EAGLES, DIVERS and DOTTEREL including Mull

SAT 1 JULY – SAT 8 JULY, SAT 8 JULY– SAT 15 JULY 2023

SAT 6 JULY – SAT 13 JULY 2024

PRICES: from £1695pp

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

Where do you go in the ‘quiet’ birding weeks of summer?

Glorious scenery, long evenings and the best summer birding in Britain await you with Heatherlea in July. We take you from magnificent mountain-top to the scenic grandeur of Mull, where we search for Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, fishing Osprey, Slavonian Grebe, Red and Black-throated Diver, Ptarmigan, Dotterel and more.

Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill are among our early targets, followed by Dipper, Buzzard, Goldeneye, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Pipit. Rocky crags may hold Ring Ouzel, Stonechat and Wheatear, plus upland specialities including Red-throated Diver, Lesser Redpoll, Red Grouse, Slavonian Grebe, Stonechat, Common Sandpiper and Osprey plus both Brown and Mountain Hare and Red Deer stags are coming into full velvet.

Land of eagles and otters, Mull is truly magical in High Summer, with young eagles newly on the wing. We should enjoy excellent views of both White-tailed and Golden Eagle, with good chances of other raptors including Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin and Short-eared Owl. We aim to find Otter and usually pick up a selection of warblers and chats, with good chances of Twite. As we travel the coast, watch out for Black Guillemot, Common Seal and Hooded Crow. A great adventure!

If weather allows, we head up the hill for Ptarmigan and particularly Dotterel, both perhaps with piping young running behind. We also visit Troup Head, to see breeding Gannet at close quarters. Amongst the Guillemot, Razorbill and Kittiwake will be a few breeding Puffin, and the occasional passing Great or Arctic Skua and Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and Rock Pipit are also present. We also round-up any rarities within reach on this coastline, perhaps a scarce wader or gull featuring at this time.

Total species approx. 110. Other wildlife might include Red Squirrel, Roe Deer, Red Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal and Otter. Mountain and Brown Hare, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible. Six nights at Mountview Hotel. One night at a comfortable hotel on Mull.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands & the Isle of May (p20), Highland Wildlife in Early Summer (p21), NEW! Butterflies, Dragons and Birds (p22), Highlands & Wester Ross (p22).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North West Scotland Explorer (p38), Outer Hebrides and the Shiants (p39), Ultimate Outer Hebrides (p38), Coll & Tiree in Summer (p40), Shetland Wildlife in Summer (p39), Orkney in High Summer (p41).