Eagles, Divers and Dotterel including Mull

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. After the main breeding season we can expect to see raptors on the wing at their maximum numbers, mountain birds with chicks, and moorland species preparing for autumn moulting. We enjoy an overnight stay on the magical Isle of Mull, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the fabulous birding and unforgettable scenery. An exciting time to be birding in Scotland!

We will search for Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, fishing Osprey, Slavonian Grebe, Red and Black-throated Divers, Scottish Crossbill, Crested Tit and lots more! Breeding Ptarmigan and Dotterel ensure a great day out on the Cairngorm 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. As we journey west to the island, we might encounter Black Guillemot, Common Seal and Hooded Crow, may see Golden or White-tailed Eagle after we cross Loch Linnhe onto the west coast. Once on the island we target iconic wildlife at sites we know well, immediately looking for White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl on the hills and moors. We stay overnight here, giving a full day around the island enjoying eagles and looking for Otter. We have ample time to enjoy Mull to the full in high summer, a very enjoyable experience.

We also enjoy an absorbing day on the Crown Estates at Glenlivet where we have exclusive access to secluded spots where you won’t see many other birders, with further chances of Golden Eagle and perhaps Merlin too. The stunning surrounding scenery, less known among birders, contributes to a truly special day. Your raptor list should be impressive, with perhaps between eight and twelve species in total by the end of the week. 

July is the best month in the Highlands for butterflies and as we go may well see Northern Brown Argus, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Large Heath among others.  

We spend six nights based in our own Mountview Hotel in Nethy Bridge, and one night in a comfortable Hotel on Mull. This is a fantastic way to enjoy some of the best summer birding in the UK! 

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

• White-tailed Eagle in close-up - the ‘flying barndoor’! 
• Red and Black-throated Divers against beautiful moorland scenery
• Short-eared Owl ghosting over heather in the evening light
• Dotterel on the Cairngorm plateau.

Day 1: Saturday
Arrival, welcome, dinner and briefing. Don’t forget our courtesy collection service from Aviemore.

Day 2: Sunday - Local Birding
A morning birding in the Abernethy with Crested Tit and local birds our first targets. Scottish Crossbill are found in the forests and with both Common and Parrot Crossbill also present, separation of these three species can pose a real identification challenge! At lunch we may see Osprey, Dipper, Buzzard and Goldeneye or perhaps Red Squirrel. Later we visit moorland where Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Black-throated Diver, Ring Ouzel, Red Grouse and upland waders may all be seen.

Day 3 - 4: Monday - Tuesday - Magical Mull
White-tailed Eagle – the flying barndoor! 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, with an eight-foot wingspan White-tailed Eagle are rarely mistaken for anything else! We arrive on Mull early afternoon, and immediately begin our search for both White-tailed and Golden Eagle. After a comfortable night on Mull, we will be ready to tour the island in the morning to look for eagles again, and off the rugged shoreline we may find Otter plus Common and Grey Seal. Other birds should include Black Guillemot, Hooded Crow, Raven, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Great Northern and Red-throated Diver. We return in time for dinner at The Mountview Hotel on Tuesday.

Day 5: Wednesday - Crown Estates
We visit the Crown Estates at Glenlivet where we have exclusive access to secluded spots where you won’t see many other birders, with further chances of Golden Eagle and perhaps Merlin too. Other moorland and upland specialities will feature, such as Stonechat, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Osprey... your raptor list for today alone should be impressive, perhaps totalling as many as twelve species by the end of the week!

Day 6: Thursday - Cairngorm Mountain
A full day on the Cairngorm plateau, with unforgettable mountain scenery all around as we head to the right spots for Ptarmigan and Dotterel, both perhaps with piping young running behind. Snow Bunting may also be seen as part of a brilliant day’s birding in a very special habitat. Later we may also see Red-throated Diver, Goldeneye, Peregrine and Crested Tit as we descend, plus Redpoll and Siskin flocks in local birch woods. After dinner 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 we look out for waders including Snipe, Redshank and Curlew. A lovely evening!

Day 7: Friday - Coastal Birding
Often a round-up day, and we will be flexible perhaps visiting another coastal location with great birding. We could drive east to Troup Head, a gem of an RSPB reserve where the only breeding Gannets in mainland Scotland make their home. Enjoying clifftop views of the birds, we will also see other seabirds including Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Shag, Fulmar, Kittiwake and perhaps Great Skua. At lowland coastal sites, the first returning summer waders might including Turnstone, Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit in brilliant colours. We also look for Red Kite, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer and scarcer farmland birds including Grey Partridge and Corn Bunting may also feature.

Day 8: Saturday
Breakfast and departure. Don’t forget our courtesy return service to Aviemore.

This holiday can be combined with:

MAINLAND SCOTLAND
Highlands and Wester Ross, Butterflies, Dragons and Birds, Highland Mammals and more, Highland Wildlife in High Summer

SCOTTISH ISLAND ADVENTURES
Coll and Tiree in Summer, Mull and Ardnamurchan Wildlife Spectacular, Orkney in High Summer

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