ISLES OF SCILLY in SPRING

FRI 21 APRIL – THURS 27 APRIL 2023

FRI 26 APRIL – THURS 2 MAY 2024

PRICES: from £1845pp

Single supplement: £195 Deposit: £300pp

Max 7 clients with leader Toby Green, joined by another from our team with over 7 clients.

The Scillies are without doubt one of the most stunning and idyllic parts of the United Kingdom, a ‘must visit’ location boasting a diverse range of wildlife opportunities. 28 miles south-west of Land’s End, with shallow waters and a climate more akin to the Mediterranean, this is a fabulous place for birding as migrants move north. On this spring itinerary, we stay on the largest Island, St Mary’s, visiting the four other inhabited islands on daily excursions. The Scillies are famed for attracting rarities at any time of year, and while we plan to birdwatch at a more leisurely pace than our … for birders … tour in autumn, we may see attractive Mediterranean overshoots such as Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Night Heron or Woodchat Shrike.

On Tresco, entry to the world-famous Abbey Gardens is included, and we bird along beaches for Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Greenshank, Whimbrel and Mediterranean Gull. If time allows, we venture to Castle Down where Merlin and Peregrine may be hunting, and Golden Plover, Wheatear, Stonechat, pipits and wagtails may be found on moorland between two ruined castles. Bryher and St Martin’s are quieter places offering superb birdwatching potential while the views out over the reefs from tiny St Agnes are spectacular. During a special boat trip to a sixth island, uninhabited Annet, Puffins will be a highlight, as these enchanting birds settle down for their breeding season, with other seabirds, seals and perhaps cetaceans also featuring.

Northbound migrants can be varied, and in the right conditions large numbers of birds can make landfall resulting in exciting birdwatching. Famed for rare and scarce vagrants the possibilities are endless and Wryneck and Red-rumped Swallow are regularly recorded each spring.

The trip will run at a relaxed pace, with time to enjoy the scenery and beauty of each island (and a local ice cream and Cornish Pasty too!) as well as its wildlife. Our guides are experienced here and a flexible approach as we explore on foot allows us to make the most of each island within the archipelago.

Number of centres: 1.