eagles, divers & dotterel INCLUDING MULL

17 - 24 July*, 24 - 31 July 2010 (* easy walking option available)

Price: £900pp, No single supplement. Deposit £100pp

If you have 'Been Before', you can deduct £25pp from the prices shown here. ‘Worldbird’ guests can save another £100pp

Where do you go in the ‘quiet’ birding weeks of summer? Glorious scenery, long evenings and the best summer birding in Britain await you with Heatherlea in July. We will watch Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, fishing Osprey, Slavonian Grebe, Red and Black-throated Divers, Capercaillie, Scottish (Parrot) Crossbill and Crested Tit ...........and lots, lots more! Breeding Ptarmigan and Dotterel guarantee a great day out on the mountains, and we also utilise the evening light to seek out quartering Short-eared Owl over local heather moorland. Guaranteed excitement from magnificent mountaintop to the scenic grandeur of Mull, where we watch for eagles and otters. July is the best month in the Highlands for butterflies, and as we go you may well see Northern Brown Argus, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Large Heath among others.

KEY MOMENTS at our Friday round-up - which will be yours?

• White-tailed Eagle in close-up. The ‘flying door!’
• Red and Black-throated Divers against beautiful moorland scenery
• Short-eared Owl ghosting over heather in the evening light
• Male Dotterel followed by piping chicks

ITINERARY

DAY 1 (Saturday) - Arrival, welcome, dinner and briefing. Don’t forget our courtesy collection service from Aviemore.

DAY 2 (Sunday) - Crested Tit and Scottish (Parrot) Crossbill are our first targets, followed by Osprey, Red Squirrel and lunch with Dipper, Buzzard and Goldeneye. After lunch we visit a quiet glen known to few birders, though Hen Harrier, Twite, Redpoll, Ring Ouzel and Red Grouse may all be seen. A Heatherlea secret place!

DAY 3 - 4(Monday/Tuesday) - MAGICAL MULL Land of eagles and otters, Mull is a 'must see' place.

White-tailed Eagle – The flying Door! Today we travel west to the mountainous isle of Mull, to look for one of Scotland’s most spectacular birds. Successfully re-introduced and now widespread in the Highlands, White-tailed Eagle are rarely mistaken for anything else, and never forgotten! A massive eight-foot wingspan, with wings almost twice as deep as those of a Golden Eagle.... absolutely breathtaking. We arrive on Mull early afternoon, and immediately begin our search for both White-tailed and Golden Eagle. After a comfortable night on Mull, in the morning we will be ready to tour the island for eagles again, and off the rugged shoreline we aim to find Otter. Other wildlife should include Black Guillemot, Hooded Crow, Raven, and both Grey and Common Seal. We return in time for dinner at The Mountview Hotel on Tuesday.

DAY 5 (Wednesday - Friday) - In these weeks our private estate woodlands often produce hen Capercaillie, and cock birds are more active now too, frequently seen from Heatherlea mobile hides. Moorland and upland specialities such as Slavonian Grebe, Hen Harrier, Stonechat, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, plus Golden Eagle and Osprey... your raptor list for today should be impressive, perhaps between eight and twelve species by the end of the week.

DAY 6 (Thursday) - A full day on the plateau, with unforgettable mountain scenery all around as we head to the right spotsfor Ptarmigan and Dotterel, both perhaps with piping young running behind. Snow Bunting may also be seen. A brilliant day’s birding in a very special habitat. Later we enjoy a Highland summer evening with a leisurely drive to the moors close to The Mountview Hotel. Short-eared Owl breed here, and we frequently see the adults quartering over heather. Black-throated Diver and Red Grouse are also likely, and look out for waders including Dunlin, Redshank and Common Sandpiper in smart summer plumage. A lovely evening!

DAY 7 (Friday) - Friday is often a round-up day, perhaps at another coastal location with great birding. We may drive north to look for Osprey fishing and the first returning summer waders including Turnstone, Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit in brilliant colours. We will also look for Red Kite, Tree Sparrow, and farmland birds such as Grey Partridge and Yellowhammer and also search for any rarities within reach.

DAY 8 (Saturday) - Breakfast and departure. Don’t forget our courtesy return service to Aviemore.

What's included in your holiday price

• Six nights comfortable accommodation at The Mountview Hotel, VisitScotland rated 3 Star. All rooms are en-suite, with colour TV and hospitality tray. There is no single supplement, and guests are never expected to share. Single guests may be upgraded to double room accommodation at no extra charge.

• One night comfortable en-suite hotel accommodation on Mull.
• Full Scottish breakfast, a substantial packed lunch, and a delicious dinner.
• Six full days birdwatching.
• All transport by comfortable PCV minibus. All access and ferry fees.
• Guidance from a professional Group Leader.

What's not included in your holiday price

• Transport to The Mountview Hotel.

• Insurance, drinks and other items of a personal nature.

  

Enjoy an excellent wildlife holiday with mainland Scotland's only 5 star Wildlife Experience.

'Exceptional' Visit Scotland

ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY

I'I went on the ''Eagles, Divers & Dotterel'' holiday last week (24/6 to 1/7/06) & just wanted to say how impressed I was with Heatherlea staff. The guides (Jonny & Ian) were absolutely amazing - what really struck me was that they really cared whether we saw the birds we had come to see, & made every effort for us, right up until the last few minutes on the last day. Please pass on my thanks to them and thanks to Heatherlea for such a great holiday!

P.s I''m happy for you to quote me in your brochure if it helps!' - Mr AF

Field Notes

Expect a wide variation in weather conditions. Both blazing sunshine and rain are likely, and you will probably experience a bit of everything. Bring waterproofs, walking boots or shoes and warm clothing. Walking will be moderate, although mountain walking for Ptarmigan and Dotterel is strenuous. Telescopes will be useful, and you should bring binoculars. A camera would be useful too! You don't need flasks for hot drinks or wellies. Biting insects may be encountered in the evenings or around standing water, though not as a serious problem.