HIGHLANDS and the OUTER HEBRIDES

SAT 29 JULY – SAT 5 AUGUST 2023

SAT 27 JULY – SAT 3 AUGUST 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.

The Scottish Highlands, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Skye, all in one action packed holiday! We target specialities in Strathspey and enjoy raptors, waders, flocks of passerines, seabirds and sea mammals on the Outer Hebrides.

Locally we seek Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Siskin, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Lesser Redpoll. On the Cairngorms, Ptarmigan are skulking in the corries and we explore the moorlands, with Golden Eagle, Raven, Slavonian Grebe, Red Grouse and perhaps Shorteared Owl and Black-throated Diver to entertain.

We head west to our ferry and as we cross The Minch watch for passage seabirds, including petrels, skuas and shearwaters, perhaps with a Sabine's Gull, Great Shearwater or Basking Shark to cap an exciting voyage. On arrival we have a full day to enjoy the delights of the Outer Hebrides in High Summer. Large numbers of migratory waders can be found on the machair, beaches and mudflats, divers feed offshore and good numbers of Twite, Linnet and hopefully Corn Bunting in the arable areas. We have good chances of Hen Harrier, Merlin and Short-eared Owl, and all should have fledged young on the wing. Corncrake and Red-necked Phalarope are present but very hard to see this late in the season. A scarce migrant could feature, perhaps Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs or White-rumped Sandpiper and we have even been lucky to see Snowy Owl on this trip in the past! We make the most of the long summer day with extended time in the field, returning via Skye to target any species outstanding plus Golden and White-tailed Eagle once more.

Later we visit the Moray Coast or head east to Aberdeenshire. Expect Gannet, fishing Osprey, gulls, terns and auks, plus occasional Great or Arctic Skua. Passage waders might include Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover, many in breeding plumage. We look for farmland birds and round-up rarities within reach.

Total species approx. 110. Mammals may include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal, Otter, Mountain Hare, Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise.

Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights on the Outer Hebrides.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands Wildlife in High Summer (p23), Birds and Mammals incl Perthshire (p23), Birds & Mammals featuring Eigg & Muck (p24) Autumn in the Highlands with ‘Easy Walking’ (p25).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

NEW! Mull and Ardnamurchan Wildlife Spectacular (p41), NEW! Wildlife of the Minch (p42).