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Wild Scotland!Spring in the
Scottish Highlands!
May 4 – 11, 2013
Trip Cost & Travel Planning> Registration Form>
May in the Scottish Highlands is one of the supreme birding pleasures in the United Kingdom and birding here is nothing short of magical! With varied habitats of prime national and international importance, this unique area offers specialties that are sensitive, rare or have restricted range. In May, summer breeders are returning and species like Capercaillie and Black Grouse perform courtship amazing displays set against a sprawling backdrop of incredible beautiful forests and mountains. Ptarmigan and Dotterel can be found in the arctic plateau of the spectacular Cairngorms National Park, the largest in the UK nearly 1750 square miles of the wild Scottish Highlands. At the coast, Loons are in breeding colors and setting up nesting sites and in the ancient pine forest, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Redstart, Tree Pipit and Whinchat are among the species actively breeding. This tour is precisely timed to take in the spring magic of the Scottish highlands and its unique wildlife.
Join us for an unforgettable tour of wild Scotland! See photos from our 2010 scouting trip>
ITINERARYDay 1:
Plan on a late afternoon arrival at Inverness, Scotland, the principal air hub for the Highlands of Scotland. (Airport code: INV. See below for flight information). You will be met by guide Chris Mills and taken to our accommodation at Grantown-on-Spey, Relax and settle into our accommodation, a newly refurbished “wildlife hotel” in a charming country town set in the heart of Cairngorms National Park. There are no less than six RSBP reserves nearby as well at the National Park and the hotel boasts its own bird watching and wildlife club. Everyone will gather for a welcome dinner this evening. Dinner together on Saturday evening starts the tour.
Days 2-7:
During
the next week, we will bird
the Scottish highlands from
our base in the heart of
the highlands close to the
best birding habitats.
Our
first morning will see
us making an early start
to open heathland where
Black Grouse display.
We’ll
watch from a safe distance
as the glossy black males
with their distinctive bright
red eye wattles strut into
the lek. The flamboyant
display begins as they raise
their fanned out, lyre-shaped
tail to reveal their white
under-tail feathers while
making their loud, bubbling
call which can be heard
over half a mile away! To
witness this display is
an incredible experience
- a defining birding moment
in the highlands and a great
way to start our first day.
Once we’ve
had our fill of this amazing
display, we will return
to the accommodation for
a much appreciated breakfast.
One
morning after breakfast
we will take a walk in
the nearby Abernethy Forest,
a remnant of the ancient
Caledonian Forest that
once covered vast areas
of Scotland. In the ancient
pines, juniper and cowberry,
we’ll
look for species not found
elsewhere in the British
Isles including Crested
Tit and Scottish Crossbill
and we’ll
likely cross paths with
other forest residents
including Common Crossbill,
Siskin, Redstart, Tree Pipit
and Whinchat.
With luck, it is here in the pine forest that we will find the amazing Capercaillie, a huge woodland grouse a third again larger than the Black Grouse and weighing upwards of 10 pounds. Despite their size Capercaillies are shy staying hidden in the dense forest undergrowth. This will be our first of several chances to see this remarkable species. In May, male birds are active so we stand an excellent chance of seeing this elusive, endangered species if we put in the effort. On another day, we’ll visit a hide where we will hope to see this enigmatic bird and we’ll walk forest trails in the hopes of crossing paths with one. Contacts with locals will provide the best information on recent sightings and we’ll take advantage of available information to track down this species.
One afternoon we will head out again locally near Nethy Bridge which spans the lower reaches of the River Nethy as it flows into the River Spey. Here we will look for Osprey, Dipper, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Red Grouse, Redpoll, Peregrine, and Slavonian Grebe.
On another day we will explore a beautiful river valley just south of Inverness in the Monhadliath Mountain range. Golden Eagle can be seen here soaring over the expanses of treeless moorlands against the backdrop of fabulous mountain scenery. We’ll survey the skies for Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Merlin, and even possibly White-tailed Eagle. The surrounding landscape holds Hooded Crow, Red Grouse, Eurasian Golden Plover, Ring Ouzel and well as Red Deer and Mountain Hare.
One day will be spent slightly further afield with a visit north of Inverness to the famed Black Isle, not at all an island but a peninsula surrounded on three sides the Cromarty Firth to the north, the Beauly Firth to the south, and the Moray Firth to the east. Renowned for its scenic beauty, here we can see the newly established Red Kite circle lazily above the rolling farmland of the Moray Firth. Along the coast, we’ll look for Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal and a host of waders including Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Redshank and Ringed Plover. Further north we will be searching for Red-throated and Arctic Loons, terns, Long-tailed Duck, Surf Scoter and King Eider.
Weather permitting, we will spend a day exploring the unique arctic tundra of Cairngorm plateau with unforgettable mountain scenery all around as. At just 4084 feet in elevation, Cairngorm is the sixth highest mountain in Scotland and we’ll slowly walk a track along the side of the mountain to search for some very special high altitude moorland species. One target is the (Rock) Ptarmigan, yet another grouse species which can only be found on the highest mountains of the highlands of Scotland. In May, the birds should be changing from their winter white plumage to their summer brown and black and our walk up into the alpine habitat allows us our chance to see them. The lovely Dotterel, a gorgeous member of the plover family can be found here as well. There is a good chance of raptors here as well and Snow Bunting also frequents the hillside habitats. Those not wishing to partake in this “energetic” walk can take the option of riding up on the funicular railway which travels two kilometers from the Base Station at car park level to the Ptarmigan Top Station. The birding opportunities are limited here as there is no access to the mountain trails but on a clear day it is a spectacular view from the top.
We’ll also spend a day on the coast to look for the rare White-tailed Sea Eagle, Britain’s largest bird of prey. Successful reintroduction efforts have produced the first generation of truly Scottish birds and we will hope to see them in the sheltered lochs or sea lochs which they prefer over exposed coastal sites. The rugged coast will also provide the opportunity to see Black Guillemot and possibly Black-throated (Arctic Loon) and Great Northern Diver (Common Loon) as well as Gray Seal and Otter.
One evening, there will be an optional excursion a comfortable heated hide for the chance to see Pine Marten and Badger up close.
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Some target species:
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Top
photo:
Capercaillie. Photo by
Steve Bird.
Crested
Tit. Photo by Steve Bird.
Dotterel. Photo by Nick Bray.
Badger from the hide. Photo by Steve Bird.
Parrot Crossbill. Photo by Steve Bird.
Pine Marten from the hide.
Photo by Steve Bird.
Black Grouse on a lek. Photo by Steve Bird.
Day
8
Today
after breakfast we will say your
farewells and depart from Inverness
with wonderful memories of your
adventure in wild Scotland!
LEADER:
CHRIS MILLS
Chris
Mills has been birding and
photographing
wildlife for 30 years. He
hails
from Great Britain and has
served
as the recorder for Notts
Birdwatchers'
Records Committee and has
worked
for Norfolk Wildlife Trust,
RSPB,
Game Conservancy Trust and
The
Farming Conservation Group.
In
1999, he fulfilled a long
term
ambition by moving to Norfolk,
England where he operates
his company Norfolk Birding.
His birding
efforts are focused in Norfolk
and birding has also taken
him
to many wonderful places
around
the world. Chris is a natural
guide with great experience,
knowledge
and enthusiasm which he
eagerly
shares with others. We are
pleased
to have him lead our Scotland
trip in 2013.
Wild Scotland!Spring in the Scottish Highlands
May 4-11, 2013 Registration Form>
TOUR
PRICE: $TBA
per person from Inverness,
Scotland based on double
occupancy. Pricing
to be available in
mid 2012. Please inquire!
Single
Supplement: $TBA
per person (subject
to availability)
Maximum
Group Size: 7
plus leader
Included
in
cost: Group
pick-up
and
drop-off
at
Inverness
airport
on
the
first
and
last
days
of
the
tour,
transport
throughout
the
tour
by
minibus
or
car,
accommodation
based
on
twin
rooms
en-suite,
all
meals
from
dinner
on
Day
1
until
breakfast
on
Day
8,
including
picnic
lunches
and
services
of
leaders.
Not included: International flight to and from Inverness, Scotland, insurance, passport fees, drinks, and items of a personal nature.
Getting
to Inverness: From
the US, you can fly direct,
usually overnight on American
Airlines, United, Delta,
British Airways, BMI and
Continental to Manchester,
England (airport code
MAN) and then connect
on a Flybe flight (http://www.flybe.com/)
from Manchester to Inverness
(INV). You
can also fly from the
US to London-Gatwick and
connect from Gatwick to
Inverness on Flybe. Fares
are slightly higher on
this route. Plan for an
afternoon arrival in Inverness.
You will be picked up
at the airport and taken
to the hotel approximately
45 minutes from Inverness
Airport.
RESERVATIONS: To
reserve your
place on this
tour, complete
the Registration & Release
Form and mail
it with your
deposit of $500.00
per person to
Sunrise Birding,
LLC. Instructions
are on the form.
Reservations
are held with
a deposit on
a first-come,
first-served
basis. >Download & print the Registration Form |
Final payment is due by January 4, 2013 and must be paid by check.
Cancellations and Refunds: Refunds, less a cancellation fee to be determined at the descretion of Sunrise Birding, will be made only if Sunrise Birding, LLC is notified in writing of intent to cancel on or before January 4, 2013. No refunds will be made after January 4, 2013. All cancellations must be made in writing. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features.
Insurance: The purchase of trip cancellation insurance to cover any eventuality is strongly recommended. Sunrise Birding, LLC can not accept liability for airline cancellations or delays or penalties incurred by the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for this tour.
Phone: 203.453.6724