“Two of the most beautiful places in Scotland in one holiday! Starting off at the wonderful Tigh na Sgiath Hotel, we shall spend a few days adventuring into our local Highland Glens, Abernethy Forest and visiting the River Spey. We’ll look out for species that are special to the area, including Red Squirrels, Crested Tit, Mountain Hare and more. For the second part of our week, we shall travel down the West Coast through beautiful scenery and make our way to the Isle of Mull. Spending five nights here, we have the chance to look for Otters and White-tailed Eagles along the coast and Golden Eagles soaring above the cliffs. The beautiful Oak woodlands on Mull will be filled with birdsong from newly arrived migrants, such as Tree Pipit and Redstart. This holiday has the feeling of fresh spring air, but at this time of year there is also the bonus of no midges!”
Ailie Brown, Wildlife Guide
Our Holiday Itinerary
Day 1 - Dinner together on Wednesday evening begins this holiday at our base in the Cairngorms, at a delightful country house hotel, where we’ll discuss the itinerary for the days ahead.
Day 2-4 - We’ll visit the ancient pines of Abernethy Forest, a remnant of the ‘Great Wood of Caledon’, in search of dainty Crested Tits and parties of crossbill. We’ll also make a special effort to see Black Grouse as they ‘bubble and coo’ at dawn - a fabulous spectacle. Red Squirrels are abundant in the forest and our summer visitors will be starting to arrive, with Redstart, Tree Pipit and Willow Warblers all in full voice. At dusk we’ll pay a visit to our mammal hide hoping for close views of Pine Marten and Badger.
Ospreys have just returned and are settling in at local eyries. Sand Martins, Swallows and House Martins sweep low over the lochs after arriving back from Africa. The River Spey holds Dipper and Grey Wagtail and maybe an early returning Common Sandpiper, while Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Snipe are calling and ‘drumming’ in display over marshes, where odd lingering Whooper Swans gleam white amongst the flooded watery landscape.
Rare and exquisitely plumed Slavonian Grebes and beautiful Red-throated and Black-throated Divers in immaculate summer plumage, are beginning their return to remote breeding lochs.
On the wild moors of Dava and the Monadhliaths, newly arrived Wheatears add a flash of colour to the moorland, along with the cackling of Red Grouse and the mournful piping of Golden Plover. We shall scour the moorlands and hillsides in search of Mountain Hare, as their coats change from pure white to their mottled spring colouring, allowing them to hide more easily from hunting raptors including both Golden and White-tailed Eagles.
In the Cairngorm foothills we shall be hoping to catch the sight and sound of the beautiful Ring Ouzel. If weather allows we may be able to walk into some of the lower boulder fields in search of Ptarmigan. Along the River Spey we enjoy views of Dipper, Grey Wagtails and stunning courting Goldeneye.
Day 5-9 - Leaving the Cairngorms, we’ll drive down the shores of Loch Laggan, past Ben Nevis, just outside Fort William and continue down the coast to Oban, before catching an afternoon ferry to the Isle of Mull, often getting some good bird and cetacean views enroute. We’ll be able to immerse ourselves in Mull’s wildlife immediately when we arrive, as our hotel is on the shoreline of the Sound of Mull.
From our base, we’ll explore the rocky coastline, moors and dramatic mountainous glens looking for Eider, Merlin, Raven, Twite, Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Rock Dove, Hooded Crow, Common Crossbill and Black Guillemot, with the chance of rarer seaduck and white-winged gulls such as Glaucous and Iceland. Common and Grey Seals will be hauled out on numerous skerries.
Early spring is a great time to watch eagles soaring and displaying over their territories, Mull is without doubt one of ‘the’ best places to see both species of eagle in Britain. Coniferous woodland holds Siskin and sometimes Common Crossbill. Along the rugged shorelines we shall be constantly looking for views of Otters, such engaging animals, as easy to see here as anywhere in Scotland. Although the island is rightly famous for its eagles, we shall be looking for other upland raptors as well. Hen Harrier, Merlin and Short-eared Owl frequent the moors, hillsides and estuaries. Peregrines patrol the sea cliffs around Gribun, while family parties of Raven fill the air with their cronking calls.
We’ll take the short passenger ferry to the beautiful white sandy beaches of Iona. A chance to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this tranquil island. A visit to the abbey is possible, or a walk to a beach to look for charming Ringed Plover, Eider, Turnstone and Sanderling.
Day 10 - 11 - Leaving Mull, we’ll catch a morning ferry across to the Morvern Peninsula and take a spectacular drive back to Speyside, with plenty of time to birdwatch as we go. We have another opportunity to look for Otter, with chances of Harbour Porpoise, divers and eagles as well. We arrive back in the Cairngorms in time for dinner. On the last morning we’ll breakfast together before saying our farewells.
If you would like to join Ailie this Easter, you can find further details and book online or please get in touch with any queries.
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