Aidan Branch
Aidan is the newest member of our team, joining in 2022. Born and raised in Lancaster, Aidan has been immersed in wildlife since a young age. Surrounded by the shores of Morecambe Bay, the reedbeds of Leighton Moss and the hills of the Lake District, all just a stone's throw away, Aidan swiftly gained extensive knowledge for the natural world and became a great young naturalist with expertise spreading to Moths, Butterflies and Mammals.
Above all, Aidan is a keen and enthusiastic birder, devoting all his time to his passion. Since 2016 he has worked as an Ornithological Surveyor in the UK, as well as working in Canada and Sweden fulfilling various short term contracts such as a Field Biologist at the world renowned Long Point Bird Observatory, Ontario and studying the behaviour of Siberian Jay in the forests of Northern Sweden.
In recent years Aidan has been Assistant Warden at North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory; a spectacular spot to see bird migration at its best. He is an excellent birder, very popular with Heatherlea clients, and a fully qualified ringer.
When Aidan isn’t out birding he spends his time playing table tennis, listening to music, ringing at his local nature reserve and travelling, with his most recent adventures being to Svalbard and Antarctica!
We are delighted to welcome Aidan to our team!
Follow this Guide
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Orkney in High Summer - July
- 19 Jul - 26 Jul 2025
Wildlife, history and culture throughout Orkney - visit Hoy, North Ronaldsay, Westray, Kirkwall, Mainland, Burray and all the key archaeological sites!
Prices from £2195 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Highlands and Wester Ross
- 26 Jul - 02 Aug 2025
High Summer wildlife by land and sea
Prices from £1695 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Brilliant birding along the Via Pontica - spectacular migration on the Black Sea coast!
Prices from £2395 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Rarity hunting at the top of Britain - covering all corners of Shetland from Unst to Sumburgh!
Prices from £2095 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Rarity hunting at the top of Britain - covering all corners of Shetland from Unst to Sumburgh!
Prices from £2095 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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An exciting birding adventure across the Highlands, including two nights in bird-rich Aberdeenshire!
Prices from £1495 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Scottish Wildlife in Late Autumn
- 18 Oct - 25 Oct 2025
Highland specialities and late autumn migrants on the East and West coast
Prices from £1395 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Birders' Blasts in Autumn!
- 01 Nov - 05 Nov 2025Special Offer
Fast paced and fun birding short breaks in the Scottish Highlands
Prices from £795 pp
Duration: 5 Days
- 01 Nov - 05 Nov 2025
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Short Breaks - Scottish Birding in Autumn
- 05 Nov - 09 Nov 2025
Three days exciting autumnal birding at a busy time of year
Prices from £795 pp
Duration: 5 Days
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NEW! Whales and Wildlife in Northern Norway
- 26 Nov - 02 Dec 2025
Cetacean watching and more in the Norwegian Fjords
Prices from £3695 pp
Duration: 7 Days
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Get your New Year birdlist off to a great start with a week of birding across the Highlands from coast to coast!
Prices from £1495 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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A week of Scottish birding across the Highlands featuring a two night stay on the remote North Coast!
Prices from £1595 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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A week of Scottish birding across the Highlands featuring a two night stay on the remote North Coast!
Prices from £1595 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Highlands & Ardnamurchan
- 14 Mar - 21 Mar 2026
Highland specialities combined with one the most wildlife rich regions of the west coast
Prices from £1795 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Birding across five regions - our only tour targeting Hawfinch, Bearded Tit and the Highland specialities!
Prices from £1595 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Eastern Mediterranean specialities and migrants
Prices from £2195 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Birding the Highlands in May
- 02 May - 09 May 2026
A fantastic week of birding across the Highlands, from the Cairngorm mountains to both coasts
Prices from £1795 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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The best of the Highlands and Outer Hebrides in Spring
Prices from £1895 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Shetland Wildlife in Summer
- 04 Jul - 11 Jul 2026
A wide-ranging natural history holiday at the height of summer.
Prices from £2595 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Mull and Ardnamurchan Wildlife Spectacular
- 25 Jul - 01 Aug 2026
Birds, Mammals and more in a West Coast wilderness
Prices from £2395 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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NEW! Highlands and the Small Isles
- 01 Aug - 08 Aug 2026
Speciality local wildlife, with a little more walking than usual, as we explore the islands of Rum and Eigg.
Prices from £1695 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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NEW! British Columbia
- 15 Aug - 30 Aug 2026
Birds & Bears on the North-western Frontier!
Prices from £8695 pp
Duration: 16 Days
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A real adventure! Birding the Highlands in peak migration time including a two night stay on the Outer Hebrides!
Prices from £1895 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Rarity hunting at the top of Britain - covering all corners of Shetland from Unst to Sumburgh!
Prices from £2195 pp
Duration: 8 Days
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Spectacular birding in late autumn/early winter
Prices from £1895 pp
Duration: 7 Days
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Costa Rica Classic Tour - PLUS!
- 31 Oct - 18 Nov 2026
Birding and Wildlife during an unforgettable 18-night experience
Prices from £7095 pp
Duration: 19 Days