour, including a total of eleven islands and offering a multitude of wildlife. SUN 30 MAY – TUES 8 JUNE 2021 PRICE: £2395pp Single supplement: £250 SUN 29 MAY – TUES 7 JUNE 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Toby Green. A grand tour of two of the best places to watch wildlife in Scotland, Skye and Mull! Our targets will be diverse as eagles, harriers, Corncrake and Grasshopper Warbler, and supported by a full suite of western Scottish wildlife, including breeding Puffin, many other seabirds, cetaceans, seals and Otter. A trip for the ‘island bagger’, we plan to visit by land or sea an impressive total of eleven Hebridean islands, landing on nine, and including some rarely visited and hidden gems. We begin on the large island of Skye, dedicating time to explore the Trotternish peninsula to the north, famed for eagles, dramatic views and geology. With time for a thorough exploration, less visited places to the west hold much potential, as does the seldom-visited island of Raasay to the east. During exciting boat trips to the south we plan to visit the sea the islands of Muck, Eigg, Canna, Rum and Soay, and anticipate regular sightings of seals and cetaceans. Relocating to Mull, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, both eagles and divers in summer plumage are all likely, and the island is arguably one of the best places in the country to watch Otter. On one day, we take an exciting boat trip to the Treshnish Isles lying to the west, visiting Fingal's Cave on Staffa before making landfall on Lunga for one of Britain's outstanding seabird experiences. Walking among the dense Puffin colony, we should also see Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Shag and skuas. Our final island of a holiday full of highlights will be Iona, where we hope to see Corncrake and spend time relaxing with a look around its iconic Abbey. We stay at three centres on this island odyssey, also enjoying wildlife rich Combine with: Ardnamurchan and Morvern on the Scottish mainland, and also spend time searching for Ptarmigan on the Applecross ridge. A wonderful adventure of the west, not to SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS be missed! Highlands & Corncrake (p18).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Shetland Island Explorer (p35), Islands on the Edge (p35).

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

SHETLAND and ORKNEY SAT 12 JUNE – SUN 20 JUNE 2021 PRICE: £2295pp Single supplement: £220 SAT 11 JUNE – SUN 19 JUNE 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide TBA Deposit: £200pp Price excludes flight from Aberdeen. Max 7 clients. Leader Toby Green. Join us to enjoy some of the most impressive scenery and wildlife in Britain, and indulge in the culture, history and archaeology of these ancient lands. A fantastic experience in the long northern summer. We fly Aberdeen to Sumburgh and explore south Mainland, including a seawatch where we hope to see Puffins, and have a chance of Minke Whale, Harbour Porpoise and Orca. A visit to local lochs should produce Red-throated Diver and skuas, breeding Golden Plover, Whimbrel and Curlew, ‘real’ Rock Dove, Black Guillemot, Twite and ‘Shetland’ Wren. We make a late evening visit to the Storm Petrel colony on Mousa, a spectacular show of sight, sound and smell! We expect close-up views of Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin and Kittiwake by the thousand, and it is the sheer numbers which impress the most. Confiding Arctic Skua are present, and Harbour Porpoise are likely from land or boat. We make ferry trips to Unst, the most northerly inhabited island, and Fetlar, where dainty Red-necked Phalarope may be seen, and we have a good chance of Otter here too. At Hermaness, a walk through the world’s second-largest Great Skua colony takes us to the northernmost cliffs of the British Isles. From the 400ft high cliffs, we overlook the lighthouse of Muckle Flugga and around 140,000 breeding seabirds! At another site we also look for Edmondston’s Chickweed (Shetland Mouse-ear), one of the world’s rarest plants, endemic to Shetland. After a great few days on Shetland watching birds in the ‘simmer dim’, we transfer to Orkney. With the archipelago Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl quarter moorland in search of Orkney Vole, and Peregrine and Merlin hunt waders and passerines along the meadow fringes. Uncommon breeders include Shoveler and Pintail, Black-tailed Godwit and Snipe with Water Rail also found on inland pools. Rich in archaeological interest the 6-metre high Standing Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, 5000 year old Skara Brae are must visit sites and we will also plan to include Maes Howe, Scapa Flow, the Churchill Barriers and the Italian Chapel in a thorough exploration of these amazing islands. All access fees included. Return by air to Aberdeen. Total species c. 75. Number of centres: 3.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Highlands & Orkney (p19).

INNER HEBRIDES from Canna to Iona FRI 18 JUNE – FRI 25 JUNE 2021 PRICE: £2045pp Single supplement: £195 FRI 17 JUNE – FRI 24 JUNE 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. This exciting journey through the Inner Hebrides takes you to seven beautiful islands, Canna, Eigg, Muck, Mull, Staffa, Lunga and Iona. We also visit remote Ardnamurchan, and travel through the scenic west coast between Mallaig and Morvern, a wild area of spectacular natural beauty. The wildlife is truly outstanding, and our days will be filled with seabirds, eagles, otters and cetaceans. The holiday is relaxed, and we stay at three centres as we make our way south from Mallaig to Mull. We enjoy a day exploring Canna by foot, looking for eagles, skuas and other birdlife of the basalt cliffs, sea caves, green meadows, stacks and sandy shores. Minke Whale is an important target on an unforgettable boat trip across the sea to Eigg and Muck, and Basking Shark, Manx Shearwater, Black Guillemot, Raven, and maybe a tiny darting Storm Petrel ensure a wildlife day to remember! We may see ‘real’ Rock Dove, Hooded Crow, Red-throated Diver, thousands of Guillemot, Razorbill, a few Puffin, lots of Gannet, Kittiwake... birds all the way! Ardnamurchan peninsula is often overlooked, yet blessed with wonderful wildlife, and we have access to remote wilderness sites here, where we seek Otter. On Mull, a true wildlife paradise and with more eagles than anywhere else in Britain we can expect excellent views along with Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Raven and a range of northern moorland species. It is also excellent for flowers and insects, with a good range of species, including Marsh and Dark Green Fritillaries. We enjoy another thrilling boat trip, first visiting the Isle of Staffa, where we can see Fingal’s Cave and also scan for breeding Great Skua. Any lingering Great Northern Diver will be superb in summer finery and continuing on to the tiny isle of Lunga next, the ‘Puffin experience’ is one of the best in the British Isles! Finally, we visit Iona, where the grassy fields around the ancient Abbey hold Corncrake. There can be up to 20 males calling, and although we can’t guarantee a sighting, we should hear the birds rasping, and may get lucky with a glimpse or two! Total species c. 75. Number of centres: 3. Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands & Isle of May (p21), Highland Wildlife (p21).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Outer Hebrides and the Shiant Isles (p38).

Twitter: @heatherleabirds

Instagram: @heatherleabirds

OUTER HEBRIDES and the SHIANT ISLES Skye, Harris, Lewis, and the Shiant Isles SAT 26 JUNE – FRI 2 JULY 2021 SAT 25 JUNE – FRI 1 JULY 2022 Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Ian Ford.

PRICE: £1995pp Single supplement: £175 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA

A real adventure, taking in some of the most remote and isolated parts of the British Isles, including chartered boat trips to rarely visited Little Bernera, and the Shiant Islands. We travel across Skye, where highlights include both eagles, Otter and a quiet spot for Adders. We also search for Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl on remote back roads. Depending on weather, we may explore Harris, where stunning beaches and superb mountains make the island so famous, with picture-postcard views around every corner or head to Berneray across the Sound of Harris to see the dunes and machair. On Lewis, we take a RIB boat trip to Little Bernera, a fascinating and under visited island west of Lewis featuring good flora and fauna in breathtaking scenery. The overwhelming feel is of space and solitude, and you are unlikely to meet many other tourists! On Lewis, we explore the rarely visited southwest corner, targeting Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Merlin, Twite, Wheatear, Red-throated and Blackthroated Diver, Cuckoo, Eider, Greenshank and other waders, Common and Grey Seal and Otter. Other highlights are a visit to the Callanish standing stones and ancient Dun Carloway broch. At the Butt of Lewis, seabirds fly around the north-western edge of the British Isles and we enjoy great views as they pass. Twite, Rock Pipit and Wheatear breed and rarities can arrive at any time on this exposed headland. A major destination is the Shiant Isles, twelve miles from the northern tip of Skye. This is a very important Puffin site, hosting around 240,000 birds, two percent of the world’s population! We charter our own RIB boat, and as we travel, the seas can teem with birds: Manx Shearwater, Arctic Skua, Great Skua around the ‘flurries’ of fish, many Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, the occasional Storm Petrel, and more! We have excellent chances of Rock Dove, Peregrine and White-tailed Eagle here and on our final morning during a visit to Tiumpan Head, a great seawatching spot, with a long list of recorded cetaceans. Our holiday concludes with a return crossing of the Minch with further wildlife opportunities. Total species c. 80. Number of centres: 3.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

The Outer Limits in summer (p20), NEW! Ultimate Scotland (p20), Eagles, Divers and Dotterel (p22).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Inner Hebrides from Canna to Iona (p37), Ultimate Outer Hebrides (p38).

ULTIMATE OUTER HEBRIDES SAT 3 JULY – MON 12 JULY 2021 PRICE: £2345pp Single supplement: £250 SAT 2 JULY – MON 11 JULY 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. A complete 10-day tour of the Outer Hebrides, from the Butt of Lewis at the northernmost point, to Mingulay at the very southern end of the island chain. A comprehensive tour through the isles in high summer, we pay special consideration toward general natural history, including birds, cetaceans, insect life, abundant flora, and also key historical and cultural sites, all at a leisurely pace. Lewis is a fascinating island, internationally important for divers, Greenshank, eagles and other raptors. We head to the northernmost point, the famous Butt of Lewis, a superb seawatching spot, then work our way down the west coast, calling in at Dun Carloway broch and the Standing Stones of Callinish. We take minor roads to Uig for Golden and Whitetailed Eagle and take to the water to explore the coastline and sealochs thoroughly. With luck we may connect with cetaceans and perhaps our first Otter and seals. Harris is a scenic gem, with a different feel to Lewis, and a full range of rugged habitats, long sweeping beaches and dune systems. We spend a full day exploring, and have good chances of Raven, Peregrine and perhaps a fleeting Merlin, plus both eagles. Our ferry to the southern half of the Outer Hebrides takes a slow journey through islets in the Sound of Harris. We spend a morning on Berneray, and head south to Balranald RSPB reserve on North Uist. Famous for its nesting waders, rich machair and seascapes, this is a favourite place on our Hebridean adventures. We take a boat trip down to Mingulay, the largest of the uninhabited islands at the extreme south of the Outer Hebridean archipelago. Superb for seabirds and general scenery, this promises to be an exciting day on the water. On South Uist we look for Otter, and Hen Harrier, continuing south one afternoon Combine with: to Eriskay, another beautiful island now joined by causeway. We travel by ferry to Barra, and this island of rich, white sand backed by vibrant green crofting land dotted SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS with outcrops of rock, is perhaps one of the most photogenic destinations in Highlands & Isle of May (p21), Highland Wildlife (p21). Scotland. Finally, we take the ferry from Barra to Oban, with good chances of Minke SCOTTISH ISLANDS Whale or a Basking Shark en-route. Number of centres 4. Outer Hebrides and the Shiants (p38).

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

ST KILDA and the HEBRIDES FRI 9 JULY – FRI 16 JULY 2021 PRICE: £1995pp Single supplement*: £40 FRI 8 JULY – FRI 15 JULY 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA *single supplement is for the land only section of the holiday. Shared cabins. Deposit: £200pp Max 10 clients. Leader from our experienced team.. A fabulous six-day cruise aimed at wonderful St Kilda, one of Scotland’s World Heritage Sites. Your chances of reaching the islands are excellent, because we travel with a skipper based on the land nearest to St Kilda itself. Operators based further away are more susceptible to weather conditions which may deny the opportunity to reach the islands. From Nethy Bridge we cross The Minch to Stornoway, where we relax with a walk through nearby woodland looking for island races of Wren and Song Thrush. On Saturday, we board our comfortable vessel for six nights on the ocean wave, climaxing in our expedition westwards to the outpost of St Kilda. There are no guarantees, but in reasonable weather we moor overnight in village bay, and spend a full day on the largest island, Hirta. This should give us time to find St Kilda Wren, a distinctive subspecies, 2-3g heavier than mainland birds. Soay Sheep, St Kilda Field Mouse and the history of this remote community will also be of great interest, and sunrise and sunset are spectacular in good weather. Everyone should visit St Kilda at least and the islands are famous for its huge seabird colonies. The spectacle and clamour of a million birds at the height of their breeding season, in northwest Europe’s largest colony, is unforgettable. Highlights include Puffin (more than 250,000 – the largest colony in Britain), Manx Shearwater, Fulmar (more than 100,000 – the largest colony in Western Europe), Guillemot and Razorbill. The Gannet colony is the largest in the world, estimated at over 120,000 birds and growing! As we sail, Manx Shearwater, Arctic Skua, Great Skua for feeding frenzies around the ‘flurries’ of fish alongside Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake. We should see Storm Petrel too - the seas can teem with birds. We should encounter Otter on rocky beaches and inlets, and Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Harbour Porpoise, Bottle-nosed, Common and Risso’s Dolphin are all possible too. There is no fixed itinerary for the rest of the holiday, though spectacular island scenery is all around, and we will visit remote bays and unspoilt beaches where birdlife is likely to include all three divers in breeding plumage, waders including Greenshank and Golden Plover, White-tailed and Golden Eagles, Merlin and Twite. We explore the machair and its flora, with rare orchids in flower as we embark on day trips to other depopulated islands perhaps including Scarp, Little Bernera, Taransay or perhaps the Monarch Isles. Total species c. 65. Number of centres: 2.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands & Wester Ross (p22).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Orkney in High Summer (p40), NEW! Shetland Wildlife in Summer (p40).

COLL and TIREE in SUMMER MON 12 JULY – SAT 17 JULY 2021 PRICE: £1695pp Single supplement: £175 Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Mike Coleman. A delightful holiday visiting two of Scotland’s remotest and most westerly islands. We will pick out sites carefully based on tide, wind and weather enjoying a relaxed paced, natural history based exploration of these hidden gems! Basking Shark is an important target, we are here at perhaps the best time for this strange and impressive large fish. The waters around Coll and Tiree hold some of the highest numbers in the UK, and we may also see them from ferries between Oban and the islands. Seawatching can be excellent too, and our ferry journeys may also produce Storm Petrel, Manx Shearwater and many auks – excitement all the way! On Coll we look for Otter, breeding Hen Harrier and also plants of the machair. The island has an abundance of orchids with Pyramidal and Frog being key target species, and Common Centaury, Field Gentian and Grass of Parnassus will be sought too. A full day here will be spent looking for wildlife from waders in bright summer plumage, to insects of the machair, including rare Great Yellow Bumblebee and very rare Red Shanked Carder Bee. During our transfer to Tiree we again look out for Basking Shark. cetaceans and seabirds, arriving on a breathtakingly beautiful island with a ‘big sky’ feeling. Orchids again feature on ‘the machair’ along with Lesser Meadow Rue and other sandy specialists. Seabirds, Corncrake, waders, passerines, rare plants and insects - there is so much to see and do on Coll and Tiree! Both islands have a high density of nesting waders, and with young having fledged most will be in large post-breeding flocks, which can harbour rarities. Corncrake will still be present, though this late in the season are harder to find in tall grass being less vocal or territorial having attracted a mate. We do of course still have a chance, taking an optional evening drive, listening out for their rasping calls and for Spotted Crake which has bred previously on Tiree. The holiday begins and ends in Oban, though transfers from Nethy Bridge are also available. No of centres: 2. Facebook: heatherleabirdwatching

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Eagles, Divers & Dotterel (p22), Highlands & Wester Ross (p22).

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ORKNEY in HIGH SUMMER Westray, Hoy, Burray and both South and North Ronaldsay SAT 17 JULY – SAT 24 JULY 2021 PRICE: £1945pp Single supplement: £150 SAT 16 JULY – SAT 23 JULY 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Mark Warren. Orkney is superb in summer, and this island-hopping trip throughout the archipelago will be full of highlights. Botanists will be delighted at tiny and rare Scottish Primrose (in their second flowering period) and other flowers in coastal locations, whilst insect lovers can enjoy rare Greater Yellow Bumblebees at the same time! Birding is good throughout, with an extra special opportunity to see Storm Petrel at close quarters. We transfer from Heatherlea to Orkney via ferry watching for seabirds and cetaceans from the open deck. Once we arrive, we begin wildlife watching and visit the wonderfully crafted Italian Chapel. Our next few days will see us island hopping, taking in the full range of Orcadian habitats on fertile Westray, where we enjoy the Gannets of Noup Head and Puffins at another site. On Hoy, we walk through the Great Skua colony to view the famous ‘Old Man’ stack and have excellent chances of seeing breeding Hen Harrier and Red-throated Diver, plus also White-tailed Eagle which has only recently returned after a 100year absence. On Mainland Orkney, post-breeding waders, Twite and raptors including Merlin are top targets again and we visit many of the finest archaeological sites in Britain from the 5000year old Skara Brae settlement, immaculate Maeshowe, Broch of Gurness, Tomb of the Eagles (if time allows), the 6-metre high Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar -perhaps the most iconic. All entry fees are included, and we also visit Scapa Flow and the Churchill Barriers with time in Kirkwall or Stromness for their respective historic sites, or a spot of souvenir hunting in the narrow lanes. An exciting part of this holiday is our trip to North Ronaldsay, beginning with an 8-seater Islander flight to the island offering a unique opportunity to see the Orkney Isles from above. Here we hope to see Storm Petrels, and our visit coincides with the period for ringing studies where large nightly catches, perhaps of over 100 birds might include a rare Leach’s Petrel too! An unforgettable experience, though netting sessions are weather dependent. The birding is always great here and rarities at this time can include Balearic, Great and Cory’s Shearwater, Roseate Tern, Spoonbill, Pacific Golden Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Grey Phalarope, White-winged Black Tern and Two-barred Crossbill - on North Ronaldsay anything is possible! Total species c. 80. Number of centres: 2.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Eagles, Divers & Dotterel (p22), Highlands & The Bass Rock (p23), NEW! Birds and Mammals incl Perthshire (p23).

NEW! SHETLAND WILDLIFE IN SUMMER SAT 10 JULY – SAT 17 JULY, SAT 17 JULY – SAT 24 JULY 2021 PRICE: £1995pp Single supplement: £195 SAT 9 JULY – SAT 16 JULY 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. Price excludes flights from Aberdeen to Sumburgh. With so much to do and see, summer is a superb time to visit Shetland. On this wide-ranging natural history holiday there is something for all, and our varied itinerary will be of interest to birdwatchers, general wildlife enthusiasts, botanists and island baggers alike. During the holiday you will see some of the most densely populated seabird colonies in the country; Gannet, Shag, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake, Arctic Skua, Common and Arctic Tern are all represented, some in abundance. An evening excursion to the Storm Petrel colony on Mousa will be an exciting highlight, as will a special boat trip to wild Foula off the west coast. There, the waters offer much potential for cetaceans and we also plan to cruise under the sheer cliffs plus explore on foot the home of the largest Great Skua colony in Britain! Freshwater lochans host breeding Red-throated Divers and we seek rare breeding waders including Whimbrel, Golden Plover and delicate Red-necked Phalarope. Shetland is a good place to see both Otter and Grey Seal, while rare plants could include Oysterplant and Edmunston’s Chickweed, the latter growing only on Unst! We take in all the flora and fauna we encounter, with plenty of opportunity for scenic photography as we go. We intend to see as much of the rugged archipelago as possible, and this tour is definitely one for the island bagger, visiting eight islands, with dedicated trips to both Mousa and Foula. We also plan to visit Yell, Fetlar, Noss and Bressay, from our bases on both Unst and Mainland Shetland. This tour will run at a relaxed place incorporating some of the fascinating historical, Combine with: cultural and archaeological heritage of the islands within Shetland. We plan to visit the Jarlshof site, Mousa Broch, a replica Viking longboat and longhouse on Unst and see the SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS town of Scalloway, the ancient capital and home to the Shetland Bus operation during Eagles, Divers & Dotterel (p22), Highlands & Wester Ross (p22), the Second World War. With hotels in the best locations, those who wish to enjoy early NEW! Birds and Mammals incl Perthshire (p23), Highlands and or late wanders will never be bored, and in July, long evenings give way to an ethereal Bass Rock (p23). twilight known as the ‘simmer dim’, a fantastic experience in the long, northern summer. 40

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

NORTH RONALDSAY and ORKNEY in Autumn for birders SAT 21 AUGUST – FRI 27 AUGUST 2021 PRICE: £1595pp Single supplement: £130 SAT 20 AUGUST – FRI 26 AUGUST 2022 PRICE: TBA SAT 11 SEPTEMBER – FRI 17 SEPTEMBER, SAT 18 SEPTEMBER – FRI 24 SEPTEMBER 2021 PRICE : £1595pp Single supplement: £130 SAT 10 SEPTEMBER – FRI 16 SEPTEMBER, SAT 17 SEPTEMBER – FRI 23 SEPTEMBER 2022 PRICE : TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. Few birders venture to this remote outpost, so expect peace and quiet with a strong sense of exploration, and depending on the predominant wind direction, birds from east or west. Choose our early autumn date for the beginning of return passerine migration or the latter dates when migration is in full swing. In favorable conditions, passage migrants may include Willow, Garden and Wood Warbler, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Whinchat, Tree Pipit and other common passerines. Island habitats are varied, offering fantastic wader passage and joining commoner species can be Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Wood, Green, Common and Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint while regular rarities have included American Golden Plover, Pectoral and Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope. Osprey, Marsh and Hen Harrier, Merlin and Short-eared Owl frequently visit too, and while can be no guarantee of any particular species, North Ronaldsay is always surprising and very rewarding. We work alongside the highly skilled Bird Observatory staff, who will be out birding and ringing, depending on the weather. We will have the option of joining in these activities most days. A completely different birding holiday destination, North Ronaldsay is easy to reach with Heatherlea and in good weather, regular scarcities might include Redbacked Shrike, Richard’s Pipit, Wryneck, Bluethroat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred, Icterine, Yellow-browed and Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Ortolan, Lapland and Little Bunting. Rarities might include Great Snipe, Citrine Wagtail, Pechora Pipit, Radde’s, Greenish, Eastern Olivaceous, Arctic, Sykes and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Brown Shrike, Yellow-breasted and Rustic Bunting and Arctic Redpoll. Seawatching can be exceptional, and the early date is traditionally a good time when large movements of Sooty Shearwater, Storm Petrel and skuas can take place with this also the best time for Great, Cory’s and Balearic Shearwater. We also enjoy birding around Orkney, visiting hotspots known to our guides where anything can happen! If there is time we may visit the impressive standing stones at the Ring of Brodgar and stop at the delightful Italian Chapel. This is a Birders’ tour, principally

focused on finding and identifying rare birds. We will have some time for cultural, historical and retail requests, but birding comes first. For a more general tour of North Ronaldsay & Orkney, we recommend our Orkney Island Explorer (p36) or Orkney in High Summer (p40) holidays. Total species c. 90. Number of centres: 2. Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Autumn in the Highlands with Easy Walking (p25), Twenty Scottish Specials (p25), Raptors & Grouse (p26), NEW! Autumn Migration in the Highlands (p26), The Outer Limits Adventure (p27).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Outer Hebrides in Early Autumn for birders (p41), Shetland in Autumn for birders (p42), Unexplored Orkney (p42).

OUTER HEBRIDES in EARLY AUTUMN for birders SAT 28 AUGUST – FRI 3 SEPTEMBER 2021 Single supplement: £145

PRICE: £1645pp

SAT 27 AUGUST – FRI 2 SEPTEMBER 2022 PRICE: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team.

Early autumn is excellent for migration within the Hebrides and is a fantastic, quieter time to visit. Waders may dominate, with an abundance of Dunlin, Knot, Sanderling, both godwits, moulting Golden Plover and more and scarce migrants might include Grey, Phalarope, Pectoral and Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Dotterel and American Golden Plover. This time of year is also excellent for rare passerines such as Barred Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Greenish Warbler, Red-backed Shrike and Lapland Bunting. The mouth-watering list of rarities found on these islands in recent times during this period includes Nearctic wanderers including Baird’s, White-rumped, Semi-palmated, Solitary, Spotted and Western Sandpiper (seen by our 2016 group), Lesser Yellowlegs, Ring-necked Duck, Snowy Owl, Glaucous Gull, Hawfinch, Common Rosefinch, Hoopoe, Sabine’s Gull, American Wigeon, Laughing Gull, Pacific Golden Plover and Britain’s first and only Purple Martin. We also investigate flocks of seaduck off Harris, where Surf Scoter might be found amongst the commoner species. Birding starts on Skye, perhaps with a Golden Eagle. On the ferry to Lochmaddy all four skuas are possible. Fulmar, Gannet, Black Guillemot and other auks can be expected along with Storm Petrel, Manx and perhaps Sooty, Balearic or even Great Shearwater. The ferry through the Sound of Harris may produce divers at close quarters, both seals and White-tailed Eagle. Harris is stunning, and we bird scenic bays and iconic beaches before continuing through to Lewis. Here we visit Tiumpan Head and the Butt of Lewis, and a network of shallow lochs, wader rich bays and lochans. Even if migration is slow we have Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Merlin, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, rafts of seabirds, Eider, and divers to find. Not forgetting Hebridean races of Song Thrush and Wren and key species such as Corn Bunting, Twite and Rock Pipit. Our itinerary will be flexible and we move around (within reason!) according to the best birding. Number of centres: 2.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Autumn in the Highlands with Easy Walking (p25), NEW! Autumn Migration in the Highlands (p26).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ronaldsay & Orkney in early Autumn for birders (p41).

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Twitter: @heatherleabirds

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SHETLAND in AUTUMN for birders SAT 18 SEPTEMBER – SAT 25 SEPTEMBER, SAT 25 SEPTEMBER – SAT 2 OCTOBER 2021 PRICE: £1745pp Single supplement: £195 SAT 17 SEPTEMBER – SAT 24 SEPTEMBER, SAT 24 SEPTEMBER – SAT 1 OCTOBER 2022 PRICE: TBA Deposit: £200pp Price excludes flight from Aberdeen. Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. This exciting holiday offers the chance to see a variety of rare and scarce migrants amid spectacular scenery. We stay in two centres, one on Shetland Mainland, and one on Unst, Britain’s most northerly island, allowing us to spread our wings and locate highly desirable rare birds more easily. We will cover all the key birding locations for autumn migration including the outer isles, if the weather and ferry availability allow! Possibilities are almost endless, with American and Siberian birds coming through on favourable winds, often at the same time! Previous goodies have included Pallid Harrier, Surf Scoter, Little Auk, American Golden Plover, Buff-breasted, Spotted and Pectoral Sandpipers, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Grey Phalarope, Wryneck, Bluethroat, Red-backed and both Lesser and Great Grey Shrikes, Short-toed Lark, Pechora, Richard’s, Olive-backed and Buff-bellied Pipits, Citrine Wagtail, Redbreasted and Taiga Flycatchers, White’s Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush, Veery, Red-flanked Bluetail, Yellow-browed, Yellow-rumped, Marsh, Barred, Lanceolated, Arctic and Blyth’s Reed Warblers, Arctic Redpoll, Common Rosefinch, Little, Rustic and Lapland Bunting. A real feast of birding! Exactly what turns up depends upon the weather, so there are no guarantees, but we’ll try and find our own birds and twitch good ones as we travel around the islands. If the wind is in the east, then large falls of finches, thrushes and crests are also likely. Please note that this is a Birders tour, principally focused on finding and identifying rare birds of our own, with frequent trips to see the rarities others have found. We will have some time for cultural, historical and retail requests, but birding comes first on this particular holiday. For those that want a more general tour of Shetland, we thoroughly recommend our Shetland Island Explorer (p35) or our Shetland and Orkney (p37) holiday. Total species c. 80. Number of centres:2.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Raptors & Grouse (p26), Outer Limits Adventure (p27), Highlands and Skye in Autumn (p27).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ronaldsay & Orkney in Autumn for birders (p41).

UNEXPLORED ORKNEY Westray, Papa Westray & Sanday SAT 25 SEPTEMBER – FRI 1 OCTOBER 2021 PRICE: £1745pp Single supplement: £190 SAT 24 SEPTEMBER – FRI 30 SEPTEMBER 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. An exploration of the more remote parts of the archipelago, focused on birding while also enjoying some of the outstanding heritage of the islands. Birding possibilities are great, as early October is a rich time for southbound migrants, and local expertise gives us every chance of connecting with rare and scarce visitors. This exciting itinerary includes birding on Papa Westray and Sanday, remote and stunningly beautiful islands with huge potential, not previously available to birding groups. Most terrain is flat and easy to negotiate, while largely unrestricted access allows us to ‘get off the beaten track’ and explore. Our daily schedule may include sea-watching, with passing Sooty and Manx Shearwaters, skuas, divers and auks possible. General birding might bring Pink-footed, Greylag and Barnacle Geese plus other wildfowl. Waders feature strongly, with coastal bays, beaches and harvested fields often full of birds, there will certainly be plenty to look through in the hope of unearthing our own rarities! Raptors are very much a feature, with Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine and Short-eared Owl the most likely. At this time, large numbers of thrushes will be on the move from Scandinavia, as will finches and warblers. Just about anything is possible in the right conditions, and rarities vary each year depending on the prevailing winds, though the location of the islands makes Orkney ideal to receive wandering species from north, south, east and west – a brilliant birding experience. As Orkneys reputation grows a number of rarities have been found in autumn recently, including Siberian Accentor, Red-flanked Bluetail, Rustic and Little Bunting, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Golden Plover. On this holiday we spend two nights on Westray, giving time to fully cover the island, its habitats, and places us in prime position to visit nearby Papa Westray where pioneering birding awaits. Orkney offers stunning scenery and historical interest, and we visit important Neolithic sites on the mainland, and also the wonderfully well Combine with: preserved Knap of Howar on Papa Westray while the beaches on Sanday SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Outer Limits Adventure (p27), Highlands & Skye in Autumn (p27). are among the best in Britain. No of centres: 2.

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ronaldsay & Orkney in Autumn for birders (p41), Outer Hebrides in Autumn for birders (p43).

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

OUTER HEBRIDES in AUTUMN for birders SAT 2 OCTOBER – FRI 8 OCTOBER 2021 PRICE: £1645pp Single supplement: £145 SAT 1 OCTOBER – FRI 7 OCTOBER 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. The Outer Hebrides are famous for rarities in autumn, and this is a real birders’ treat as we seek wind-blown rarities at the best time of year. A good amount of our time will be spent looking for rare birds, checking patches of cover, ditches and gardens, whilst working through the flocks of waders, ducks or passerines, as many vagrants hide amongst their commoner cousins. Our recent finds have included a good number of American vagrants following westerly gales, with White-rumped, Baird’s, Pectoral and Spotted Sandpipers, American Golden Plover and Lesser Yellowlegs. Our best recent find has been a Red-eyed Vireo in a remote plantation! If winds are from the east Yellow-browed Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Arctic Redpoll and Red-breasted Flycatcher occur annually. Almost anything is possible here, with incredibly rare birds recorded at this time in recent years including Wilson’s Warbler, Hermit Thrush, White’s Thrush, Buff-bellied, Pechora and Olive-backed Pipits, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Snowy Owl, Ovenbird and Long-billed Dowitcher. If migration is slow we will not be bored, with a superb resident list of Golden and White-tailed Eagles, Hen Harrier, Merlin and Twite, not forgetting Otters! Regular, expected migrants at this time of year include all three divers, Long-tailed Duck and scoters, Snow Bunting, Jack Snipe and good numbers of Purple Sandpiper, Golden Plover and Sanderling, with Whooper Swans and Barnacle Geese arriving from the north. With the Atlantic Ocean to scan, and The Minch to cross twice, we are sure to pick up a good list of seabirds, which in recent years has included Sabine’s Gull, Sooty Shearwater, Leach’s Petrel and Pomarine Skua alongside the commoner petrels, shearwaters, auks and Combine with: skuas. Cetaceans have included Minke Whale and Common and Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Our exact itinerary is will be based on your Guide’s judgement regarding wind, tide and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS recent sightings. With stunning autumnal light on the rugged landscape, we are sure of a Outer Limits Adventure (p27), Highlands and Skye in Autumn (p27).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

memorable trip. Total species c. 85. Number of centres: 2.

Unexplored Orkney (p42).

ISLAY AND JURA SAT 16 OCTOBER – THURS 21 OCTOBER 2021 PRICE: £1595pp Single supplement: £120 SAT 15 OCTOBER – THURS 20 OCTOBER 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader from our experienced team. Islay is beautiful, with soft, rolling scenery and wonderful birdlife. We see large goose flocks including thousands of Barnacles and Greenland White-fronted. The sight and noise is unforgettable, and our mobile-hide minibus is invaluable when scouring flocks at close quarters. We may find Brent (pale-bellied), Greylag, Pink-footed and perhaps wild Canada Goose, but our real effort will go into rarity hunting! Snow, Red-breasted, and races of Lesser Canada and Cackling Goose have all been seen. Chough breed on Islay, and we should see them floating on the breeze at very close quarters. Other regulars include Twite and Snow Bunting. We search for three diver

species, Black Guillemot and other auks, and ducks with numbers of Scaup, Eider and perhaps a few Long-tailed and Common Scoter. We watch for local Golden and White-tailed Eagle and also present are Hen Harrier, Peregrine and regular Merlin. Waders include Golden Plover, Curlew, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling and a few Purple Sandpiper, with the chance of American rarities. Jura is well worth a visit for the scenery alone and is renowned for its population of Red Deer and we search for Otter along the coastline. Total species c. 80. Number of centres: 1.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands and Skye in Autumn (p27).

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HOLIDAYS in the rest of the UK

Heatherlea offer a few carefully selected holidays around the British mainland. We explore remote, little-known corners where birding is excellent, and all are ideal for birders and general wildlife enthusiasts alike, of any level of experience Everyone is welcome!

Each holiday has a maximum number of seven clients per guide. This means more personal attention, and more time with your Guide to help you get the best possible sightings. Heatherlea is a small company run BY birders FOR birders, where our clients really do come first. Come and see!

INDEX

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s included in each holiday

West Sussex and Kent Norfolk and Suffolk Forest of Dean and the Somerset Levels NEW! Cornwall in Spring NEW! Isles of Scilly in Spring Northumberland in High Summer NEW! North Wales in Summer West Cornwall in Autumn for birders Isles of Scilly for birders Lancashire

45 45 45 46 46 47 47 48 48 IBC

4 comfortable en-suite accommodation. Any exceptions will be identified in advance. We choose from our personally inspected shortlist, where birders are welcome, and the hospitality is special. Guests are never expected to share. Full details with your joining pack. 4 all meals from dinner on arrival, including packed lunches, until breakfast on the final day. 4 all ferries and other access fees as stated in the detailed itinerary. Travel to the joining point has been carefully considered for your convenience, details on our website. 4 the services of your Heatherlea Guide. To read a Heatherlea Tour Pack with more information please visit our website or ask our office for a printed copy.

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

WEST SUSSEX and KENT in WINTER SAT 30 JANUARY – SAT 6 FEBRUARY 2021 SAT 29 JANUARY – SAT 5 FEBRUARY 2022

PRICE: £1695pp Single supplement: £175 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA

Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Bernie Forbes.

Sussex is delightful, with huge potential and an array of mixed winter habitats. We explore the Selsey peninsula, including famous RSPB Pagham Harbour, with huge numbers of wintering waders, ducks and geese. Chichester Harbour has many good sites such as East Head, Dell Quay and Fishbourne, as does newly created RSPB Medmerry. Our list could top 120 species, and we target Bewick's Swan, Dark-bellied Brent Goose (flocks of thousands), among which Black Brant is regular. Offshore we have chances of all three divers, Slavonian Grebe and both scoters, while a feature is the huge flocks of wintering Mediterranean Gulls, often over 100 individuals. Waders include Avocet, Golden Plover, Knot, Sanderling, Jack Snipe and both godwits. Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper may be seen, and wintering Sandwich Tern and Cattle and Great White Egret are becoming regular. It's not uncommon to find a Snow Bunting or Black Redstart, while sheltered copses can hold Firecrest, Chiffchaff and scarce Siberian Chiffchaff. The West Sussex Downs offer large winter flocks of Yellowhammer, Linnet, Chaffinch, Reed and Corn Bunting and in most years, Brambling. This area holds a high density of Grey Partridge, and plenty of prey for raptors including Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Peregrine, Merlin, Short-eared, Barn and Little Owl. Dartford Warbler is another target, we may find a Great Grey Shrike,

and Dean Woods might give us Hawfinch, Common Crossbill or Marsh Tit, and an early displaying Goshawk. In the east, we explore Rye Harbour LNR and Pett Level, great sites for wildfowl and waders, and often include Russian White-fronted Goose The unique Dungeness peninsula is the largest shingle promontory in Europe. This area holds important wintering numbers of grey geese and ducks including Scaup, Long tailed Duck, Smew, Goosander and Goldeneye. The sea can be busy with birds as Redthroated Diver, Razorbill, Guillemot, Gannet, Kittiwake and Fulmar. This is one of the best places in the UK to see Caspian Gull, and often Glaucous and Iceland Gull are present too. Long-eared Owl can be found roosting in quiet places and Bearded Tit and Water Rail are frequently seen or heard. Bittern and Kingfisher may be seen, and Dungeness has a history of attracting a rarity or two! Number of centres: 2.

NORFOLK and SUFFOLK in WINTER SAT 6 FEBRUARY – SAT 13 FEBRUARY 2021 SAT 5 FEBRUARY – SAT 12 FEBRUARY 2022 Deposit: £200pp

PRICE: £1495pp Single supplement: £140 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA

Max 7 clients. Leader Toby Green with Mark Warren if more than 7 clients. An exciting new holiday to some of the UK’s premier winter birding destinations. East Anglia offers a wide variety and unrivalled birding potential at this time of year with a high species list and superb wildlife encounters are likely. We’ll spread our time between established reserves and also visit many superb lesser known sites, well away from the beaten track. Norfolk and Suffolk are both home to some of the best wetlands in the UK. Bittern will be a top target, and we also hope to see Common Crane in the fields, and as they come to roost in the Broads. Wildfowl will feature highly, with Whooper and Bewick’s Swan and vast numbers of wintering geese. By day we’ll search through Pink-footed and Dark-bellied Brent Geese for scarcer species including Taiga and Tundra Bean, both races of White-fronted, Barnacle and Black Brant, while mass dusk flights will be a true spectacle. Offshore a variety of sea-duck, divers, grebes and auks make for excellent sea-watching, while in rougher conditions storm driven species might include Little Auk, skuas (such as Great and Pomarine) or perhaps Grey Phalarope.

Internationally important wader numbers feed on the tidal estuaries, with Knot and Dunlin dominating though Avocet, Golden and Grey Plover, Spotted Redshank and Purple Sandpiper are likely. Beaches and saltmarsh hold Twite, Snow Bunting, Water Pipit and Shorelark, while Bearded Tit and Cetti’s Warbler can be found at several sites. Any wintering rarities will be on our radar too and in recent years these have included Great Grey Shrike, Parrot Crossbill, Hume’s and Pallas Warbler and Arctic Redpoll. Farmland, heaths and ‘the Brecks’ offer a fantastic change of scenery with a range of declining species available and there’s also the chance of Brambling, Woodlark, Hawfinch and Crossbill. This is a trip with something for everyone as we check local gulls for rarer species, and raptors will feature strongly. Hen and Marsh Harrier, Rough-legged Buzzard, Peregrine, Merlin and Goshawk are all possible along with five Owl species if really lucky. A fantastic winter holiday! Total species c. 100+. Number of centres: 2.

FOREST of DEAN and THE SOMERSET LEVELS SAT 20 FEBRUARY – SAT 27 FEBRUARY 2021 PRICE: £1795pp Single supplement: £195 SAT 19 FEBRUARY – SAT 26 FEBRUARY 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Barry Embling joined by another member of the Heatherlea team with more than 7 clients. An opportunity to enjoy some of the best winter birding in England, as we search for elusive and sought-after forest species, and also seek wintering waders and wildfowl in estuary and wetland locations. Rewarding birding in three fascinating and very different habitats in the south-west of England. We first visit the Forest of Dean, around 35 square miles of mixed woodland nestled between the River Severn and River Wye on the Gloucestershire/Welsh border. The Forest holds some of the oldest Oak woods left in England and is arguably the best place in the country to see Hawfinch and Goshawk, two of the UK’s hardest-to-find breeding species. In March, resident Hawfinch numbers are boosted by continental wintering birds. They favour a small number of favourite feeding places, thereby increasing our chances of seeing them. The Forest also holds perhaps the highest density of Goshawk in the country, and the birds will be starting to display at this time. We know ‘secret’ places to find these elusive species, often over-looked by visiting birders, and local contacts will also be useful for up to date information. The Forest of Dean also supports an established population of over 200 free-living British Wild Boar; this is probably the

best place to see them in the country. Next we explore the Severn estuary, an excellent place for wintering wildfowl and waders, and we may see Greenland White-fronted Geese, Bewick's Swan, godwits, raptors and more. We visit WWT Slimbridge, Peter Scott's flagship reserve, and also visit Symonds Yat viewpoint, home to a resident pair of Peregrine. In the Somerset Levels we'll be looking for wintering wildfowl and wetland species, including Bittern, Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, thousands of wintering duck, Little and Great White Egret, Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal and Goldeneye amongst many others. We will also be looking for the population of Common Crane which call the levels home, and of course the UK's largest Starling roost with up to a million birds which if attacked by raptors will go into their mesmerising murmuration, a truly unforgettable experience! This holiday starts in Gloucester and ends in Bridgwater. Number of centres: 2.

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NEW! CORNWALL in SPRING THURS 15 APRIL – THURS 22 APRIL 2021 THURS 14 APRIL – THURS 21 APRIL 2022

PRICE: £1695pp Single supplement: £95 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA

Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Mark Warren. Join us for great birding in Cornwall, one of the most under-watched counties in the UK! Its 400 miles of superb coastline, steep cliffs, beautiful valleys and estuarine habitat all offer good birding. Based in Penwith in the far west, we explore many birding sites with northbound summer migrants high on our agenda. Seabirds, wildfowl, waders and passerines will feature, and if lucky we may connect with a rarity, there are many possibilities. Our schedule will be flexible around up-to-date local bird news and of course the weather. April is a great time to visit, and extensive knowledge of all the birding hotspots and lesser known sites gives us great chances. Key sites include Marazion Marsh, a wetland site for wildfowl and waders, Garganey and Cetti’s Warbler; ‘valley birding’ will begin at Porthgwarra, the most south-westerly point of Mainland Britain, and we bird for migrants, checking patches of trees and scrub. Passing Cuckoo, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Whinchat, Redstart, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, hirundines, pipits, finches, thrushes and a variety of warblers are all possible. Land’s End is one of the best birding locations in the UK. Isolated bushes and scrub are sparser than in the valleys, and the track record for rarities here is incredible, with Dotterel, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Common Crane, Black Kite, Montagu’s Harrier, Alpine Swift, Snowy Owl, Woodchat, Red-backed and Brown Shrike, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Short-toed Lark, Tawny and Red-throated Pipit, Western Subalpine, Melodious and Icterine Warbler, Ortolan and Little Bunting all recorded in recent springs! We visit the Lizard Peninsula where Chough famously first made their return and Dartford Warbler are found. We also enjoy a pelagic boat trip into Mount’s Bay where Gannet, auks including a few Puffin, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Manx Shearwater, Arctic Skua and terns are likely to be around. seals, cetaceans and perhaps Basking Shark may be encountered, and we may even see peculiar Sunfish or frantic Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna. A great trip! A special feature will be our search for Cirl Bunting. With a very small and rangerestricted population, this is a rare and difficult to see bird in the UK. The species is now breeding again in parts of southern Cornwall and we make a special effort to see them.

Combine with: ‘Isles of Scilly in Spring’ (p46).

Number of centres: 1.

NEW! ISLES OF SCILLY in SPRING FRI 23 APRIL – THURS 29 APRIL 2021 FRI 22 APRIL – THURS 28 APRIL 2022 Deposit: £200pp

PRICE: £1795pp Single supplement: £160 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA

Max 7 clients with leader Mark Warren, joined by another from our team with over 7 clients. The Scillies are without doubt one of the most stunning and idyllic parts of the United Kingdom, a ‘must visit’ location boasting a diverse range of wildlife opportunities. 28 miles south-west of Land’s End, with shallow waters and a climate more akin to the Mediterranean, this is a fabulous place for birding as migrants move north. On this spring itinerary, we stay on the largest Island, St Mary’s, visiting the four other inhabited islands on daily excursions. The Scillies are famed for attracting rarities at any time of year, and while we plan to birdwatch at a more leisurely pace than our … for birders … tour in autumn, we may see attractive Mediterranean overshoots such as Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Night Heron or Woodchat Shrike. On Tresco, entry to the world-famous Abbey Gardens is included, and we bird along beaches for Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Greenshank, Whimbrel and Mediterranean Gull. If time allows, we venture to Castle Down where Merlin and Peregrine may be hunting, and Golden Plover, Wheatear, Stonechat, pipits and wagtails may be found on moorland between two ruined castles. Bryher and St Martin’s are quieter places offering superb birdwatching potential while the views out over the reefs from tiny St Agnes are spectacular. During a special boat trip to a sixth island, uninhabited Annet, Puffins will be a highlight, as these enchanting birds settle down for their breeding season, with other seabirds, seals and perhaps cetaceans also featuring. Northbound migrants can be varied, and in the right conditions large numbers of birds can make landfall resulting in exciting birdwatching. Famed for rare and scarce vagrants the possibilities are endless and Wryneck, and Red-rumped Swallow are regularly recorded each spring. The trip will run at a relaxed pace, with time to enjoy the scenery and beauty of each island (and a local ice cream and Cornish Pasty too!) as well as its wildlife. Our guides are experienced here, and a flexible approach as we explore on foot allows us to make the most of each island within the archipelago. Number of centres: 1.

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

Combine with: NEW! Cornwall in Spring (p46).

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

NORTHUMBERLAND IN HIGH SUMMER Including the Farnes, Coquet Island, Lindisfarne and Kielder Forest SAT 19 JUNE – SAT 26 JUNE 2021 SAT 18 JUNE – SAT 25 JUNE 2022

PRICE: £1795pp Single supplement: £275 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA

Deposit: £200pp Max 14 clients. Leader Mike Coleman, joined by another from the team with more than 7 clients. Northumberland is one of the most picturesque and unspoilt corners of England, and this slow-paced single-centre holiday takes in the natural highlights of the coast, islands, uplands, farmland and forest of this beautiful region in summer, including visits to iconic cultural and historical sites along the way. The Farnes are our primary target, gauging our best day to visit by tide and weather conditions. This is one of Britain’s greatest wildlife spectacles, especially during the summer with thousands of terns, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Eider, Kittiwake, Shag and Atlantic Grey Seal. We aim to spend all day visiting the two main islands, Staple Island in the morning, and Inner Farne in the afternoon. Some birds will have fledged young, others small chicks whilst some will be on eggs. A photographer’s paradise with time to fully enjoy and appreciate the experience. In the Cheviot Hills, a land of few people but a number of narrow secluded valleys that penetrate into the heart, we explore the typical upland habitat and birdlife including Dipper, Raven, Peregrine, Red Grouse, Grey Wagtail, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Common Sandpiper and maybe a few Wild Goats. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is an undoubted highlight, and if tides are suitable, we will intentionally become stranded as the causeway floods twice daily. Derwent Valley is a great area to see Red Kite, with river and woodland species nearby. At RSPB Saltholme and Seal Sands we seek one of the northernmost colonies of breeding Avocet and may see Bittern and Marsh Harrier. Another highlight will be a boat trip (tide dependent) around Coquet Island, home to 90% of the UK’s very rare Roseate Tern. We also visit Kielder Forest and Kielder Water, for forest, woodland and moorland birds with up to three pairs of breeding Osprey, and a raptor watchpoint particularly known for Goshawk. Our return takes us along the Military Road, running parallel to Hadrian’s Wall where we may have time to walk a section. If weather conditions affect our plans, we have many other places, habitats and experiences to fill an absorbing week in and around Northumberland, with a potential birdlist of over 100+ species.

NEW! NORTH WALES IN SUMMER Anglesey, Bardsey and Snowdonia National Park SAT 19 JUNE – SAT 26 JUNE 2021 SAT 18 JUNE – SAT 25 JUNE 2022 Deposit: £200pp

PRICE: £1695pp PRICE: TBA

Single supplement: £195 Guide: TBA

Max 14 clients. Leader Mark Warren, joined by another from the team with more than 7 clients. North Wales is wildlife rich, and we explore by both land and sea on this exciting holiday, dividing our time between coastal locations and the famous Snowdonia National Park. Habitats are varied, and we visit estuarine hotspots, coastal bays, beaches, freshwater lakes and the spectacular bird-rich islands of Anglesey and Bardsey. Inland lakes, fast flowing rivers, forest and mixed woodland, open moors and Snowdon Mountain itself offer different opportunities on this enjoyable tour. Anglesey is a large island of great excitement, and at South Stack Puffin, Black Guillemot and other seabirds are to the fore, with Chough, Raven and Peregrine overhead. Later, we visit an internationally important site for rare Roseate Tern. Bardsey is a fascinating, bird rich island noted for its Manx Shearwater. We plan to land on this beautiful island and explore by foot. We enjoy the Puffins, listen out for Chough and search the scrub and bushes for passerines and any late migrants. We work closely with the Observatory team to make the most of our visit. The Great Orme has a growing reputation for good birding with a number of migrant and scarce birds recorded recently. We walk around the headland where Chough may be seen before checking the waders on the nearby estuary, and pools for Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint. We visit Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, and may take the train to the summit for stunning views, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Raven and Peregrine. The mountain is also home to rare Alpine plants, including the aptly named Snowdon Lily. If we spend less time on the mountain, attractive wooded valleys with fast flowing streams hold Dipper, Ring Ouzel, Grey Wagtail, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Common Sandpiper and more. Picturesque Welsh Moors hold a substantial Black Grouse lek where we hope to see displaying birds. Breeding Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel, Whinchat, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat and a few Twite are also present. A day at RSPB Ynys Hir gives chances to see deciduous woodland specialists including Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Cuckoo, Jay, Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and Lesser Redpoll. The holiday begins and ends at Bangor, where rail transfers will be available. Number of centres 1.

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WEST CORNWALL IN AUTUMN for birders FRI 1 OCTOBER – FRI 8 OCTOBER 2021 PRICE: £1595pp FRI 30 SEPTEMBER – FRI 7 OCTOBER 2022 PRICE: TBA

Single supplement: £95 Guide: TBA

Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Mark Warren.

West Cornwall is a birders' playground, with a strong reputation as one of the best British birding counties in autumn. The Penwith peninsula at the ‘end of the land’ is ideally placed as a filter for southbound migrants and rarities, and with beautiful valley habitats and rugged coastline, it’s one of the great places for birdwatchers to explore. October is one of the best times to visit and extensive knowledge of all the birding hot-spots, plus some hidden gems will give us a great chance to enjoy migration over both land and sea. Our daily schedule will be flexible, planning days around local, up to date bird news and of course the weather. Based in the far west we shouldn’t need to travel much either, with great sites such as Porthgwarra, Cot Valley, Nanquidno, Hayle, Marazion and Drift nearby there’s great birding on our doorstep, and we plan to visit the Lizard Peninsula where Choughs famously first made their return to the county. Species possibility is broad depending upon luck and the prevailing weather. Birds vary every year, but Africa-bound passerines including a variety of warblers, Redstart, Wheatear, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher should be encountered, along with Firecrest, Black Redstart and migrant finch, lark and pipit flocks. We might find our own Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher or perhaps something even rarer from the east. Winds from the west might yield an American wader or something really 'mega', recent examples being Grey Catbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Britain’s first Alder Flycatcher. Sea-watching can be excellent, and our boat trip into Mount's Bay will give great views and possibly cetaceans too. Exciting birding, relatively warmer weather and great coastal scenery in a massively under-watched part of the UK! Our schedule will be based on up-to-date local bird news and of course the weather. We won’t need to travel much as great birding is right on our doorstep! Number of centres: 1.

Combine with: ‘Isles of Scilly for birders’ (p48).

ISLES OF SCILLY for birders SAT 9 OCTOBER – SAT 16 OCTOBER 2021 PRICE: £1845pp Single supplement: £200 SAT 8 OCTOBER – SAT 15 OCTOBER 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients with leader Mark Warren, joined by another from our team with over 7 clients.

Steeped in birding folklore the Isles of Scilly are one of the ‘must visit’ places in the UK. Shallow waters, golden sands and a climate often more akin to the Mediterranean, it’s a fabulous place to be when birds are on the move. The Scillies are in prime position to receive migrants heading south and also storm driven vagrants from all directions. Birders visiting the islands since the 70’s have been responsible for finding a number of ‘British firsts’ particularly those of Nearctic origin. We will be especially flexible, and our daily activities will depend largely on up to date bird news. We will do our best to follow up on sightings as and when they happen but at the same time, we’ll select a different island to explore daily so as to see as much of the Scillies as possible during your holiday. Our guides are experienced here and will choose the best time to visit St Mary’s, St Agnes, Tresco, St Martin’s and Bryher, in order to make the most of the weather and bird news on any given day. The birdwatching can be fantastic and with a roll call of such ‘megas’ from recent years including Blyth’s Pipit, Dusky Thrush, Caspian Stonechat, Pallid Swift, Yellowbilled Cuckoo, Red-flanked Bluetail, multiple Red Eyed Vireos, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Sora, American Herring Gull, Caspian Tern plus Britain’s second Palelegged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler we’ll be hoping for something special on our next tour. Prevailing weather dictates which rare/scarce birds arrive, no years the same. Solitary Sandpiper, Cream-coloured Courser, Snowy Owl, Wryneck, Little Bunting, Richard’s, Red-throated, Olive-backed and Buff-bellied Pipit, Yellow-browed, Blackpoll, Barred and Melodious Warbler are among the regularly recorded scarcities. General birding will expect us to encounter up to 100 species of a wide variety from seabirds, to migrating waders, wildfowl and gulls. We’ll see plenty of passerines and land-birds on their way south plus regular scarcities. It’s a holiday where truly anything is possible!

Combine with: West Cornwall in Autumn for birders (p48).

Number of centres: 1.

tel: 01479 821248

email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

web: www.heatherlea.co.uk

LANCASHIRE TUES 19 OCTOBER – FRI 22 OCTOBER 2021 PRICE: £945pp Single supplement: £120 TUES 18 OCTOBER – FRI 21 OCTOBER 2022 PRICE: TBA Guide: TBA Deposit: £200pp Max 7 clients. Leader Ian Ford.

Autumn sees a fascinating and often spectacular migration of wintering birds to the wetlands and grasslands of north-west England. Wildfowl and waders will be moving around and passing through as we visit Leighton Moss, Morecambe Bay, the Ribble Estuary and Martin Mere. Whooper Swan, Great and Little Egret, Pink-footed and Greylag Goose, Ruff, Black- and Bar-tailed Godwits, Gadwall, Pintail, flocks of Wigeon and Teal, and maybe an occasional American Wigeon graze on the saltmarshes, and Red-breasted Merganser and Eider may be drifting offshore. The variety and sheer numbers will give constantly changing birdlife at the larger reserves, with plenty of opportunity for grey winter-plumage wader identification. You will visit reserves managed by RSPB, WWT and Lancashire Wildlife Trust, and all are supported by our visits, as your entry fee is included if you are not already a member. Raptors include Peregrine, Merlin and both Marsh and Hen Harrier, and a range of wintering woodland passerines include Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Tree Sparrow, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin. Fieldfare and Redwing will be exploiting winter berry crops, and we may find Waxwing or other Scandinavian migrants including Brambling. Twite, Cetti’s Warbler and Kingfisher may be found in exposed stretches or marginal wetland, and we may encounter Red Deer, Roe Deer and Otter.

Based a few miles south of Lancaster, our hotel offers lovely accommodation and excellent food. This quiet backwater offers a great base to head north or south, and we are directly on the towpath of Lancaster Canal’s Glasson Branch, within walking distance of the River Conder, a small river which winds its way towards the mouth of the much larger River Lune a few hundred yards away from our hotel. Greenshank, Shelduck and a range of other ducks and waders change places daily here. We also plan to visit the key tidal locations of Glasson on the south side of the river Lune, and spectacular Sunderland Point on the north side, where tidal flooding of the only access road offers excellent birding, but means we have to plan our visit very carefully! A relaxing and rewarding short break as autumn turns to winter, featuring many of the migrant and resident birds which characterise this part of the UK.

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birding and wildlife holidays

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Heatherlea The Mountview Hotel Nethy Bridge Inverness-shire PH25 3EB

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