|
|
Join us at Highland's Four Star "Wildlife Hotel", The Grant Arms for a spectacular spring birding four night break with the emphasis on Spring Migration. As well as three full days fully guided birding including transport you also have exclusive use of all the facilities provided by the Birdwatching & Wildlife Club (BWWC) during your stay. This includes an extensive Natural History library and Club room full of local wildlife information as well as a sightings board. A wildlife film is shown most evenings as well as regular talks when scheduled during one of our breaks. There’s also the chance to meet other birders or groups staying at the hotel to catch up with their sightings and compare notes, all adding to the atmosphere your stay. Also as the hotel is situated in the town numerous shops and facilities are all within easy walking distance....
This is the peak time for lekking Black Grouse while the first spring migrants overlap with winter visitors yet to leave, offering a chance of a great birding list taking in habitats ranging from mountain, forest, moorland and coast.
Day 1: Arrival. We meet up for an evening introduction at the hotel before dinner.
Day 2: An early start to visit a Black Grouse lek, before returning to the Hotel for a well-earned breakfast. We will then explore the local forests and lochs for specialities including Crested Tit, Scottish/Parrot Crossbill, Slavonian Grebe, Red & Black throated Divers as well a many other commoner species.
For the rest of the day we head to the famous Findhorn Valley (Strathdearn) in search of Golden and White-tailed Eagles as well as other raptors this area is so famous for. We also hope to seek out Red Grouse on the moors as we go, often right by the road side they can provide the perfect photo opportunity.
Day 3: We will explore some of the migrant hot spots of the Moray Firth, flocks of waders on the estuaries and mud-flats including Knot, Dunlin, Godwits and Sanderling all in the stunning summer plumages before heading off further north. Scanning the sea also for Skua passage with all four possible at this time of year. The coast is also a haven for passerine migrants in the many headlands and secluded gorges, we will see where the wind takes us as well as the migrants with this being the peak time for anything unusual to turn up. Expect the unexpected ! There should also be the chance target White-billed Diver, now a regular spring occurance on this particuar coast.
Day 4: We head of north of Inverness to the Black Isle, sites include the famous Chanonry Point for Skua and other seabird passage as well as the chance of Bottle-nosed Dolphins, Udale Bay which should be host to plenty of waders and wildfowl as well as checking the myriad of farmland for finches and Buntings. There should also still be some wintering Scaup and Long-tailed Duck remaining, the latter looking stunning as they moult into summer plumage, their "coal & candle-light" calls echoing across the water. We would expect to get in excess of 60 species on this day in such a variety of habitats.
Day 5: Departure.
* Extra nights added can be booked by Highland Nature on your behalf, price available on request.
Please note the exact itinerary is for guidance only and may be subject to change depending on weather or road conditions on the days, especially during winter months.
What's included in your package?
* 4 nights Dinner bed & Breakfast at the four star Grant Arms Hotel, packed lunch and hot drinks during the day.
* Transport throughout the holiday.
* The services of local guide John Poyner throughout the break. John lives locally and has been working as a Bird & Wildlife Guide throughout the Highlands and Islands since for 20 years, previously working for RSPB Scotland as an assistant warden and as a guide for two of Scotland's leading Wildlife Tour Companies. He now runs Highland Nature, and is Wildlife Guide for the BWWC at the Grant Arms Hotel. In any spare time John also works as a freelance environmental consultant surveying upland birds for renewable energy developments as well as helping manage the local online bird news grapevines.
What's Not Included in your Package?
All alcoholic drinks, tips, any incidental expenses of a personal nature.
Number in group is limited to a maximum of 7 people.
For further details contact us on 01479 821357 / (07875) 094666 (mob) Email [email protected] or fill out the form below and we will make a preliminary booking for you. To secure this we can take a deposit by Cheque or Bank Transfer, details will be sent.
If you wish to pay by card we can do this through PayPal, there is no transaction charge for this.
Once we have received your balance we will confirm the booking in writing. Please read our Terms & Conditions prior to booking.
And finally..........HOW DO I GET HERE?
By Car: Main roads are kept well cleared in Scotland in winter, local councils are well equipped and used to snow! Grantown is accessed via the main A9 north from Glasgow, a major trunk road.
By Train: Services daily to Aviemore from Kings Cross. We offer a free pick up and drop of service to the station by arrangement.
By Air: Inverness airport is just over an hours drive away. Full details of flights available here.
Complete the form below or Email us for further details.
