Heatherlea Mini Brochure 2021/2022 by Heatherlea Birdwatching

birding and wildlife holidays

Mini-Brochure 2021/22

birding and wildlife holidays

HEATHERLEA MINI-BROCHURE 2021/2022 Birding and wildlife holidays January 2021 Looking forward with confidence Heatherlea are expanding rapidly, with many new tours and lots of old favourites. During the next five years we will more than double the number of available destinations, and our detailed Holiday Planner helps you to organize your birding tours, both in the UK and abroad. You can design your own Planner on our website, and lodge it with Heatherlea if you wish. Our dedicated Account Manager will keep you fully informed as your chosen holidays approach, and you don’t even have to pay a deposit until the holiday is less than one year ahead. Choose any number of tours and look forward to a safe return to world birding. A great way to plan ahead with confidence!

check our arrangements, park your car at the airport, arrange onward flights using our ATOL protection, or just confirm personal requirements for any tour, please feel free to call or email. Emma, Fleur, Caroline, Jolene and Lindsay are here to help, and both Mark and Kevin are often also in the office to chat about detailed tour-specific and birding enquiries at a moment’s notice.

All our holidays offer personal and exclusive service, in small groups with strong COVID precautions, experienced and capable guides, and all the backup and support you need from our friendly office team.

Our thanks to all our clients for holidaying with Heatherlea. May we wish you a safe, healthy and enjoyable birding New Year.

In this Mini-brochure, you can see our tours worldwide for 2021/22, and many are now filling. You can also see new destinations for 2023/25, including exciting ‘tours of a lifetime’. Our office team offer a very detailed personal service to you, our valued customer. Whether you need to

Finally, the Heatherlea guarantee means you will be refunded in full for any tour which cannot run for reasons of government COVID restriction. We will also continue to be sympathetic and flexible in cases where travel restrictions apply to your home area, even if the holiday is still going ahead.

We hope to welcome you somewhere around the world. ‘Do it the Heatherlea Way!’

Kevin, Caryl and the Heatherlea tea m

Front Page: Ptarmigan – Neil McIntyre. Fire-tailed Myzornis (Bhutan, by Chubzang Tangbi) Thanks to photographers whose work is featured in this issue, Birding Korea, Borneo ecotours, Mike Coleman, Oswaldo Cortes, Enrique Couve, Peter Cosgrove, Willie De Vries, Knut Eisermann, Oceanwide Expeditions, Juan Fernandez, Ian Ford, George Gay, Dimiter Georgiev, Gerard Gorman, Toby Green, Andy Jones, Rob Jordan, Tang Jun, Phil Knott, Janet Lynch, Leon Marais, Neil McIntyre, Chavadar Nikolov, Scott O’Hara, Holly Page, Jari Peltomaki, Jonny Pott, Dave Pullan, Matt Prophet, Caryl Shaw, Richard Stansfield, Allison Stone, Chubzang Tangbi, Pat Taylor, Jorge Valenzuela, Andres Trujillo Willie de Vries, Washington Wachira, Mark Warren. 2

HEATHERLEA NEWS

LATEST NEWS Our wonderful little Hotel in Nethy Bridge has seen a few changes as we adjust to the new world. We know how vital it is for all our guests and staff to feel safe, and in response to Covid19, we have established new practices and procedures to make sure we deliver high standards of service at all times. Here are just a few of the measures currently implemented for the benefit of our clients and staff. • Mountview Hotel and restaurant are closed to nonresidents. This means we are effectively operating as a ‘Birding Outdoor Centre’, though with all the comforts of a licenced 3-star Hotel! • Group size is limited to just five clients plus driver/guide per vehicle, meaning everyone has the guarantee of an empty seat beside them when in the field. • Social distancing, mask-wearing and hand cleansing are an integral part of all our tours.

THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ IS NOW OPERATING IN SCOTLAND!!

tremendous quality and value

We have been operating under these ‘new normal’ conditions for some months already, and the feedback from clients has been universally positive. Here are just some of the comments from our recent visitors;

Dear Kevin and the team Many thanks for making our short break so enjoyable and for all your hard work over the last few days. We really appreciate your thoughtfulness and all the systems you have put in place to meet the guidelines. Ms AB & Ms JV – Short Break Nov 2020 Sincere thanks to Mark for his guiding, Emma and Fleur for answering all our questions, housekeeping for looking after us and for all the lovely food. You have an exceptional team Kevin led by you. Mrs A B, Self-Drive Short Break August 2020

Sir Edward Mountain, Member of the Scottish Parliament, checking the new facilities at Heatherlea in August 2020 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.'

NEW! Door-to-door taxi service. From January 2021 we are pleased to announce our new taxi transfer service – from your door! Contact us and we will help you book a local service with a reputable operator, so you can travel with a minimum of fuss. Full details on request!

NEW BIRDING LOCATIONS We have been using the recent fallow months to great effect, developing new places where we can find wonderful wildlife. Many of these are virtually unknown to most visitors to Scotland, and some offer privileged access to view sensitive species. Heatherlea have new sites for Black Grouse (sometimes with attendant Hen Harrier!), Golden Eagle and other scarce raptors, Scottish Crossbill and Crested Tit, Ptarmigan, breeding waders in summer plumage, and much more. These new locations are all within an hour or so from our front door, and so will be integrated into our existing tours to give you even more fantastic birding, often without even seeing another birder. Choose any of our mainland Scotland tours and we will take you there! 01479 821248

www.heatherlea.co.uk

Scotland at ‘The Mountview’ – so much more than just a Hotel! OUR HOTEL Heatherlea is THE place for top quality Scottish birding. You stay in our own three-star Hotel in Nethy Bridge, featuring comfortable en-suite rooms, meals prepared by skilled chefs, and service from our dedicated team. We take you on exciting, fully inclusive guided holidays, making the most of your valuable time as we deliver an unbeatable birding experience!

OUR BIRDING We travel in minibuses which are great mobile hides and visit the best birding spots across the Highlands and Islands. All travel, guiding, accommodation and food is included in your holiday price.

OUR SERVICE Perhaps most important, your holiday includes a Heatherlea Guide! From briefing on the first evening to round-up on the last, your Guide plans the entire holiday, organising everything to suit wildlife, weather and your birding progress. Our in-house knowledge is unbeatable;

Our extensive COVID-precautions are now wellestablished, read all the detail on our website, where regular updates keep you informed.

your Guide knows where the birds have been showing, and the best route to maximise your chances. We also have our own private, exclusive access means we can find Capercaillie from inside our minibus; hundreds of our guests have enjoyed sightings in this special place. We think you will see far more with a Heatherlea Guide than under your own steam, and of course you can relax and enjoy yourself. Skilled birders and real ‘people people’, Mark Warren, Mike Coleman, Dave Pullan, Holly Page, Ian Ford, Toby Green, John Picton and Kevin Shaw have been birding in Scotland for many years, and in 2021 we welcome Jenna Berry, Barry Embling, Dave Pearce and Stuart Woolley to our guiding team! Great personal care from our crack team earns us five stars from visitScotland, the highest available rating, designated as ‘Exceptional’. Come and see how our Guides make the difference!

Choose Heatherlea, and discover your gateway to Scottish birds and wildlife!

= tremendous quality and value

HEATHERLEA NEWS

FOCUS ON … the Highlands and Islands in just one week! Many ‘Scottish Highlands’ holidays include visits to one of the key wildlife-rich islands, often with an overnight stay. Just some of the benefits;

OUTER HEBRIDES

ORKNEY

CAITHNESS

HANDA

✔ two-centre holidays are great fun and give you more birding than single-centre trips. ✔ you see the Highlands AND islands on just one sevennight holiday. ✔ expensive island accommodation is minimised, so prices are more attractive than dedicated island holidays.

ABERDEENSHIRE

NETHY BRIDGE

SKYE EIGG WEST COAST

✔ you don’t have to organise travel to the islands. Leave your car safely parked with us in Nethy and we do the rest. ✔ great for rail travellers; we meet you in Aviemore and organise all onward travel.

MULL

HEAD FOR HEATHERLEA, YOUR GATEWAY TO SCOTTISH BIRDS AND WILDLIFE !

✔ all travel costs are included, so you save on ferries and petrol. ✔ there are no single supplements on these holidays, we absorb the extra hotel costs. ✔ you can leave your luggage safely in your room at The Mountview, taking only what you need for one or two nights away.

Two centre holidays including Scottish islands Spring into Scotland

April

2 nights on Mull

Highlands and Skye (spring)

April

2 nights on Skye

NEW! Highlands & Corncrake

May

2 nights on Outer Hebrides

High Season across the Highlands

June

1 night in the northwest (for Handa Island)

Highlands and Orkney

June

2 nights on Orkney

NEW! Ultimate Scotland

June

3 nights on the Outer Hebrides

Outer Limits in summer

June

2 nights on the Outer Hebrides

NEW! Highlands & Isle of May

June

2 nights in Fife (for Isle of May)

Eagles, Divers and Dotterel

July

1 night on Mull

Highlands and Bass Rock

July

1 night in East Lothian (for Bass Rock)

NEW! Birds & Mammals

August

2 nights Ardnamurchan (for Muck & Eigg)

Highlands and Outer Hebs

August

2 nights on the Outer Hebrides

Raptors and Grouse

September

1 night on Mull

Outer Limits Adventure

Sept/Oct

2 nights on the Outer Hebrides

Highlands and Skye (autumn)

October

2 nights on Skye

If you want to spend longer on the island(s) of your choice, see our dedicated holidays on page 18. 01479 821248

www.heatherlea.co.uk

2021 Birders’ Blast and Short Break holidays a fantastic option for the busy birder! Normal Price £745pp

Special offer price £495pp SAVE £250! January and February are brilliant birding months in the north of Scotland. The days are short, but we make good use of daylight hours to find specialities including Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Ptarmigan, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Golden Eagle and White-tailed Eagle inland, and at the coast there are huge concentrations of winter geese, seaduck and waders, and rarities are often found. We are birding here continually, making it possible to take you to the most productive places without delay!

Short breaks – Scottish birding in Winter Jan 5, Jan 31, Feb 4 2021 Our days are categorised as ‘speciality’, ‘eagle’ and ‘coastal’, as we enjoy a rewarding few days of winter birding in the far north. Easy paced and perfect for beginners.

Birders Blast in Winter Jan 23, Jan 27, Feb 8, Feb 12, Feb 16 2021 The ultimate Scottish short holiday, with exciting days as we enjoy brilliant birding with the accent on building a big list of special northern birds.

Priced at just £495pp, these short holidays offer tremendous value! •Three full days birding in the Highlands. •Full board in our exclusive 3-star Hotel. •Your personal, exclusive Outdoor Birding Centre Get your 2021 Bird List off to a cracking start! 6

HEATHERLEA NEWS

MAINLAND SCOTLAND 2021

Our famous holidays based at Mountview Hotel offer a wealth of choice, with Saturday-to-Saturday itineraries covering the all the special birds, every week between January and November, or you can choose shorter breaks at certain times.

Mainland Scotland 2022 – Early Birder Price Freeze We are pleased to announce that for a limited period we are holding all Mainland Scotland holiday prices for 2022 at 2021 levels. Prices may rise without notice, so please book early to secure our lowest prices. NEW YEAR BIRDLIST BOOSTER Jan 9, Jan 16 2021 Price £1295pp Jan 8, Jan 15 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1295pp This holiday is great fun, rounding up as many birds as possible for your new birdlist. We seek the Scottish specials first, then northern birds at the coast and any available rarities. You don’t have to be a ‘lister’ to enjoy this holiday, it’s great fun for all.

HIGHLAND WINTER BIRDING Feb 20, Feb 27 2021 Price £1395pp Feb 19, Feb 26 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1395pp Wild landscapes and solitude (you won’t see many other birders!) with exceptional birding on this unique holiday; the very best in Scottish winter birding. Features an exciting expedition to coastal locations in the very far north, where we stay for 2 nights.

HIGHLANDS & THE EAST COAST March 6 2021 Price £1395pp March 5 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1395pp A fantastic late winter holiday featuring new and exciting sites! With two nights on the east coast, we can fully explore rural and coastal Aberdeenshire for some of the best birding in Scotland. Coastal birding will focus heavily on waders and wildfowl, with sea watching too. Also includes Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Crested Tit and Golden Eagle. 01479 821248

www.heatherlea.co.uk

HIGHLANDS & THE WEST COAST March 13 2021 Price £1395pp March 12 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1395pp An exciting spring holiday including an overnight visit to the rugged and remote West Highlands. Targets include Both eagles, divers and Otter on the west coast, plus resident specialities including Ptarmigan, Capercaillie, Black Grouse, the list is long!

HIGHLAND BIRDING IN MARCH March 20 2021 Price £1395pp March 19 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1395pp An exciting new holiday to maximise birding as winter turns to spring. Winter birds are still with us in good numbers, with the opportunity to see many species at close quarters. We pay attention to rarities within reach, an excellent time for ducks, geese and passerines. With seven nights at The Mountview Hotel we plan our days according to weather, tides and rare bird reports.

SPRING INTO SCOTLAND INC MULL March 27, April 3, April 10 2021 Price £1495pp March 26, April 2, April 9 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp Perhaps the ultimate spring wildlife experience in Scotland, including a 2-night stay on the west coast and a full day on Mull. Speciality birds are breeding, winter birds are still here in good numbers, summer visitors arrive daily. Ever popular!

HIGHLANDS AND SKYE April 17, April 24 2021 Price £1495pp April 16, April 23 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp Two nights on Skye as we enjoy eagles, otter and birding amid spectacular scenery. All the birds of the mainland too, with many summer visitors arriving. An exciting way to add Skye to your Scottish birding experience!

BIRDING THE HIGHLANDS IN MAY May 1, May 8 2021 - Price £1495pp April 30, May 7 2022 - Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp A gently-paced holiday for those who want to see the specialities without too much travelling. We are based at Mountview Hotel for a full week, featuring all the key breeding birds, and including a boat trip to the Gannetry at Troup Head.

HIGHLANDS & CORNCRAKE May 15, May 22 2021 - Price £1595pp May 14, May 21 2022 – Early Birder Price Freeze £1595pp A unique holiday, offering the chance to enjoy all the speciality birds of the Highlands AND Corncrake, on the same one-week holiday. All these are very possible; Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Ptarmigan, Dotterel, Corncrake, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle and many more… a tremendous array of Scottish birdlife!

HEATHERLEA NEWS

HIGH SEASON ACROSS THE HIGHLANDS May 29 2021 Price £1495pp May 28 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp Glorious Handa Island is a great day out, and we stay overnight on the west to see White-tailed Eagle too. Dotterel join Ptarmigan on the hills, and with all the birds settled for the season, this is classic birding. One of our most popular trips!

HIGHLANDS AND ORKNEY June 5 2021 Price £1495pp June 4 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp Visit Orkney’s key birding places in summer, where breeding Shorteared Owl, Hen Harrier and Black-tailed Godwit are found. Also includes breeding auks, skuas, and other seabirds, eagles, woodland species and more on this great trip.

NEW! ULTIMATE SCOTLAND June 15 2021 Price £2995pp Single Supplement £195 June 14 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £2995pp Single Supplement £195 A new and unique, 12 day tour dedicated to enjoying all the birds, common and scarce which make Scotland so special. Perfect for newcomers to British birding and experienced ornithologists alike, we seek Highland specialities including Ptarmigan, Capercaillie, Black and Red Grouse, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Dotterel and Golden Eagle close to our Nethy Bridge base. During a three night stay in the Outer Hebrides our targets will be Corncrake, White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, seabirds and a host of waders including stunning Ruff and delicate Red necked Phalarope. We also round up commoner species to give a complete experience.

THE ‘OUTER LIMITS’ IN SUMMER June 19 2021 Price £1495pp June 11, June 18 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp An exciting holiday which includes the rugged beauty of Lewis and Harris, recently voted the best island destinations in Europe! Birds of forest, mountain and glen too.

HIGHLAND WILDLIFE June 26 2021 Price £1395pp June 25 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp Birds, mammals, insects and flora on this unique and highly rewarding holiday, aimed squarely at the natural history all-rounder. Many species found only in the north of Scotland (or very rare further south) make this a fascinating holiday.

NEW! HIGHLANDS & ISLE OF MAY June 26 2021 Price £1595pp June 25 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp On this two-centre holiday we offer some of the best birding available in the Highlands, plus our first visit to the Isle of May! At the height of the breeding season the Isle of May can host around 200,000 seabirds, inc Puffin, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Fulmar, Eider, Oystercatcher, and several gull and tern species.

01479 821248

www.heatherlea.co.uk

EAGLES, DIVERS AND DOTTEREL July 3, July 10 2021 Price £1495pp July 2, July 9 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp The best British birding in July? Both eagles, Dotterel and Ptarmigan on the tops, divers in breeding plumage inland – great birding! We stay overnight on Mull, seek Caper with chicks in our private estate, and visit the Gannets at Troup Head.

HIGHLANDS AND WESTER ROSS July 17 2021 Price £1495pp July 16 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp An exceptional holiday, combining birding with three days exploring remote places on the rugged west coast. We take our time in picturepostcard villages including Applecross, Shieldaig, Pennan and Crovie, giving a different flavour of wildlife and culture on an easy-paced birding tour. Easy-paced, and ideal for the wildlife enthusiast looking for a gentle, relaxing week.

NEW! BIRDS & MAMMALS FEATURING PERTHSHIRE July 24 2021 Price £1495pp July 23 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp An exciting new summer holiday, targeting Pine Marten, European Beaver and Highland birdlife. We divide our time between Strathspey, Perthshire and rarely visited Angus, with a daytrip to the spectacular west coast. Evening visits to a Pine Marten hide and a Beaver viewpoint give us a good chance of connecting with these key species, we also hope to see Otter, Mountain Hare, Red Squirrel, seals and cetaceans too. We target all the Highland specialities while new potential at coastal sites include returning waders, offshore flocks of Common and Velvet Scoter while rarer possibilities include Surf Scoter, Little Gull, Roseate Tern and Honey Buzzard.

HIGHLANDS & BASS ROCK July 24 2021 Price £1595pp July 23 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1595pp On this new 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 a memorable boat trip to The Bass Rock, holding over 150,000 individual birds.

NEW! BIRDS & MAMMALS FEATURING THE ISLANDS OF MUCK & EIGG July 31 2021 Price £1495pp July 30 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp A new bird and mammal watching holiday, including a boat trip visiting the islands of Muck and Eigg. We seek Otter, Common and Grey Seal, Minke Whale, Harbour Porpoise and dolphins during this two-night threeday excursion. Speciality Highland birds include Ptarmigan, Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Snow Bunting, Slavonian Grebe and Dotterel and we hope to see Puffin, Black Guillemot, rafts of Manx Shearwater, divers in summer plumage and raptors including Merlin, Peregrine, Hen Harrier and more eagles during our time on the west coast. With over 100 species of bird, including chances of Capercaillie, Black Grouse, and 15 species of mammal (and perhaps Basking Shark too!) this is a trip for the complete wildlife enthusiast. 10

HEATHERLEA NEWS

HIGHLANDS AND THE OUTER HEBRIDES July 31, Aug 7 2021 Price £1495pp July 30, Aug 6 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp Heatherlea's first trip containing the Cairngorms, North and South Uist and Skye, all in one action packed holiday! All the special birds plus the beginning of autumn on the Outer Hebrides.

SHORT BREAKS – SCOTTISH BIRDING IN EARLY AUTUMN Aug 14, Aug 18, Aug 22 2021 Price £795pp Three-day, four-night short breaks for busy birders including a West coast seatrip! Other days are categorised as ‘local/mountain’ and ‘coastal’, as we enjoy a rewarding few days of summer birding.

AUTUMN IN THE HIGHLANDS EASY WALKING Aug 14, Aug 21 2021 Price £1395pp Aug 13, Aug 20 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1395pp Would you like to see all the special birds of Scotland, but without too much exertion? On this ‘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.

20 SCOTTISH SPECIALS Aug 28 2021 Price £1395pp Aug 27 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1395pp This holiday is designed for those who would like to see northern speciality birds, and we target '20 Scottish Specials' to give a fun focus. Ideal whether you keep a UK birdlist or not, as we round up as many key birds as possible, at a relaxed pace.

NEW! AUTUMN MIGRATION IN THE HIGHLANDS Sat 4 Sept 2021 Price £1395pp Sat 3 Sept 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1395pp A new holiday for 2021 featuring special resident birds and exploring migration on both the east and west coast, with a two-night stay on the latter. With Northern breeders on the move, it’s an exciting time for birdwatchers and we visit some of the best places and habitats including the attractive Tarbet peninsula, the Moray Coast and enjoy a return seatrip across the Minch. With excellent chances of achieving a high birdlist, we seek Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Crested Tit, Osprey, Scottish Crossbill when local populations are at their highest, plus migrant wildfowl, waders and seabirds during this, one of the busiest periods in the Scottish wildlife calendar.

RAPTORS & GROUSE Sepy 11 2021 Price £1495pp Sept 3, Sept 10 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp A mouth-watering raptor list: White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Buzzard, Osprey, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel with chances of Merlin, Goshawk and Short-eared Owl. Grouse targets are Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Black Grouse and Red Grouse, the four naturally occurring species of the British Isles. Includes an overnight on Magical Mull. 01479 821248

www.heatherlea.co.uk

THE OUTER LIMITS ADVENTURE Sept 11, Sept 18, Sept 25 2021 Price £1495pp Sept 10, Sept 17, Sept 24 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp Including two nights on the Outer Hebrides, this is an exceptional itinerary at the ‘outer limits’ of Scottish birding, including two nights on Lewis. On other days, we seek all the specialities of the Highlands. Outstanding scenery and great birding.

HIGHLANDS & SKYE IN AUTUMN Oct 2, Oct 9 2021 Price £1495pp Oct 1, Oct 8 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1495pp An extraordinary holiday for those who love mammals and birds. Both eagles, otters, divers, Mountain Hare, Capercaillie, Black Grouse and Ptarmigan are just some of the highlights!

HIGHLAND AUTUMN BIRDING Oct 16, Oct 23 2021 Price £1395pp Oct 15, Oct 22 2022 Early Birder Price Freeze £1395pp With 2 nights on the east coast we cover all habitats from mountain to sea, giving a full flavour of how good birding is in the Highlands in autumn. Particular focus is given to large numbers of wildfowl recently arrived. We enjoy the numbers, but also look to find rarities!

SHORT BREAKS – SCOTTISH BIRDING IN AUTUMN Oct 30, Nov 7 2021 Price £795pp – Special Offer Price now £495 – Save £300pp! Four-night, three day short breaks for busy birders! Our birding days are categorised as ‘speciality’, ‘eagle’ and ‘coastal’, as we enjoy a rewarding few days of late autumn birding in the far north.

BIRDERS’ BLAST IN AUTUMN Nov 3, Nov 11 2021 Price £795pp – Special Offer Price now £495 – Save £300pp! Fast paced and fun short breaks ideal for the busy birder. We target the Scottish specialities and visit busy coastal sites for an ambitious 100 species. Like our Short Breaks in Autumn but run at a slightly faster pace, packing in lots of birds and sites.

HOGMANAY BIRDING FESTIVAL Tues 28 Dec 2021 – Tues 4 Jan 2022 Price £1395pp Thurs 29 Dec 2022 – Thurs 5 Jan 2023 Early Birder Price Freeze £1395pp Many of you ask for something special over New Year, so come to the beautiful Highlands for great winter birding with a traditional Hogmanay.

HEATHERLEA NEWS

Rest of Scotland, England & Wales – 2021/2022 Heatherlea offer carefully selected holidays around the British mainland, from the east coast of Scotland to Cornwall, and the Scillies. 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. Just five clients plus Guide on all tours in 2021.

NEW! SUSSEX, HAMPSHIRE & KENT IN SPRING Sat 22 May – Sat 29 May 2021 Price: £1695pp

Single Supplement £225

A new and exciting holiday combining bird-rich Sussex with day visits to The New Forest in Hampshire to the west and to the Dungeness reserves on the Kent coast to the east. Sussex is one of the few remaining counties where purring Turtle Dove still occur in reasonable numbers and we should also encounter breeding White Stork as part of one of the UK's largest re-wilding projects. Add in a two night stay on the coast and a day trip to the unique New Forest, and all combine for a thrilling weeks birding in fantastic coastal and woodland scenery. This really is a great new opportunity to explore South-East England at a busy time of year for birds.

WEST SUSSEX & KENT IN WINTER Sat 30 Jan – Sat 6 Feb 2021 Price £1695pp Single Supplement £225 Sat 29 Jan – Sat 5 Feb 2022 Guide Price £1795pp Single Supplement TBC A brand-new holiday covering West Sussex where the downlands, commons and woodlands are prime birding sites for many scarce UK species. We take time to explore the bird rich Arun Valley, which teems with wildfowl at this time of year, before heading to East Sussex to enjoy great wildlife watching around the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and the Dungeness Peninsula. Both have a history of attracting a rarity or two in winter!

NEW! KENT & EAST SUSSEX IN AUTUMN Sat 4 Sept – Sat 11 Sept 2021 Price: £1695pp Single Supplement £225 With a coastline projecting out into the North Sea, Kent is perfectly positioned to attract large numbers of passage birds as they funnel through the UK each autumn. With a range of habitats and several great reserves, the county is a magnet for migrating birds on the move and an attractive place to watch them. Waders will feature highly at coastal and freshwater sites, typically moving through the North Sea in abundance at this time of year from various origins including Northern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia. Passerines will not be neglected, the habitat around the coast often attracting ‘falls’ of warblers, chats, wagtails, pipits and flycatchers as well as rarities.

NORFOLK & SUFFOLK IN WINTER Sat 6 Feb – Sat 13 Feb 2021 Price £1495pp Single Supplement £140 Sat 5 Feb – Sat 12 Feb 2022 Guide Price £1595pp Single Supplement TBC Norfolk and Suffolk are home to some of the best wetlands in the UK, and on this exciting new holiday we visit some of the UK’s premier winter birding destinations. East Anglia offers a wide variety and unrivalled birding potential, with a high species list; superb wildlife encounters are likely! We spread our time between established reserves, and many superb lesser known sites well away from the beaten track.

FOREST OF DEAN AND THE SOMERSET LEVELS Sat 20 Feb – Sat 27 Feb 2021 Price £1795pp Single Supplement £195 Sat 19 Feb – Sat 26 Feb 2022 Guide Price £1895pp Single Supplement TBC This is 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 South West England. 01479 821248

www.heatherlea.co.uk

NEW! CORNWALL IN SPRING Thu 15 Apr – Thu 22 Apr 2021 Price: £1695pp Single Supplement £95 Thu 14 Apr – Thu 21 Apr 2022 Guide Price £1795pp Single Supplement TBC With over 400 miles of superb coastline, steep cliffs, beautiful valleys and estuarine habitat, Cornwall offers some of the most varied birdwatching in the British Isles. Based in the far west, seabirds, wildfowl, waders and migrant land birds will be high on our agenda, and we may get lucky and connect with a rarity too. Our daily schedule will be flexible, planning days around local, up to date bird news. We visit the Lizard Peninsula where Choughs famously made their return and enjoy a boat trip into Mount’s Bay where seals, cetaceans and perhaps an early Basking Shark may be encountered. Unique to this spring tour will be an excursion to the south of the county, where we explore rarely visited birding sites and search for rare, recently established Cirl Bunting.

WEST CORNWALL IN AUTUMN FOR BIRDERS Fri 1 Oct – Fri 8 Oct 2021 Price £1595pp Single Supplement £95 Fri 30 Sept – Fri 7 Oct 2022 Guide Price £1695pp Single Supplement TBC 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 a great place for birdwatchers to explore. A scenic though under-watched location, and an exciting holiday as you search for migrants and rarities.

NEW! ISLES OF SCILLY IN SPRING Fri 23 Apr – Thu 29 Apr 2021 Price: £1795pp. Single Supplement £160 Fri 22 Apr – Thu 28 Apr 2022 Guide Price: £1895pp Single Supplement TBC On this new spring itinerary, we stay on the largest Island - St Mary’s, visiting the four other inhabited islands on daily excursions. On Tresco, a visit to the world-famous Abbey Gardens is a must, Bryher and St Martin’s are quieter places offering superb birdwatching potential while the views out over reefs from tiny St Agnes are spectacular. A special boat trip to Annet to see Puffins will be a highlight, as these enchanting birds settle down for their breeding season, with other seabirds, seals and cetaceans featuring. Famed for rare and scarce vagrants, Mediterranean overshoots such as Hoopoe and Red-rumped Swallow are regularly recorded and though we wouldn’t shy away at the opportunity to see special birds, this holiday will run at a more relaxed pace than our autumn ‘… for birders…‘ tour.

ISLES OF SCILLY IN AUTUMN FOR BIRDERS Sat 9 Oct – Sat 16 Oct 2021 Price £1845pp Single Supplement £200 Sat 8 Oct – Sat 15 Oct 2022. Guide Price £1945pp Single Supplement TBC Steeped in birding folklore, the Isles of Scilly are a ‘must visit’ place! 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 storm driven vagrants from all directions, the roll call of species we have seen on previous trips including Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red Eyed Vireo, Wilson’s Snipe, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Spotted Crake, Red-backed Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Greenish Warbler, Tawny Pipit and Little Bunting and much more.

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 Guide Price £1795pp Single Supplement TBC Wonderful wildlife amid some of Scotland’s finest scenery 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. This tour takes you to the best places for spring and summer wildlife. There will be many highlights, including Handa Island, Dunnet Head and Duncansby Head for seabirds. The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is fantastic and unique, deemed to be as important a habitat as the Amazonian Rainforest! In short, this holiday really does offer the best wildlife of Northern Scotland. 14

HEATHERLEA NEWS

NEW! PERTHSHIRE AND THE HIGHLANDS Tues 22 Jun – Tues 29 Jun 2021 Price £1595pp Single Supplement £195 This novel holiday sees us based in rural Perthshire to see the special birdlife of this under watched part of the UK. Raptors feature heavily, and we are privileged to visit perhaps the stronghold of breeding Hen Harrier on mainland Britain, in partnership with one of Scotland's most far-sighted and conservation-minded estates. We hope to enjoy several encounters with these beautiful birds, and the moors also hold Golden Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel, Goshawk and Sparrowhawk. A very different Highland experience, visiting many places new to our tours, plus a chance to see Hen Harrier breeding freely in their natural habitat on the British mainland, at the height of summer.

NORTHUMBERLAND IN HIGH SUMMER Sat 19 Jun - Sat 26 Jun 2021. Price £1795pp Single Supplement £275 Sat 18 Jun – Sat 25 Jun 2022. Guide Price £1895pp Single Supplement TBC Focusing on the summer wildlife of one of the most picturesque and unspoilt corners of England. This slow-paced single-centre holiday takes in the highlights of the coast, islands, uplands, farmland and forest of this beautiful region, with a range of birds and wildlife on offer, plus visits to iconic cultural and historical sites along the way.

NEW! NORTH WALES IN SUMMER Sat 19 Jun – Sat 26 Jun 2021 Price £1695pp Single Supplement £195 Sat 18 Jun – Sat 25 Jun 2022 Guide Price £1795pp Single Supplement TBC North Wales (Gogledd Cymru) is a wildlife rich region with varied habitats. During this new holiday we visit the forests, moorland, the Snowdonia mountains and also the alluring islands of Anglesey and Bardsey. The latter is famed for its breeding Manx Shearwaters and we enjoy a boat trip for seabirds, seals and perhaps cetaceans with time to land and explore the island and its famous Bird Observatory. Using two centres, we visit dramatic headlands on Anglesey where birdlife includes Black Guillemot, Chough, Raven and Peregrine. Scarce Roseate and Little Tern are possible among busy colonies of commoner species, while in the hills and moors of the famous Snowdonia NP we seek Black Grouse. Other desirable birds include Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Merlin, Ring Ouzel and Dipper and attractive woodlands support dense populations of Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler.

BIRDING THE EAST COAST IN AUTUMN Sat 30 Oct – Sat 6 Nov 2021 Price £1595pp Single Supplement £195 Sat 29 Oct – Sat 5 Nov 2022 Guide Price £1695pp Single Supplement TBC A tour of the top birding sites of Scotland’s east coast in autumn. A much under-watched part of the UK, there is excellent birding to be had from glen to open sea as resident specialities are joined by flocks of migrants in every habitat!

SOLWAY FIRTH Sat 6 Nov – Thu 11 Nov 2021

Price £1395pp

Single Supplement £100

A vast, internationally important area for wildfowl, the Solway Firth offers great birding. Flocks of Barnacle, Pink-footed and Greenland White-fronted Geese, great raptor watching particularly Hen Harrier and Red Kite, waders, ducks, good numbers of wintering Whooper Swan and a local population of Willow Tit, all combine to make this an absorbing short holiday.

LANCASHIRE Tues 19 Oct – Fri 22 Oct 2021 Tues 18 Oct – Fri 21 Oct 2022

Price £945pp Single Supplement £120 Guide Price £1045pp Single Supplement TBC

Autumn sees a fascinating and often spectacular migration of wintering birds to the wetlands and grasslands of northwest England. Wildfowl and waders will be moving around and passing through as we visit Leighton Moss, Morecambe Bay, the Ribble Estuary and Martin Mere. The variety and sheer numbers of waders and wildfowl offer constantly changing birdlife at the larger reserves, with plenty of opportunity for grey winter-plumage wader identification. 01479 821248

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Special Tour Focus With a vast wealth of holiday choice available, we have introduced an easy to navigate search feature on our website to help you find the perfect holiday. Simply visit our website, click on ‘Tour Focus’ and click the category most suited to your preference. This will provide a list of holidays that fit your brief – all you have to do then is choose your favourite!

A huge choice ‘… for birders! …’ in Scotland Heatherlea are famous for connecting with rare birds, and many of our Scottish trips concentrate particularly on birds which can take your British list to new heights. These holidays are informally designated ‘… for birders…’, and many Heatherlea clients have enjoyed exceptional birding, whether based here at Mountview Hotel in Nethy Bridge, or on remote Scottish islands! We also have overseas tours which maximise your birdlist and designate some of these as '... for Birders' too. At all times, we observe the Birdwatchers Code of Conduct, following common sense and good practice in the interests of both wildlife and enthusiasts. Look for this symbol to identify a '... for Birders' tour!

HEATHERLEA NEWS

‘Easy Walking’ The best birding and wildlife holidays usually involve everyone witnessing the same thing at the same time. These tours are specifically designed for those who want very little walking content, usually less than one mile per day. Some activities (e.g. Ptarmigan watching) do usually involve a little walking, on these holidays we try to minimise this aspect. Look for this symbol to identify an 'Easy Walking’ tour!

2021 SCOTTISH ISLANDS

We are the local experts on the beautiful, wildlife-rich Scottish islands. All trips are run at a leisurely pace, and numbers are currently limited to five clients per Guide, so you benefit from a high level of personal attention. Onward transfers from Nethy Bridge are included in most, and you may add an extra night’s stay at either end. If driving, leave your vehicle safely parked at Mountview Hotel free of charge, and if using public transport use our morning courtesy return to Aviemore links. As an alternative, join the holiday at a convenient point closer to our destination. This is perhaps the most efficient way to visit the remotest parts of Scotland, as Heatherlea make it easy and give you real savings. Holidays featured in our brochure but not in this list are sold out, though there may be new departures added.

Island Bagging with Heatherlea For many years, Heatherlea has been leading the way with birding and wildlife watching trips to Scottish Islands. We have been island hopping for nearly 30 years, with over 40 islands visited. In 2021, Heatherlea plans to visit: Barra, Bass Rock, Benbecula, Berneray, Burray, Canna, Coll, Colonsay, Eigg, Eriskay, Fetlar, Foula, Handa, Harris, Hoy, Iona, Islay, Isle of May, Jura, Lewis, Little Bernera, Lunga, Mingulay, Mousa, Muck, Mull, North Ronaldsay, North Uist, Orkney Mainland, Oronsay, Papa Westray, Rousay, Sanday, Scarp, Shetland Mainland, Shiant Isles, Skye, South Ronaldsay, South Uist, St Kilda, Staffa, Taransay, The Monach Isles, Tiree, Unst, Westray and Yell. By 2022, we will pass the 50 mark with Bressay, Noss, Rum, Raasay, Whalsay featuring in new itineraries! Rather than arrive, simply tick-off an island and leave (‘island bagging’ in its most literal sense), at Heatherlea we think you need to experience something of each island's unique character with the help our outstanding wildlife guides. Come join our experienced team and get your Scottish island passport here!

All our 2021/222 Island holiday dates are on our website - book early to avoid disappointment! 01479 821248

www.heatherlea.co.uk

All our 2021/222 Island holiday dates are on our website - book early to avoid disappointment!

JANUARY – JULY 2021 please contact us for latest vacancies. Holidays featured in our brochure but not in this list are sold out, though there may be new departures added. MULL & ISLAY

Sat 27 Feb – Fri 5 March

Price £1645pp ssupp £150

NORTH RON & ORKNEY in SPRING for birders

Sat 24 April – Fri 30 Apr Sat 1 May – Fri 7 May

Price £1595pp ssupp £130

OUTER HEBRIDES in SPRING

Sat 1 May – Fri 7 May Sat 8 May – Fri 14 May

Price £1595pp ssupp £60

MULL, IONA & TRESHNISH ISLES

Tues 11 May – Sat 15 May

Price £1595pp ssupp £195

NEW! BIRDING THE NORTH COAST 500

Sat 15 May – Sat 22 May

Price £1695pp ssupp £125

SHETLAND ISLAND EXPLORER

Sat 22 May – Sat 29 May

Price £1995pp ssupp £195

NEW! ULTIMATE SKYE & MULL EXPLORER

Sun 30 May – Tues 8 June

Price £2395pp ssupp £250

ORKNEY ISLAND EXPLORER

Sat 12 June – Sat 19 June

Price £1945pp ssupp £150

SHETLAND and ORKNEY

Sat 12 June – Sun 20 June

Price £2295pp ssupp £220

OUTER HEBRIDES and the SHIANT ISLES

Sat 26 June – Fri 2 July

Price £1995pp ssupp £175

ST KILDA and the HEBRIDES

Fri 9 July – Fri 16 July

Price £1995pp ssupp £40 (land)

NEW! SHETLAND WILDLIFE in SUMMER

Sat 10 July – Sat 17 July

Price £1995pp ssupp £195

COLL and TIREE in SUMMER

Mon 12 July – Sat 17 July

Price £1695pp ssupp £175

NORTH RONALDSAY and ORKNEY in EARLY AUTUMN for birders

Sat 21 Aug – Fri 27 Aug

Price £1595pp ssupp £130

OUTER HEBRIDES in EARLY AUTUMN for birders

Sat 28 Aug – Fri 3 Sept

Price £1645pp ssupp £145

NORTH RONALDSAY and ORKNEY in AUTUMN for birders

Sat 11 Sept – Fri 17 Sept Sat 18 Sept – Fri 24 Sept

Price £1595pp ssupp £130

SHETLAND in AUTUMN for birders

Sat 18 Sept – Sat 25 Sept Sat 25 Sept – Sat 2 Oct

Price £1745pp ssupp £195

UNEXPLORED ORKNEY

Sat 25 Sept – Fri 1 Oct

Price £1745pp ssupp £190

OUTER HEBRIDES in AUTUMN for birders

Sat 2 Oct – Fri 8 Oct

Price £1645pp ssupp £145

ISLAY & JURA

Sat 16 Oct – Thurs 21 Oct

Price £1595pp ssupp £130

AUGUST – OCTOBER 2021

HEATHERLEA NEWS

NEW ISLAND HOLIDAYS FOR 2021! SHETLAND WILDLIFE in SUMMER Sat 10 July – Sat 17 July 2021 Price: £1995pp ssupp: £195 Sat 9 July – Sat 16 July 2022 Guide Price: £2095pp ssupp: TBC With so much to do and see, this is a superb time to visit Shetland, as long evenings give way to an ethereal twilight known as the ‘simmer dim’. This is a natural history holiday, as we explore at a relaxed pace covering as much of the rugged archipelago as possible, with dedicated trips to the islands. Definitely one for the island bagger, we plan to visit Unst, Yell, Fetlar, Noss, Bressay and Mainland Shetland and Mousa. A highlight will be our special boat trip to wild Foula off the west coast. These waters offer much potential for cetaceans and we also plan to cruise under the sheer cliffs and explore on foot the island home of the largest Great Skua colony in Britain! Throughout the week you will see some of the most densely populated seabird cities in the country; Gannet, Shag, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake, Arctic Skua, Common and Arctic Tern are all represented, some in abundance, while an evening excursion to the Storm Petrel colony on Mousa will be a highlight. Freshwater lochans host breeding Red-throated Divers and we will try to see rare breeding waders including Whimbrel, Golden Plover and delicate Red-necked Phalarope. We take in all the flora and fauna we encounter, with plenty of opportunity for scenic photography as we go. 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! ULTIMATE SKYE and MULL EXPLORER Sun 31 May – Tues 8 June 2021 Price: £2395pp ssupp: £250 Sun 30 May – Tues 7 June 2022 Guide Price: £2495pp ssupp: TBC A complete, grand tour of two of the best places to watch wildlife in Scotland - Skye and Mull! A trip for the ‘island baggers’, we plan to go to an impressive 10 islands all told including some rarely visited and hidden gems. Our first is the large island of Skye, dedicating time to explore the Trotternish peninsular to the north famed for its dramatic views, geology, views and of course its eagles. With time for a thorough exploration, less visited places to the west hold much potential as does the island of Raasay, hiding in plain sight to the east. On special boat trips to the south of Skye we may see seals and cetaceans and we plan to visit Muck, Eigg, Canna and Rum before relocating to Mull. Here, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, both eagles and divers in summer plumage are all likely, and with such a dense population, the island is arguably one of the best places in the country to watch Otters. On one day, we take an exciting boat trip to the Treshnish Isles lying to the west, first passing Fingal’s Cave on Staffa before making landfall on Lunga for the ultimate seabird experience. Walking among the dense Puffin colony, we should also see Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Shag and skuas. Our final (and 10th) island of a holiday full of highlights will be Iona, where we hope to see Corncrake and spend time relaxing with a look around the iconic Abbey. We stay at three centres on this, our most definitive tour of the area, also enjoying wildlife-rich Ardnamurchan and Morvern as we travel, and spend time searching for Ptarmigan on the Applecross ridge too. A wonderful adventure on the west, not to be missed! 01479 821248

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OVERSEAS BIRDING and WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS What makes Heatherlea so different? We have a reputation for being ‘less-intensive’, during itineraries planned carefully so you see memorable wildlife, whilst enjoying relaxed, informal days that are great fun. Our holidays are not ‘dawn to dusk’ expeditions, and we take sensible breaks when in very hot places and regular comfort breaks on every holiday. Each is run for guests who we consider friends as well as clients. That means rewarding and exciting days in the field with capable Leaders who really look after you, and good quality accommodation and meals, with a real flavour of the country we are visiting. Please take a close look for great holiday content at very attractive prices - wherever you want to go!

Looking forward with confidence Heatherlea are expanding rapidly overseas, with many new tours and lots of old favourites. During the next five years we will more than double the number of available destinations, and our detailed holiday planner helps you to organize your birding tours, both in the UK and abroad. You can design your own Planner on our website, and lodge it with Heatherlea if you wish. Our dedicated Account Manager will keep you fully informed as your holiday approaches, and you don’t even have to pay a deposit until the holiday is less than one year ahead. A great way to plan ahead with confidence with Heatherlea!

Heatherlea 'Pre-flight' Experience - start your holiday early! Heatherlea do more than most before you fly. Where flights are included, your overnight hotel room pre-flight is also 20

HEATHERLEA NEWS

included. If you need car parking, we organise it for you, to make your airport experience easier. The following morning, enjoy a VIP Airport Lounge, also included in your holiday price, and arrive at the departure gate already relaxed, and ready for your holiday. Heatherlea gives you more! We want you to arrive at the departure gate already relaxed, and ready for your holiday, so your overseas birding holiday includes:

✔ Pre-flight hotel INCLUDED always close to your departure point & NEW for 2020 - Upgrade your hotel to one of your choice (charges may apply). ✔ Fast track/Premium Security INCLUDED breeze through security! ✔ VIP Airport Lounge INCLUDED for your comfort and enjoyment & NEW for 2020 - Extend your stay for a relaxing start to your holiday (charges may apply) ✔ Birding Guidebook INCLUDED on long-haul tours. Whet your appetite for world-class birding!

NEW! Airport taxi service. From January 2021 we are pleased to announce our new airport transfer service – from your door! Contact us and we will help you book a local service with a reputable operator, so you can arrive at the airport with a minimum of fuss. Full details on request! We also help with airport parking, travel advice, flight upgrades and anything else you need, with no added admin fee. Let us take the strain! Our friendly, knowledgeable team are here to help and advise, so please call Emma, Fleur, Jolene, Caroline, Lindsay or Kevin.

That's why we say ... 'DO IT THE HEATHERLEA WAY’!

NEW! The Heatherlea Five-year Holiday Planner 2021 - 2025! We know that many of you appreciate maximum notice, especially when planning the holiday of a lifetime. To help, we are delighted to introduce this very handy ‘Five-year Holiday Planner’. You can now construct a personal forward diary of Heatherlea holidays! Please visit our website, and construct your personal Planner, containing any number of tours and departure dates for destinations around the world, and dates until the end of 2025. Choose as many as you like, and when satisfied, save your personalised Planner listing all your birding and wildlife holidays during the next five years! When ready, send a copy to Heatherlea to lodge your Planner, though you do not need to make any commitment at this stage. We will provisionally reserve your place(s), and contact you to confirm. You can alter your Planner by adding and subtracting tours at any time, though please remember to update Heatherlea with your new choices! Once you have lodged your Planner, additions, changes and developments will be advised every month, so you are fully up to date. You don’t need to pay deposits for any holidays more than one year ahead, and we will keep in touch as each holiday approaches. You may confirm or decline your provisional reservation without penalty.

A great new way to plan your worldwide birding adventures!

The charts on the following pages give you an outline of our plans. The symbol ‘*’ means we are planning to run that tour during that year, the number indicates the month of departure (eg ‘2’ means February, ‘11’ means November), where this is currently available. Plan ahead with confidence for all your birding tours in the next five years! Another great reason to… ‘DO IT THE HEATHERLEA WAY!’ 01479 821248

www.heatherlea.co.uk

EUROPE

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Finland in Spring

Finland and Northern Norway

Finland Grand Tour

*5 Bears

Finland & Norway in Winter

Sweden in Winter Sweden in Autumn

*2 *9

Estonia Short Break - March Estonia in Spring

*2 *9

Estonia in Autumn

Poland

Eastern Short Breaks Czech Republic Hungary Slovakia

*11

Hungary in Spring

*3 *11 *4 *5

Hungary in Autumn Austria

*3 *11 *4

*3 *11 *4 *5

*10 *6

Croatia

Romania â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Danube Delta

Bulgaria in Autumn

Bulgaria and Northern Greece

*10 *6

*4 *6

*9 *5

*3 *11 *4

*9 *5

Bulgaria and N Greece - Winter

Belarus

Armenia

Georgia

Spain - Lynx Spain- Extremadura Spain - Andalucia

HEATHERLEA NEWS

Europe cont ...

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Spain – Catalonia

Spain – Picos Spain – Birds and Butterflies

*9 *5

Canaries Mallorca

Madeira

Portugal in Spring

Northern Portugal

Azores

Camargue

Faroes

Iceland in Summer

Iceland – South East

Ireland in spring

Italy - Po Delta *4

Lesvos

*7 *7

Ireland for birders

Cyprus

*8 *3

*7 *6

Iceland in Winter

Skyros

*8 *3

*4 & Florence

*4 *3

Corsica

NEW! BULGARIA & NORTHERN GREECE IN WINTER Mon 31 January – Mon 7 Feb 2022 Price: £1895pp ssupp: £110 Leader Toby Green plus experienced local guide. This tour offers new potential to neighbouring countries with diverse habitats, a relatively mild climate, and many resident/semi-resident species alongside palearctic migrants. We visit key wetland sites and water bodies where the sheer numbers amaze! Flocks of Dalmation and White Pelicans, Whooper and Bewick’s Swan, Redbreasted and White-fronted Geese initially draw the eye and we search for Taiga and Tundra Bean and rare Lesser White-fronted Goose. These habitats also support dense numbers of wildfowl and waders, and internationally important populations of Pygmy Cormorant and globally threatened White-headed Duck. On certain days we switch habitats, visiting forest and woodlands including the Dadia Forest NP and nearby Sakar Mountain. An established stronghold for Eastern Imperial Eagle, we might also see Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Long-legged and Rough-legged Buzzard and we visit a feeding station for Griffon Vulture and rare Black Vulture. Other possible species include Syrian, Black, Greyheaded, Middle Spotted and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Sombre Tit, Rock Bunting and Cirl Bunting. Brilliant winter birding! 01479 821248

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NEW! CYPRUS Sat 20 March – Sat 27 March 2021 Price: £1995pp ssupp £180 Leader Mark Warren, joined by another from the Heatherlea team with more than 6 clients. Cyprus is a fabulous Mediterranean birding destination, offering excellent spring migration and notable, soughtafter residents including endemics. With an enviable birdlist of over 360 species, this holiday is timed to give excellent chances high numbers and variety of passage birds as they travel north or settle to breed. We aim to connect with a mix of northern and eastern European migrants, including herons, wildfowl and waders. Passerines such as Isabelline and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Citrine Wagtail, Black-headed, Cretzschmar's and Ortolan Bunting, Ruppell's, Eastern Olivaceous, Eastern Bonelli’s, Sardinian and Eastern Subalpine Warbler and both Collared and Semi-collared Flycatcher are possible and we should also enjoy Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Roller, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Alpine Swift, Honey Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Wryneck, Woodchat, Red-backed and Masked Shrike daily. Notable residents include endemic Cyprus Warbler and Cyprus Pied Wheatear, difficult to find Black Francolin, and Cyprus Scops Owl, which may be heard and seen after dark close to our hotel. Staying on the west coast, we will be well placed to visit migration hotspots around Paphos headland and the Arkamas National Park, plus many more inbetween! We spend time exploring saltpans, coastal scrub on headlands reservoirs, dry riverbeds with residual freshwater pools, traditional farmland and also visit the islands interior, exploring the Troodos Mountains for raptors perhaps including Bonelli’s Eagle, and endemic subspecies of in the Pine forests.

NEW! IRELAND IN SPRING Sat 22 May – Sat 29 May 2021 Price: £2195pp ssupp £210 Leader Mark Warren, joined by another from the Heatherlea team with more than 6 clients. Ireland has fast become a highly popular destination for Heatherlea clients and we are pleased to confirm this new spring holiday. We stay on the south coast, dividing our time between County Cork in the far west and County Wexford in the east, differing regions offering plenty of options. On day trips out to Cape Clear and the Saltee Islands we explore their potential on foot, enjoying migrant birds in stunning surroundings and nesting seabirds including Gannets and Puffins at the latter location. May is a busy time for wildlife as migrant birds flood north and seabirds settle to breed. One day we plan to take a dedicated cetacean trip into the Atlantic, where Fin, Humpback and Minke Whale might be encountered along with dolphins, Harbour Porpoise, seals and even Basking Shark. Birdwatching will be varied, and with superb wetlands and a number of wonderful estuaries, waders, terns and wildfowl will feature highly. Reserves such as Tacumshin Lake hold legendary status among birdwatchers and we also aim to explore attractive headlands including Mizen and Galley Head for migrant land birds and flocks of Chough. Raptors are likely to feature with Hobby, Peregrine, Merlin, Hen and Marsh Harrier all possible, while White-tailed Eagle has also made a recent return to County Cork. In May, exciting scarce and rare birds may occur, with Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike, Subalpine Warbler, White-winged Black Tern and Red-footed Falcon recent examples. If we hear of any, we will try to see them though this tour will run at a relaxed pace (more leisurely than our Autumn for birders tour) as we aim to enjoy all wildlife experiences and the beautiful scenery of the Emerald Isle. 24

HEATHERLEA NEWS

AMERICAS

2021

2022

2023

Alaska

2024

2025

British Columbia

Long Point

*8 *

Nova Scotia

Cape May

Yellowstone

Florida

Florida Keys

* *

Texas

Arizona

California

*4 *5

Mexico

*11

Belize

* *11

*11

Guatemala

Costa Rica -Classic

*11 *1

Costa Rica - Classic Plus

*11

Costa Rica - Birders

*11

Costa Rica - Wellness

Costa Rica – Easy Walking

*9 *4

Panama

NEW! COSTA RICA WITH EASY WALKING Sat 2 April – Sun 17 April 2022 Price: £5195pp ssupp £525 Leader one of the Heatherlea team joined by experienced local guide.

beautiful passerines. Longer walks along forested trails are avoided wherever possible.

All of our Costa Rican tours operate at a relaxed pace, though this itinerary is especially suitable for those who don't want to walk too far. Very short walks are the order of the day, and we feature boat rides in several locations to get close to wildlife. We also utilise the many feeding stations at hotels and other places along the way, to guarantee a wonderful list of hummingbirds and other

You won't miss out, we expect a birdlist in excess of 300 species, and should also see three monkey species, both sloths, a variety of reptiles and amphibians, and interesting mammals such as Coatimundi. We utilise our vehicle to reach key places, and often will be very close to the bus so you can minimise walking. Porterage is available throughout, and you will tour Costa Rica in comfort and safety.

01479 821248

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Americas cont ...

2021

Trinidad, Tobago & St Lucia

2022

2023

2024

2025

St Lucia & Dominica

St Lucia & St Vincent

Cuba

Jamaica Puerto Rico Colombia

*2 *10

Colombia - North *9

Ecuador & Amazon Rainforest

Southern Ecuador

*10 *9 *8 *10 *10 *10

*10 *7

*11

Argentina

*11 *10

Chile & Atacama Desert

*10

Chile & Easter Islands Falklands

NEW! CHILE – THE ATACAMA DESERT Sat 8 October – Sunday 23 October 2022 Price: TBC Leader one of the Heatherlea team joined by experienced local guide. Fast becoming a popular birding destination, on this new, especially designed tour we combine the wonderful birdlife and scenery of the Santiago region with the spectacular Atacama and Altiplano desert regions in the north-east. A tour with something for everyone, with endemic species available both on land and at sea, unrivalled scenery and mountain landscapes, the trip also features an optional extension to Robinson Crusoe Island for even more superb, wildlife experiences.

HEATHERLEA NEWS

*10

Brazil- Atlantic Forest

*8 *10

Guyana

Chile

*10 *10

Peru - North

Brazil - Pantanal

*1 *2

*10

Ecuador & Galapagos

Peru – Birding & Machu Picchu

*3 *1

* *

AFRICA NEW! GAMBIA Tues 16 Nov – Fri 26 Nov 2021 Price: £2595pp ssupp £350 Tues 4 Jan – Fri 14 Jan 2022 Price: TBC Leader Ian Ford plus very experienced local guide. This very popular and successful tour has been expanded to include two new centres, giving access to many more birds. The closest tropical birding to London, in a friendly English-speaking country full of birdlife, we know you will love Gambia with Heatherlea!

NEW! SOUTH AFRICA – THE WESTERN & EASTERN CAPE Thurs 2 Sept – Sun 19 Sept 2021 Price: £5495pp ssupp £375 Leader Toby Green, joined by experienced local guide. South Africa boasts at least 34 endemic birds the highest number for any mainland African country, and a superb suite of mammals. Join Heatherlea on this unique trip around the south tip of the continent, encompassing a wide range of habitats and species without huge travel distances. A full and rewarding South African birding and wildlife experience! We begin by birding around the Cape Peninsula, one of the world’s most botanically rich regions, focussing on endemic and highly desired species including Cape Sugarbird, Cape Rockjumper, Ground Woodpecker and African Penguin. If the weather is suitable, we will take a pelagic trip to see petrels, shearwaters, albatrosses and cetaceans, a key ornithological highlight. Next we head north up the Atlantic coast to the magnificent Langebaan Lagoon, where we search for birds and mammals including Black Harrier, Southern Black Korhaan, Caracal and Bat-eared Fox. We then head for the wild, rugged, dramatic and breathtakingly beautiful landscape of Cederberg to explore the arid Tankwa Karoo in search of rocky and gravel plains specialists. Our next base is Swellendam, from where we explore the Bontebok National Park and De Hoop Nature Reserve to look for iconic species such as Blue Crane, Denham’s Bustard and Cape Vulture. Heading east birding as we go, we make our way onto the ‘Garden Route’, switching from arid to somewhat more verdant surroundings where forest birding and woodland species are the order of the day. Eventually we make our way to our final destination, Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth, where big game awaits. We undertake a night-time safari for owls and interesting mammals such as Black Rhino, Aardwolf, Honey Badger, Caracal, Porcupine and even Aardvark with some luck.

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AFRICA

2022

2023

2024

2025

Morocco

*3*

Western Sahara

*2 *1

Gambia

2021

*11

Ghana

Kenya – Masai Mara Short Break

*11

Kenya – Rift Valley

Kenya - Birding

*11

*12

Tanzania

Uganda

Ethiopia Botswana

*4 *12

Namibia South Africa -Cape

*12 *9

South Africa - Kruger

*9 *8

South Africa - Drakenberg Seychelles

*1 *

*10

NEW! NAMIBIA Fri 16 Sept – Sun 2 Oct 2022 Price TBC Leader Peter Cosgrove, joined by experienced local guide. With its fantastic landscapes, excellent infrastructure and superb wildlife, Namibia has become a favoured birding destination in recent years. Desert, coastal lagoons and mountains will give us an abundance of wildlife in a country full of fantastic scenery and although Namibia is home to only one endemic species, a large number of near-endemics and specialities may be found within its borders. The Namib Desert is he home of the endemic Dune Lark, naturally a key target of this tour. We also visit the Namib-

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Naukluft National Park for near endemic Ludwig’s Bustard and Burchell’s Courser, Walvis Bay, where the coastal lagoons attract some of the largest concentrations of waterbirds in Africa and the Erongo Mountains to search for specials such as Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Herero Chat and Damara Rockrunner. Etosha National Park boasts an abundance of both birds and wildlife and Waterberg Plateau support tricky to see Rüppell’s Parrot and Violet Wood-Hoopoe alongside many more widespread species. All in all, a superb new Heatherlea African adventure!

MIDDLE EAST

2021

Oman

CRUISES

2022

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

*12

2021

2022

Bhutan

Nepal

Nepal - West

China – Sichuan & Beijing

China - Tibet

2023

*3 *3

*6 *9

*9 *11

*8 * *10

Japan

*1 *6

India – Birds, Tigers & Taj *11

*11

India – North West

South Korea

Sri Lanka

2025

*11

Indonesia – Bali & Lombok

India - Goa

2024

Cambodia

Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan

*6 *11

*6 *9

Vietnam Borneo

2025

Antarctic

China – South East Spoonbill Tour

2024

Arctic

ASIA

2023

*11

*1 *1

Taiwan

Thailand

Australia - Queensland

*11

Australia -Tasmania & SE Australia

*11

Australia – Grand Tour

*11

Australia - South West

*10

New Zealand

*11

*11 01479 821248

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NEW! SRI LANKA plus optional Whale watching extension Fri 12 Nov – Mon 29 Nov 2021 Price: £3995pp ssupp £695 Leader Mike Coleman, plus experienced local guide. This holiday around the friendly tropical island of Sri Lanka gives us the chance of finding all 33 endemic birds, obtaining great views of some of Asia’s most iconic land mammals, and immersing ourselves in some of the most impressive cultural and historical sites in the country. There is also an optional extension to take two boat trips into the Indian Ocean to see cetaceans, including mighty Blue Whale. The tour is an enjoyable combination of birding and mammal watching, where our key targets are just part of a rich natural history which includes a spectacular variety of butterflies in rainforest areas. We pass through lush rural landscapes, rice fields, misty, rolling tea plantations, pristine protected forests and montane grasslands, fascinating colonial towns steeped in history, incredible sites of Buddhist culture, and idyllic tropical palm-fringed coastlines. During the holiday we sample local food and drink, most likely including fresh coconut water and Arak, the local alcohol distilled from the nectar of coconut flowers.

NEW! NEW ZEALAND Wed 9 Nov – Sun 27 Nov 2022 Price: TBC Leader one from the Heatherlea team plus experienced local guide. New Zealand is very much a once in a lifetime destination, featuring some of the most unique, diverse and extraordinary wildlife on our planet! On this tour we plan to travel the length of the country, exploring the differing North and South islands, plus several of the offshore islands. On North Island, walking through the Dinosaur Gondwanan Forests (little changed in over 100 million years) feels like a step back in time while Tiritiri Matangi Island is home to a number of rare birds, including North Island Saddleback, Takahe, Brown Teal, Red-crowned Parakeet and Stitchbird and is widely considered one of New Zealand’s most notable conservation successes.

NEW! BHUTAN Fri 8 April – Wed 27 April 2022 Guide Price: £5995pp ssupp £495 Leader Mike Coleman plus experienced local guide. Bhutan offers one of the last pristine pockets in the entire Himalaya. Coupled with beautiful scenery, high, snow-capped mountains, vast, primeval, lush green forests, picturesque, traditional villages, mighty dzongs (a distinctive type of fortress architecture), monasteries overlooking crystal clear rivers, and an abundance of wildlife. Gross National Happiness (GNH) is the national philosophy that guides the government of Bhutan, including an index used to measure the collective happiness and well-being of the population. This fabulous new tour takes us wildlife watching in many 30

HEATHERLEA NEWS

types of forest and habitat at different altitudes, giving us opportunities to observe over 350 of the unique birds and mammals in this rarely-visited nation, as well as visiting some of the country’s most impressive religious and cultural sites. We stay in hotel accommodation throughout the tour ( much more comfortable than camping, the previous alternative), and have included extra days within Bhutan compared to many other tours so we can enjoy a better wildlife/travel balance to improve our personal GNH! We will meet many smiling, happy people, and enjoy plenty of fresh, local food and drink – Bhutan really is a special place!

NEW! SOUTH KOREA Wed 12 Jan – Wed 26 Jan 2022 Price: £5295pp ssupp: £650 Leader Mark Warren, joined by experienced local guides. Join this new and exciting holiday to one of the recentlydiscovered hotspots of Asian winter birding – South Korea! The safe, modern society, high quality infrastructure, and relative ease of travelling between destinations means that we will see a lot of the country on this trip, while enjoying views of many hard-to-find East Asian specialities, and huge numbers of other sought-after species. Around 500 species have been recorded in the country, many along the coasts, and we will visit the whole range of major wildlife habitats – offshore islands, tidal flats, coastal lagoons, rice fields, rocky shorelines, headlands, rivers, open country, and forests and scrubland, including the DMZ – the land that time forgot between South and North Korea. Winter specialities include the world’s largest concentration of Baikal Teal, the highly-prized Scaly-sided Merganser, along with Swan Goose and Lesser White-fronted Goose, Steller’s Sea and Eastern Imperial Eagle, Relict and Saunders’s Gull, and Solitary Snipe! The most easily seen Red-crowned Cranes in the world stand out on tidal-flats, while there may be thousands of White-naped and Hooded Cranes. Uncountable numbers of ducks and geese fill west coast sites, including Harlequin Duck, and possibly rarities including Baer’s Pochard, and formerly extirpated Crested Ibis was reintroduced in 2019. As we travel we hope to see Varied Tit, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Pallas’ Rosefinch, Siberian Accentor, Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Chinese Penduline Tit and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker in suitable habitat, and maybe

some sought-after Pacific seabirds from headlands – Ancient Murrelet, Temminck’s Cormorant, and perhaps Rhinoceros Auklet or Spectacled Guillemot. The en-suite hospitality is very friendly in clean and tidy Korean inns and there will be plenty of opportunity to sample typical food and drink – just watch out for the kimchi! There will also be time to explore the culture and history of Seoul at the end of the tour (although there will still be Oriental Turtle Dove, Azure-winged Magpie, wild Mandarin Duck, and Daurian Redstart to see in the city parks!). Due to the ever-expanding tourist industry in Korea, the country is likely to become a major birding destination in the not-too-distant future, so join us at the start of this trend, and discover the beauty of this hitherto little-known wildlife hotspot.

maintained lodges with excellent reputations, some of which have won global awards for their sustainable approach to ecotourism.

NEW! BORNEO Wed 12 Aug – Sat 28 Aug 2021 Price: £5995pp ssupp: £995 Wed 11 Aug – Sat 27 Aug 2022 Price tbc

We visit the montane and submontane rainforest of Kinabalu National Park – Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important biological sites in the world, with more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna, including 326 bird and around 100 mammal species. The lowland rainforest offers different wildlife, and if we are very lucky, we might see (or smell) a flowering ‘Rafflesia’! At Sepilok we visit the Orang Utan Centre which was founded in 1964 to rehabilitate orphans. This protected land is home to between 60 and 80 animals which live freely in the reserve. We also visit the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre, the highlight of which is birding from a truly impressive canopy walkway that spans hundreds of metres. We take two cruises down the Kinabatangan River, staying at Sukau in a wonderful lodge surrounded by over 200 birds, ten primate species, and many other mammals. Our stay also includes a dusk visit to the Gomantong Caves where hundreds of thousands of Wrinklelipped Free-tailed Bats and four swiftlet species undertake a mass exodus and run the gauntlet as many raptors await. We head to Tabin, where 250 bird species and many endangered mammals dwell, including three cat and nine primate species, some of which we hope to see on a nocturnal excursion. Our final base may be the most impressive; Danum Valley is set in virgin rainforest with abundant wildlife, and we will see a huge myriad of birds and new mammals, as well as potentially finding Orang Utan in their natural environment, as this area has maintained a healthy population; a wonderful way to conclude this memorable jungle adventure. Amongst the 250+ birds (including many of the 60 endemics) we may expect to see, highlights could include the strange Bornean Bristlehead, and the many hornbills, trogons, broadbills, barbets, woodpeckers, frogmouths, owls, partridges, pittas, spiderhunters, flowerpeckers, sunbirds and raptors. Mammal highlights include Orang Utan, Proboscis Monkey, Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Leopard Cat, Bornean Tarsier, Bornean Slow Loris, Lesser Oriental Chevrotain, Southern Pig-tailed Macaque, Maroon Langur, Muller’s Gibbon, Sunda Flying Lemur, and many species of squirrel and civet.

Leader Mike Coleman, joined by experienced local guides. With centuries of explorers, geographers, museum collectors, sociologists and naturalists returning from Borneo telling tales of vast, pristine jungles full of strange animals and indigenous tribespeople, it is no wonder the very word ‘Borneo’ is synonymous with tropical adventure. Borneo is the third largest island in the world, and has some of the oldest rainforests on the planet, stretching for miles to distant mountains shrouded in mist and rainclouds. Its rivers slowly snake through dense jungles where strange sounds emanate from endemic birds and some of the most endangered and sought-after mammals in Asia, and desolate dwellings, where traditional village life still continues despite the modernisation and urban spread all around, are tucked away amid the trees. This new adventure is designed so we spend longer at the best wildlife watching sites, to improve our chances of seeing the widest variety of exciting and endemic bird species, and many diurnal and nocturnal mammals. Our accommodation is in the heart of the rainforests, and features well-

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2021 Overseas Holidays A wealth of choice featuring many new itineraries – take a look! Full details are online, and there are more tours still under development. As the year develops, we will keep you updated, though if we are unable to run tours you will be entitled to a full refund. CAMARGUE NEPAL NEW! CYPRUS EXTREMADURA CATALONIA & SOUTH EAST ARAGON SKYROS MALLORCA ARMENIA BULGARIA & NORTHERN GREECE ESTONIA FINLAND and Northern NORWAY FINLAND in SPRING NEW! FINLAND – BEARS & WOLVERINES NEW! FINLAND ‘GRAND TOUR’ SPAIN – BIRDS & BUTTERFLIES NEW! IRELAND IN SPRING ICELAND in SUMMER NEW! BORNEO ECUADOR & THE AMAZON RAINFOREST IRELAND FOR BIRDERS

6 Mar – 13 Mar 11 Mar - 24 Mar 20 Mar – 27 Mar 17 Apr – 24 Apr 21 Apr – 29 Apr 21 Apr– 28 Apr 1 May – 8 May 1 May – 12 May 8 May – 17 May 10 May – 17 May 14 May –19 May 19 May – 25 May 24 May – 29 May 14 May – 29 May 19 May – 25 May 22 May – 29 May 19 July – 26 July 12 Aug –29 Aug 27 Aug – 13 Sept 28 Aug – 4 Sept

NEW! SOUTH AFRICA 2 Sept – 19 Sept NEW! SWEDEN in AUTUMN – FALSTERBO 4 Sept – 10 Sept BULGARIA in AUTUMN 4 Sept – 11 Sept NEW! COSTA RICA – WILDLIFE 4 Sept – 18 Sept & WELLNESS THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS 13 Sept – 5 Oct & MAINLAND ECUADOR CHILE 11 Oct – 28 Oct SOUTHERN PERU – BIRDING 16 Oct – 31 Oct & MACHU PICCHU NEW! COLOMBIA 23 Oct –8 Nov COSTA RICA CLASSIC TOUR – PLUS! 6 Nov – 23 Nov NEW! ‘GRAND TOUR’ QUEENSLAND, 11 Nov – 7 Dec S.E AUSTRALIA & TASMANIA NEW! SRI LANKA 12 Nov – 29 Nov GOA- KONKAN COAST to the 13 Nov – 28 Nov WESTERN GHATS NEW! GAMBIA 16 Nov – 26 Nov NEW! HUNGARY SHORT BREAK in WINTER 18 Nov – 21 Nov COSTA RICA BIRDING TOUR 27 Nov – 12 Dec

You may now reserve a place provisionally for any of our overseas tours more than 12 months in advance, without making any obligation or paying a deposit. If you see a destination below which particularly interests you, please contact our office. We will contact you as soon as detailed information is available, and then keep in touch as the tour fills, to secure your place, or keep your name provisionally on the list. Plan ahead for all your birding tours in the next five years, without having to pay your deposit until the tour either fills or becomes due less than a year in advance. Another great reason to… Do it the Heatherlea Way! Please contact us to make a provisional reservation on any tour, or to get your personalised Planner underway. More details of all trips coming soon via our monthly e-newsletter, and by regular postal news. Contact our office and speak to Caroline, Emma, Fleur, Jolene, Lindsay or Kevin!

For MORE DETAILS of all our holidays • READ our colour brochure and monthly E-newsletter • VISIT our website www.heatherlea.co.uk

• •

E-MAIL info@heatherlea.co.uk TELEPHONE 01479 821248

heatherlea The Mountview Hotel, Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire, Scotland PH25 3EB T: 01479 821248 info@heatherlea.co.uk www.heatherlea.co.uk

birding and wildlife holidays