birding...

Abernethy Forest

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The prime pinewood site and a RSPB reserve. All pinewood specialities can be found here, and if you are lucky and are willing to start early, with no real effort. It is an excellent site for getting to grips with crossbill identification. Please take care if looking for Capercaillie, keep to the tracks and do not search for leks. Birds often come to grit on the tracks and allow for superb views in the open. Perseverance is the key. This species is in rapid decline and a lot of work is going into maintaining a viable population. There are several theories explaining the cause for the decline including climate and habitat loss, however the population is probably at the stage where disturbance of the leks could cause problems in breeding success.

Cairngorm

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The highest plateau in Britain. Rapid changes in weather can cause problems for the under-prepared, please take precautions. This is also a very sensitive area for wildlife so take care. Visitor numbers are likely to increase after the building of the new funicular in the next few years. Montane species can be found during the summer with time, although they are not straightforward, this is not a quick stop site and plenty of time should be allowed. Dotterel, Snow Bunting and Ptarmigan are the star species and in recent years lucky observers have seen Snowy Owl.

Findhorn Valley

The place to look for eagles. The long skylines and spectacular open glen offer excellent conditions, if the weather prevails for raptor watching. Wandering Golden Eagles are never far away and in recent years it has been a regular place for seeing re-introduced White-tailed Eagles. This is also an excellent site for Ring Ouzels, Red Grouse, breeding waders and upland river species including Dipper.

Glen More

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This extensive area of forest holds an impressive mix of exotic plantations and ancient pinewood. All the pinewood specialities occur here and is a good place to compare Common and Scottish Crossbills. Loch Morlich is always worth spending a bit of time as it is often used by fishing Black and Red-throated Divers.

Handa Island

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Famous seabird colony which is now a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve. Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake and Fulmars breed on the cliffs while inland both Great and Arctic Skuas hold territories. Access through organised boat operators from Scourie and Tarbet.

Insh Marshes

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A RSPB reserve with visitor facilities including hides. A huge flood marsh on the River Spey just to the north of Kingussie. Many pairs of breeding wildfowl and waders use these wet meadows, marshes and pools. The birch woods hold a typical selection of Highland woodland species.

Loch Garten

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Remnant Caledonian Pine Forest holding many of the forest specialities. However the main attraction is the pair of breeding Ospreys. Major investment by the RSPB have improved visitor facilities with a purpose built visitor centre offering excellent views of the Osprey nest but is also an superb site for watching pinewood species including Capercaillie, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill and Common Redstart.

Loch Ruthven

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A RSPB reserve with visitor facilities. To see possibly the most beautiful Highland species, the Slavonian Grebe, this site is a must. Regular scanning of the loch will not only produce the grebes in breeding plumage but also Red-throated Diver which use the loch for fishing.

Moray Firth

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Complex estuary system with numerous bays, saltmarshes and inter-tidal flats. The majority of the smaller firths have industrial developments, which have resulted in major encroachments at key sites. Huge numbers of wintering waterfowl and waders use this whole complex as a wintering and passage site. Many sites and watchpoints around the coastline, two major sites are; Nigg Bay NH790730 - Extensive area of mudflat and saltmarsh. Important winter numbers of Dunlin, Redshank, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Wigeon and Pintail. Udale Bay NH71/65 - Sheltered mudflats and saltmarsh. RSPB hide overlooking saltmarsh west of Jemimaville. In winter Oystercatcher, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, and Bar-tailed Godwit use the saltmarsh as a high tide roost. Large numbers of Wigeon and Greylag Geese also present. This is also an excellent place for passage waders. Offshore scan for wintering Slavonian Grebes, Scaup and Long-tailed Duck.

Cairngorms National Park

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The Cairngorms was made a National Park in September 2003 because it is a unique and special place that needs to be cared for - both for the wildlife and countryside it contains and for the people that live in it, manage it and visit it. It is Britain's largest national Park...

Forestry Commission - Blackmuir Wood

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If you walk through ther wood and up onto Knockfarril hill this will give the visitor a good chance of watching the Red Kite...

Forestry Commission - Culloden Wood

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This local woodland consists mainly of conifer trees such as Scots Pine, Norway & Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir, of which there are several huge examples here in Culloden Wood. Broadleaved trees are retained throughout the forest during all operations, and Beech, Alder and Birch are planted to enhance the conservation and landscape value of the area...

Forestry Commission - Daviot Wood

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Look out for Siskins, Crested tit, Crossbill and the Common Buzzard, souring majestically above the forest...

Forestry Commission - Glenmore Forest Park

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A walk in these woods will give you the opportunity to spot Crested Tits and the Scottish Crossbill...

Forestry Commission - Inshriach Forest

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This Pinewood is home to Crested Tits and Crossbills...

Forestry Commission - Lael Forest

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There maybe an opportunity to spot the magnificentGolden Eagle as soars above the Forest. As the Dusk begins to take a hold start looking out for the Tawny Owl...

Forestry Commission - Ord Hill, North Kessock

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The Black Isle gives the observer a great opportunity to watch the Red Kite. This area is also very good for the Common Buzzard. Within the forest look out for Crested Tits and Crossbills...

Forestry Commission - Reelig Glen

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The burn gives an opportunity to spot Dippers and Grey Wagtails...

Forestry Commission - Slattadale

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Black Throated Divers can be seen on the Loch...

Forestry Commission - Torrachilty Forest

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These woods gives the observer a chance to spot Crossbill, Crested Tit and Buzzard...

RSPB Reserve - Corrimony

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..Loch Comhnard which in summer attracts common sandpipers, greenshanks and curlews, along with occasional red-throated divers and ospreys...

RSPB Reserve - Fairy Glen

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A typical range of woodland and stream birds are present, including dippers and grey wagtails...

RSPB Reserve - Forsinard Flows

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Forsinard lie at the heart of the internationally important Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland. Birds including golden plovers, dunlins and merlins breed on the reserve...

RSPB Reserve - Glenborrodale

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In spring, wood warblers nest, along with a range of woodland birds such as redstarts and spotted flycatchers...

RSPB Reserve - Insh Marshes

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The Insh Marshes are the most important flood plain mire in Britain and have a very distinctive flora plus important populations of breeding and wintering wetland birds as well as nationally scarce mammals and invertebrates.

RSPB Reserve - Insh Marshes

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In spring, lapwings, redshanks and curlews nest here. In winter, the marshes flood, providing roosting and feeding for flocks of whooper swans and greylag geese...

RSPB Reserve - Loch Garten

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Loch Garten is famous for the ospreys that can be seen from the Osprey Centre in summer. As well as an excellent view of the nest, live video pictures are relayed back to the centre, where staff are on hand to explain what is happening...

RSPB Reserve - Loch Ruthven

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It is the most important site in the UK for the rare Slavonian grebe...

RSPB Reserve - Nigg Bay

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Large numbers of wading birds, such as bar-tailed godwits and knots, use the bay for feeding and roosting from October to March...

RSPB Reserve - Udale Bay

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From late summer to April the reserve supports large numbers of wildfowl and wading birds. Best visited within two hours of high tide, there can be spectacular views of flocks of birds. In autumn, up to 5,000 wigeons feed on the beds of eel-grass...

1999 [Aug/Sept] - Peter Jones - Speyside

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I arrived at a rain-soaked Loch Garten only to be told The last of the Ospreys left the reserve 3 days ago, and Capercaillie are virtually impossible to see this time of year by the RSPB Warden. Hardly an ideal start to my short holiday in the Speyside region of Scotland!

2005 [June] - Chris Cameron & Julie Dawson - Speyside

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This morning the weather had cleared and blue sky and sunshine made the view from our hotel towards the mountains a beautiful sight. As we ate breakfast we were distracted by a Red Squirrel in the garden. Having finished we headed for the Abernethy Forest...

2007 [August] - David Brown

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The trip started wet and windy, which was to remain with us throughout this two week trip to Scotland visiting areas such as Loch of Strathbeg, Speyside, Applecross Peninsula...

2009 [May] - Mark Finn

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...Summer migrants were generally thin on the ground although excellent views were obtained of Common Redstart and Wood Warbler. In Wester Ross and Sutherland we were treated to exceptional views of Great Northern, Red-throated and Black-throated Divers and returning Great and Arctic Skuas on Handa Island...

2009 [October] - Mark Finn

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...Unusual and scarce species were in short supply although Whooper Swans, Greater Scaup and Pink-footed Geese had arrived earlier than expected. During the week we had exceptional views of Red Grouse, Rock Ptarmigan, White-tailed Eagles, Velvet and Common Scoters and a host of the more common species...

2010 [May] - Mark Finn

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...Along the coast we visited the seabird cliffs of Handa along with Great and Arctic Skuas and further north in Durness where we found a pair of Garganey and two lingering Black-tailed Godwits of the islandica race. In the woodlands and forests we observed Crested Tit, Common and Scottish Crossbills, Wood Warblers and all too brief views of Capercaillie....

2010 [September] - Mark Finn

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...Off Wester Ross two groups of Black-throated Divers numbering 55 birds was a highlight for many. In the same area Grey Phalaropes and a wide selection of seabirds. Black Grouse at Corrimony was another highlight as was the sheer number of terns at Burghead which may be a record count for Moray...

2011 [February] - Peter Welch - Cairngorm & Inverness

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When my better half asked what present I wanted to mark a significant birthday it didn’t take me long to suggest a birding trip. Having been coached in photography as well as birding by Marcus of e-birder a few times previously I booked three days with him in the Inverness and Cairngorm area. I was keen to see some of the Scottish specialities, some of which would be lifers: on the list were Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, Snow Buntings, Crested Tit...

2011 [June] - Peter Welch - Handa Island

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In late June I was fortunate to be able to take some leave whilst in the far north of Scotland and after studying Gordon Hamlett’s excellent guidebook and doing some research, decided the best plan would be to visit the Island of Handa...

Aigas Field Centre

Tour Operator

Wildlife, Birdwatching, History & Nature Holidays in the Highlands of Scotland...

Birding Ecosse

Tour Operator

Welcome to Birding Ecosse, the new way to bird in the Scottish Highlands. From an afternoon or morning trip to a full day in the field or even just a spare hour don't feel like you are part of a crowd...

Heatherlea Birdwatching Services

Tour Operator

Every birdwatcher loves the special birds of the Scottish Highlands. Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, Dotterel, Scottish Crossbill, Osprey, Crested Tit, Blackcock at the lek, Divers and Grebes in breeding plumage… the list goes on and on! Heatherlea organise birdwatching holidays in Strathspey throughout the year, and we think this gives us an unbeatable knowledge of the area and its bird life. Our expert guides use first-hand local knowledge, and our wide range of contacts help us find the birds that others simply won't see.

MV Chalice - Hebridean Wilderness Cruises

Cruises

A fantastic opportunity to experience the birdlife of the Hebrides, including the remote St Kilda. A variety of cruises and programmes are available…

North Coast Marine Adventures

Tour Operator

Caithness coastal cliffs and the surrounding clear, unpolluted sea are teeming with life. The cliffs are covered in seabirds during the breeding season and you can expect to see guillemots, razorbills, puffins, terns, skuas, gannets, shag and of course several types of gulls. There are 125,000 guillemots and 30,000 razorbills nesting on the East coast of Caithness and on Stroma alone. The young birds literally see our boat daily from hatching and are pretty well unconcerned when we approach them. From mid-April until late June/early July our local cliffs offer a seabird spectacle which can only be appreciated properly from a boat.

Puffin Express

Tour Operator

Special interest holidays and trips...

Speyside Wildlife

Tour Operator

Speyside Wildlife - Friendly, fun and number one for guides to the Scottish Highlands. They know the terrain, are great for beginners and can find the specialities. Golden Eagle, Slavonian Grebe, Scottish Crossbill, Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Bottlenose Dolphin, Pine Marten, Red Squirrel and, well, everything else (!) with a day among Sea Eagle and Puffin, Otter and Minke Whale. Or go travel the world with them in search of wildlife!

Swallow Birding

Tour Operator

On Swallow Birding trips we are enthusiastic, relaxed, friendly and fun. Small groups mean Leader Steve Grimwade can give the time and attention necessary to make your trip a great birding experience!

The Birdwatching and Wildlife Club

Tour Operator

Birding and wildlife breaks in the Cairngorms. Millions of people now enjoybird and wildlife watching. For some it’s a consuming passion. For others it is just an excuse for a good walk...

Altnaharra Hotel

Accommodation

Situated 21 miles north of Lairg and 17 miles south of the north coast village of Tongue, on the A836. Whilst this is primarily for anglers it does say It is also a birdwatchers paradise with the full range of birds of prey including osprey and golden eagle as well as waterfowl such as divers, swans and ducks. Game-birds are plentiful too. Other animals to see are otters, deer, roe buck, seals, rabbits, foxes, badgers and the occasional pine marten.

Ardnamurchan

Accommodation

REMOTE but easily accessible, the Ardnamurchan Peninsula hosts a huge range of rare animals, birds and plants. Within just 25 by 40 miles, you will find all of Scotland`s breathtaking scenic variations, based on a glacial and volcanic geology - mountains, moors and white sandy beaches; forests of ancient oaks and woodland reserves. Crystal waters tumble in countless burns and waterfalls; the River Shiel meanders gently past wild flower meadows.

Ardverikie Estate - Kinloch Laggan, Newtonmore, Inverness-shire

Accommodation

The houses and cottages are scattered within the bounds of the estate which is situated mostly on the southeast side of Loch Laggan, set amid striking scenery with lochs, woods and mountains, blending to produce some of the most spectacular landscape in Scotland... [BBC`s Monarch of the Glen - Glenbogle]

Auchendean Lodge Hotel - Abernethy

Accommodation

Small owner-run countryside hotel in Strathspey backing onto Curr Wood with it`s rare Twin Flowers, capercaillie and scottish Crossbills, overlooking the Spey and Dulnain rivers and the Abernethy Forest to Cairngorm Mountains. Interesting home cooking, often with game and wild fungi, organically home grown fruit and vegetables in summer. Good Hotel Guide, Egon Ronay Guide, Which Hotel Guide, Best of Scotland Guide, Taste of Scotland Scheme, Michelin.

Beechwood Lodge

Accommodation

Beechwood Lodge offers confortable Bed and Breakfast accommodation in the small village of Ardross in Easter Ross in the Northern Highlands of Scotland.

Belladrum - Nr. Loch Ness

Accommodation

Luxury self-catering cottages and lodgings in romantic settings on an 1100 acre family estate in the Scottish Highlands - near to the Highland capital of Inverness, Loch Ness and some of Scotland's most stunning scenery. The perfect place to base your Highland holiday - and available all the year round.

Ben View Hotel - Ardnamurchan

Accommodation

Haunt of finches and capercaillies and even the occassional pine marten or wildcat, the Ben View's setting is a renowned view in an area where stunning panoramas are plentiful.

Brora Holiday Cottage

Accommodation

Situated in its own three quarters of an acre in the quite settlement of East Clyne, Dromia lies one mile to the north of Brora overlooking the Dornoch Moray and Cromarty Firths with stunning views out to sea, over the village of Brora itself and west up Strath Brora. The area also provides rich and diverse interest for bird and animal and the Loch Fleet National Nature reserve is only 8 miles away. Dromia itself is a wild life haven with roe deer and owls making the croft their special home, quiet early risers will see them from the house....

Dunallan House - Grantown on Spey

Accommodation

Dunallan is a splendid example of Victorian elegance, oozing with the charm of a bygone era. Original period fireplaces in the residents lounge and dining rooms exude extra warmth to cheer you on those cooler evenings. Beautiful cornice work, pitched and Oregon pine woodwork and magnificent stained glass windows also feature in this lovely Highland villa.

Duncruin Holiday Cottage - Nethybridge

Accommodation

A well-equipped, modern holiday cottage in Cairngorm National Park. Nethybridge is still a restful, unspoiled, forest village. It is a wonderful touring base for a relaxing holiday in the Scottish Highlands...

Inchbae Lodge Hotel

Accommodation

The owner is a well-travelled birdwatcher. The hotel is on the main Inverness to Ullapool road, A835, six miles north west of the village of Garve. For those travelling from south of Inverness, the new A9 stretching from Stirling via Perth to Inverness provides for quick and comfortable travelling. En route, the villages of Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, Dalwhinnie and Carrbridge provide historical interest and tea, lunch or coffee breaks, and all have good dog walking paths. Birders can easily spot the re-introduced red kites on the Black Isle, although every year they get closer to the hotel. Local stalkers now regularly see eagles, ospreys and kites in the same day - buzzards abound. There are five RSPB reserves within easy reach.

Insh House Guest House - Nr. Kingussie

Accommodation

With views to the Monadhliath and Cairngorm Mountains, Insh House is at the edge of an extensive birchwood which now forms part of the RSPB Insh Marshes Reserve and only a few hundred yards from Loch Insh and its extensive watersport activities.

Lazy Duck Hostel - Nethybridge

Accommodation

Location - have a look at our maps of Nethybridge and Strathspey. Find us by the Fhuarain burn & waterfowl ponds in a 3 acre forest clearing homestead, 300 metres off the Nethybridge to Tomintoul road, at the village boundary. OS map Landranger Series Sheet 36 Grid reference 016204. Sheltered by pine trees we look south across a neighbouring 100 acre grazing moor of heather, Caledonian pine, birch, rowan and juniper to Cairngorm (1245m) and Bynack (1090m) just 9 miles away. Nearest neighbours – aylesburies - chiloe wigeon – mandarin - red billed and bahama pintails - brecon buffs – then roe deer – a family of red squirrels – and (rare but there) crested tit & capercaillie.

Mount View Hotel - Nethybridge

Accommodation

Located in Nethybridge in the heart of Speyside - Heatherlea Birdwatching and The Mountview Hotel are the ideal choice for your group holiday. We cater for groups of two to twenty, and can offer you a full range of services.

Mounteagle Self-catering Cottages

Accommodation

4-star Luxury self-catering accomodations on the beautiful Mounteagle Estate. Buntings to bullfinches, linnet to lapwing, songthrush to skylark and siskin - feathered friends too numerous to mention take up residence at Mounteagle and Loch Eye. Whooper swans in their hundreds glide effortlessly across the loch...

Rhiconich Hotel

Accommodation

At the head of Loch Inchard on the beautiful North West Coast of the Scottish Highlands. Close proximity of wonderful wildlife; Golden Eagles seen soaring in pairs and deer on the hill. They are close to the Scottish Wildlife Trusts Handa Isle Bird Sanctuary where Sea Birds flock in their thousands to nest on the cliffs and the great stack...

The Birdwatching and Wildlife Club - Grant Arms Hotel - Grantown-0n-Spey

Accommodation

BWWC has recently taken over the imposing 55 bedroom Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown-on-Spey in the Cairngorms National Park, one of the best birding and wildlife areas in the UK. Few places can offer the year round range of diversity. Golden Eagles, Capercallie, Pine Martens, Red Squirrels, Mountain Hares, Ptarmigan, Otters, Red and Black Grouse, Red Deer, Crossbills and, of course, Ospreys in Spring and Summer...

Tom-na-Creige B&B - Nr fort William

Accommodation

A family run B&B with stunning views over Loch Linnhe- an ideal base for the keen bird watcher...