News from the Field April 2025
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"Morocco is a much-famed early spring destination among birders, and with two tours running this year I was fortunate to lead our second, just as migration was gathering pace. A fantastic local team always got us into the right place for the desert specialities, and in ten days we enjoyed
great views of species such as Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouse, Cream-coloured Courser, Egyptian Nightjar, Desert Warbler and Desert Sparrow alongside Pharaoh Eagle Owl with well-grown chicks. It was an early breeding season, so to see Greater Hoopoe Lark displaying was a treat while Thick-billed and Temminck’s Lark were even feeding recently fledged chicks!
On the Atlantic coast it was satisfying to see Northern Bald Ibis recovering well, and we got lucky with tricky species such as Levaillant’s
Woodpecker in the High Atlas. Migration based birding is an exciting element to a Moroccan spring, and on one morning we enjoyed Wryneck and Western Orphean Warbler in the same tree, with Redstarts and Western Bonelli’s Warblers seemingly in every other patch of cover! The flocks of European and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater were a delight too, skulking targets such as Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin showed ridiculously well and with the constant turnover of Europe bound birds, we really didn’t know what to expect next! All in all, a great trip which I hope to lead again very soon!" - Heatherlea Guide: Mark Warren
Spring into Scotland including Mull (week 1) 2025
"We were incredibly lucky with both the birds and the weather - no fewer than ten Golden Eagles and 12 White-tailed Eagles seen throughout the holiday. We also had amazing views of sky-dancing Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine and three Red Kites. The latter were circling over the Mountview Hotel as we were getting into the minibuses on the first
morning! Locally, the specialities were performing well with Crested Tit, Crossbill and an incredible display at the Black Grouse Lek. At the coast we struck lucky again with Green Sandpiper and Grey Plover - scarce species in this neck of the woods. Early migrants added to the spectacle with Wheatear, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern and a single Swallow." - Heatherlea Guide: Holly Page
Highlands & East Coast Birding 2025
Photo Credit: Mark Winkworth
"Our week got off to a great start with amazing conditions. Locally, we had nice views of Crossbill singing, Crested Tit, Black Grouse, a good mix of waders plus fantastic views of Golden and White-tailed Eagle. Farther north, we had brilliant numbers of Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter plus two Slavonian Grebe. Later in the week we headed down to Perthshire for a two-night stay and spent time exploring the Angus coast where we added Puffin, Fulmar, Kittiwake and Razorbill to our list. On our last day we took a visit Monikie Country Park and were surprised to find an adult White-Winged Black Tern! A very lucky find which turned out to be the earliest Scottish Record ever and the third earliest ever British record. A wonderful coup for our group this week. It goes to highlight that birding in the Highlands during March really can turn up anything!" - Heatherlea Guide: Aidan Branch
Read more about Aidan's record find in this local news article.
India – Tigers & Taj Mahal 2025
"Just back from a successful tour to India! Our main target was Tiger and we came up trumps with lots of excellent sightings (we connected with them on five out of six game drives!), plus a very good bird list. Group birding highlights included Jungle Owlets, Sarus Crane, Black-bellied Tern, Pied Kingfisher, Hooded Oriole, Greater Painted Snipe. Other highlights included seeing the spectacular Taj Mahal and a wonderful river boat cruise where we enjoyed close views of basking Gharials; fantastic large fish-eating crocodiles for which the Chambal is famous. Other basking reptiles included the far more menacing-looking Mugger Crocodile and several large Indian Soft-shelled Turtles. Overall, a great trip with many amazing memories." - Heatherlea Guide: Chris Rodger