Moray Firth & Cairngorms, Spring Birding & Wildlife

Day 1:

After meeting early afternoon in Inverness (pick up available at the Train Station and Airport) we will head east to the northeast corner of Scotland, stopping enroute to check out the Moray Firth for seaduck, waders and potentially Bottlenose Dolphins. Three nights near Fraserburgh.

Day 2:

Today we will explore the North Sea coast including the Ythan Estuary and Loch of Strathbeg. Targets will be Little, Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns, spectacular aggregations of Common Eider and Grey Seal haulouts, an excellent selection of waders, farmland birds such as Corn Bunting, Grey Partridge and Tree Sparrow and we could encounter Common Crane, Garganey, Bearded Tit and a variety of migrants.

Day 3:

A highlight of this tour will be a boat charter out into the Moray Firth where we hope to find summer-plumaged White-billed Diver as well as Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Auks and seaduck. The area can also be very good for cetaceans in late-April with regular sightings of Minke Whale, Harbour Porpoise and Bottlenose Dolphins and increasingly Orca and Sei Whale. In the afternoon we will visit Troup Head Gannetry and search around Fraserburgh and Peterhead for migrants and coastal species.

Day 4:

Departing our hotel we will work our way west along the coast. This area is peppered with great habitats from the extensive sheltered bays of Spey Bay and Roseisle, the former with an estuary, to the harbours of Lossiemouth and Burghead and the expansive Findhorn Estuary. Here we hope to find a number of marine mammals from Harbour Seal to Bottlenose Dolphin, Long-tailed Duck and Velvet Scoter, and Surf Scoters are also occasionally found at this time of year. Purple Sandpipers should still be around and summer migrants will also be back on territory making for a perfect mix of species. The coastal forests are great for Crested Tits and Crossbills. Our day will end in Grantown-on-Spey which will be our base for four nights.

Day 5:

In stark contrast to the previous days today we will look for Ring Ouzel, Red Grouse, Reindeer and other upland species around the base of Cairngorm followed by a search for Scottish Crossbill and Crested Tits in the extensive Caledonian Forests. We’ll also take in the extensive Insh Marshes where White-tailed Eagle, Osprey, breeding waders and now even Eurasian Beavers are all possible.

Day 6:

Back in the Moray Firth our day will focus on the Black Isle and the diverse habitats from deciduous woodland to shingle spit, farmland birds and estuary habitats. This area is great for Otter, migrating waders, seaduck, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Red Kite, Bottlenose Dolphin and much more.

Day 7:

Our last full day will start by looking for displaying Black Grouse and then on to find breeding Black-throated Divers. We will then explore deep into the Monadliath mountains where Golden and White-tailed Eagles cruise the ridges, Peregrines and Merlins breed, Goshawk and Red Kite inhabit the lower forested areas and the rivers hold Dippers and Grey Wagtails. Mountain Hare, Red Deer and Wild Goats are all possible.

Day 8:

The tour will conclude after breakfast with a transfer back to Inverness Train Station and airport.

For full details refer to our website.

The itinerary outlined is indicative and Wild Discovery reserves the right to alter the itinerary if conditions require.