SPRING into SCOTLAND including MULL

SAT 25 MARCH – SAT 1 APRIL, SAT 1 APRIL – SAT 8 APRIL,

SAT 8 APRIL – SAT 15 APRIL 2023

SAT 23 MARCH – SAT 30 MARCH, SAT 30 MARCH – SAT 6 APRIL,

SAT 6 APRIL – SAT 13 APRIL 2024

PRICES: from £1695pp

Early Birder Prices from £1545pp (subject to availability). Contact us before booking! No single supp. Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 9.

Perhaps the ultimate spring wildlife experience in Scotland! All resident birds are displaying or breeding, winter birds are still here in good numbers and summer visitors are arriving daily. We enjoy a two night stay on the magical Isle of Mull, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the fabulous birding and unforgettable scenery. An exciting time to be birding in Scotland!

In Strathspey we are placed in the middle of the best birding habitats, and a local drive should produce Black Grouse popping and cooing at the lek. Red Grouse are present here too and after breakfast we head for the hills to seek Ptarmigan. The mountains may also produce Snow Bunting, early Ring Ouzel and Raven, and we may see Red-throated Diver, Goldeneye, Peregrine and Crested Tit as we descend, plus Redpoll and Siskin flocks in local birch woods. Scottish Crossbill are found in the pine forests and Slavonian Grebe, Whooper Swan and many breeding wader species are likely as we enjoy the best of local birding. In the moorland and hills we search for raptors including Peregrine, Merlin and perhaps the first returning Osprey. A moorland drive may give views of Black-throated Diver on lochs. Capercaillie are increasingly scarce, and we no longer look for them at this time of year, though incidental sightings are possible.

A major feature will be our time on Magical Mull. We journey west, watching out for Black Grouse, Black Guillemot, Common Seal and Hooded Crow as we travel, and may see Golden or White-tailed Eagle after we cross Loch Linnhe onto the west coast. Once on the island we target iconic wildlife at sites we know well, immediately looking for White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl on the hills and moors. We stay overnight for two nights here, giving a full day around the island enjoying eagles, Otter, migrating Slavonian Grebe, Goosander and divers. Lesser Redpoll and Stonechat, with the first arriving Golden Plover, Greenshank and other moorland species around the high interior. We have ample time to enjoy Mull to the full in early spring, a very enjoyable experience.

Finally we enjoy a great day birding along the Moray Coast, where newly arriving migrants complement remaining winter visitors. This day can easily include rafts of Common Eider, Goosander, Merganser, Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, Glaucous and Iceland Gull. Lots of spring waders include Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover maybe in bright summer plumage. We watch out also for farmland specialities including Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Grey Partridge which are all still found on this fertile northern coastline. Sandwich Tern have arrived, and with Gannet, Fulmar, auks, gulls and more this is a really rewarding day.

A fantastic tour of the breeding and wintering birdlife of the Scottish Highlands and Islands!

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

Combine with: SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highland Birding in March (p15), Highlands and Ardnamurchan (p15) and Highlands & Skye (p17).