SPEYSIDE 12TH - 18TH APRIL 2009

Our inaugural tour to Speyside was blessed with exceptionally good weather and super birding. All of the specialities such as lekking Capercaillie, Golden and White-tailed Eagles, Rock Ptarmigan, Crested Tit, Osprey, Scottish Crossbill [a singing male and a pair displaying], Slavonian Grebes and Black Grouse. A fine supporting cast of Red Grouse, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Bohemian Waxwing, Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, twenty Velvet Scoter, over one hundred Long-tailed Duck, Black Guillemot and two singing male Ring Ouzels and our extra day at Leighton Moss produced Bearded Tit, a booming Great Bittern, several Marsh Harrier and a couple of Curlew Sandpipers among the many species seen there. A decent mammal list that included Red Squirrel, Red and Roe Deer, a few Brown Hare, a pod of twenty or so Bottle-nosed Dolphin and two exceptionally showy Otters rounded off a splendid trip. We will be rturning 11th - 17th April 2010 and have just a couple of places remaining, so if you are interested in this holiday, please Book Early to avoid disappointment.