WINTER WILDFOWL WEEKEND

This is a three day trip to see Bean Geese, Greenland White fronted Geese, Barnacle Geese, Pink footed and Greylag Geese, Surf, Velvet and Common Scoter as well as Whooper Swan, winter divers and Jack Snipe ringing. 

Possible bird list of 120 species. Maximum of 8 persons and 2 leaders.

Dates: 22nd-25th Nov 2007

Due to a cancellation, there are 3 spaces left.

Contact us for additional details.

Cost: With three nights Bed and Breakfast accommodation, all meals, your holiday will cost £299.00 per person. Should you wish hotel accommodation, a supplement will apply.

Thursday evening - arrival in Glasgow. You will be picked up and transferred free of charge to your accommodation. You will be met by the team and given a short presentation on your chosen birding break before enjoying your evening meal in the hotel.

What's included: Transfer from your arrival/departure point. Service of up to four experienced local birding experts. Quality assured bed and breakfast accommodation. All meals. All ferry and transport costs. Entry fees to all historic sites, reserves and visitor centres.

What's not included: Drinks and items of a personal nature. Locally, drinks are very reasonably priced.

Itinerary for Winter Wildfowl Weekend

Day 1.
We will go into deepest Argyll in search of Greenland White-fronted Geese, Barnacle Geese, Greylag Geese and Golden Eagle. Visiting the coast in search of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, Great Northern, Black throated and Red throated Divers and we will experience the west coast of Scotland at its most rugged.  

Day 2.
Day 2 will see us head east to the Forth estuary for a magnificent range of sea duck, divers, grebes and waders. Here we will encounter Pink footed Geese, Common, Velvet and possibly Surf Scoter. Long tailed Duck, Scaup, Red necked and Slavonian Grebe which will be supported by Bar tailed Godwit, Grey Plover and a host of winter passerines. Dusk will see us at the RSPB reserve at Loch Leven for the Pink- footed Goose roost and it is here that we should see Whooper Swan and an excellent range of freshwater wildlfowl.

Day 3.
An early start will see us on the Slamannan Plateau south of Cumbernauld. We will meet our expert and enjoy an increasingly rare sight in British birding - Bean Geese. This is the larger of only two regular wintering flocks in the country. They are remarkable birds with a fascinating history. From here we will join members of the Clyde ringing group for what will be a memorable experience - Jack Snipe ringing. With luck remarkable views of these birds can be obtained and we will assist in the ringing effort. Later that day we will return to Cardross to conclude this short break.    

THE WINTER TOUR

This is a four day tour of Scotland's top reserves and glens for Sea Eagle, Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Merlin, Hen Harrier and Goshawk. The trip will include Bean Goose, Greenland White fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose, Surf and Velvet Scoter and a host of winter passerines. 

Possible bird list of 140 species. Maximum of 8 persons and 2 leaders.

Dates: 25th-29th Nov 2007, 2nd-6th Dec 2007

There are 3 spaces left.

Contact us for details.

Cost: With four nights Bed and Breakfast accommodation of your choosing, all meals, your holiday cost could be as low as £349.00 per person.

Should you wish hotel accommodation, a supplement will apply.

Sunday evening arrival in Glasgow. You will be picked up and transferred free of charge to your accommodation. You will be met by the team and given a short presentation on your chosen birding break before enjoying your evening meal in the hotel.

What's included: Transfer from your arrival/departure point. Service of up to four experienced local birding experts. Quality assured bed and breakfast accommodation. All meals. All ferry and transport costs. Entry fees to all historic sites, reserves and visitor centres.

What's not included: Drinks and items of a personal nature. Locally, drinks are very reasonably priced.

Itinerary for the Winter Tour

Day 1.
We will travel north through the straths and glens to the busy harbour town of Oban. Here we will take the short ferry journey to the Isle of Mull to see White-tailed and Golden Eagles and a range of winter wildlife that may include Red Deer and Otter. Visiting the coast and harbours in search of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, Great Northern, Black throated and Red throated Divers and we will undoubtedly experience the west coast of Scotland at its most rugged.

Day 2.
We will go into deepest Argyll in search of Greenland White-fronted Geese, Barnacle Geese and Hen Harrier. We will spend time exploring the Glens of Loch Lomondside for winter passerines, Black Grouse and raptors.

Day 3.
An early start will see us on the Slamannan Plateau south of Cumbernauld. We will meet our expert and enjoy an increasingly rare sight in British birding, Bean Geese. This is the larger of only two regular wintering flocks in the country. They are remarkable birds with a fascinating history. From here we will head east to the Forth estuary for a magnificent range of sea duck, divers, grebes and waders. Here we will encounter Pink footed Geese, Common, Velvet and possibly Surf Scoter. Long tailed Duck, Scaup, Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe which will be supported by Bar- tailed Godwit, Grey Plover and a host of winter passerines. Dusk will see us at the home of the Scottish Ornithologists Club, Waterston House. We will get into position for the spectacular Pink- footed Goose roost. From the Forth, we will travel south into the Borders and spend the evening at our hotel.

Day 4.
In the morning we will visit some of the most reliable sites for one of Scotland 's rarest raptors, the Goshawk. The Borders has a healthy population of this wonderful bird of prey and with luck we should be able to see them. Just after lunch, we will arrive at one of Scotland 's most popular reserves - Caerlaverock. Owned by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, it is one of the most important sites for wintering wildfowl in Britain, most notably Barnacle Geese and Whooper Swan. The reserve has an impressive population of other species like Yellowhammer and wintering raptors like Peregrine, Merlin and Hen Harrier. We will watch the Barnacles and Whoopers coming in to roost before heading back north and concluding our holiday.