News from the Field May 2025
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"A fabulous week in this magnificent region of central Spain recording an excellent 155 species of birds alongside Aidan Branch, while enjoying some incredible landscapes in the greenest spring since I've lived in Spain!
A few of the gems we enjoyed included mighty Cinereous and Griffon
Vultures, Great and Little Bustards, Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Montagu's Harrier, European Rollers, a pair of impressive Spanish Imperial Eagles, a feisty Black-winged Kite, marauding Booted Eagles and Iberian Magpies, Woodchat and Iberian Grey Shrikes dotting the fences and power lines, hordes of noisy Spanish Sparrows and quirky Eurasian Hoopoes. Aidan also pulled out the stops to find a near impossibly hidden adult Eurasian Eagle-owl at its roost in the Monfragüe crags, while a judicious ice-cream break (!) then enabled us to contemplate it out in the open and with a still downy large chick as well. One of my favourite moments was watching a pair of Red-necked Nightjars float effortlessly through the holm oak dehesa at dusk, the male then pitching into a tree to sing its 'tok-tok' song, as we gazed up in awe at the star-studded heavens above." Heatherlea Guide John Muddeman
"Our Bhutan tour is a unique trip in an equally unique country, filled with sought-after wildlife and surprises around every hairpin corner. Highlights included virtually all the major Bhutanese birds (including Satyr Tragopan, Blood Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, Ward's Trogon, Beautiful Nuthatch, Spotted Elachura and Rufous-necked Hornbill) as well as a whole host of laughingthrushes, babblers, yuhinas, sunbirds, flycatchers, woodpeckers and warblers. We also enjoyed visits to cultural sites, traditional food, excellent hospitality and good weather. My personal bird of the trip has got to be the Black-necked Crane – a lifer and a surprise that they were still present, as well as feasting vultures next to the bus – that was a privilege to see!" Heatherlea Guide Mike Coleman
"When you think of Georgia, the Caucasus Mountains immediately spring to mind and our first stay was in Stepantsminda at a height of 1,740m in the foothills of the 5,054m Kasbeg. We got great sightings of Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Grouse, Guldenstadt's Redstart and Wallcreeper. An excellent start to the trip!
The Wallcreeper was for more of half the group THE bird that they wanted to see. We drove to a dam by the nearby river and found the bird first by the riverbank and later on the wall of the dam flashing the red of his wings. The views were so good we didn’t need a scope or binoculars. The bird stayed so long that we had to depart with the bird still on the wall.
Later, we drove to the steppe, where our main targets were raptors. We saw Short-toed Snake Eagle, and several Steppe Eagles, Eastern Imperial eagles, Booted Eagles, Bearded Vultures, Griffon Vultures, Black Vultures, Egyptian Vultures, Montagu’s and Marsh Harrier, Common and Lesser Kestrel, Hobby, Brookei Peregrine, Honey Buzzard and several races of the Common Buzzard.
In the woodlands we observed Krüper's Nuthatch (a lifer for me which is rare in Europe), Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Mountain Chiffchaff and several warblers. We finished the tour with 160 different species and 10 subspecies. A successful trip all round." Heatherlea Guide Jozef Leestmans
Catalonia and South-east Aragon 2025
"Birding coastal wetlands of the Ebro Delta, inland steppes of Aragon and mountains of the pre-Pyrenees, our group enjoyed some excellent birding in the diverse habitats of north-east Spain. This, combined with comfortable accommodation, good hospitality and plenty of tasty food, coupled with fine weather ensured an enjoyable tour for all involved.
We recorded 24 wader species, 19 warbler species, 17 raptor species and seven species of lark, with a long list of key species including, Little Bustard, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Western Swamphen, Slender-billed and Audouin’s Gull, Black Vulture, Lammergeier, Bonelli’s Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Eagle Owl, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Alpine Chough, Thekla Lark, Mediterranean Short-toed Lark, Western Orphean Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear and Citril Finch. All these in addition to many resident and migrant bird species, and also mammals too, including close views of Spanish Ibex and Alpine Marmot, recorded on our travels throughout the region.
Amazing birding experiences were many and included the fantastic spectacle of 300+ Griffon Vultures, plus several Black Vultures coming in to the feeding station and cracking views of Black Woodpecker flying over our heads in the mountains, displaying Little Bustard and flocks of Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse on the steppes and the bird-rich wetlands of the delta with herons and egrets, Greater Flamingos, Whiskered Terns, Glossy Ibis, Savi’s and Great Reed Warblers and nest-building Penduline Tit.
Sergi showed us the birds of his native Catalonia, and south-east Aragon with great enthusiasm and dedication, culminating in a final bird species total exceeding 200 species, on what is surely one of the best birding itineraries in south-west Europe." Heatherlea Guide Dave Pearce
Isles of Scilly in Spring 2025
"We had an amazing start to our Isles of Scilly tour with Shorelark and three Hobby on the first couple of days. Other highlights included Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike and five Golden Oriole! We were blessed with fantastic weather and the birding was even better with plenty of common migrants around all week. An excellent time of year to visit these stunning islands." Heatherlea Guide Toby Green
"A springtime visit to Northern Ireland makes a great trip for birders a
nd naturalists. This year, we enjoyed some fine weather and had some very good sightings of many different species. The landscapes are amazing and provide a fabulous backdrop to the wildlife we encountered. Indeed, it was the landscapes and geology of the Giant’s Causeway and Mourne Mountains that were a highlight of the trip for several of us. Other highlights included the seabirds of Rathlin Island, especially the thousands of Common Guillemots nesting on the stacks; Whimbrel migration affording us great views of this species; Manx Shearwaters near Ballycastle; White Wagtail migration on Island Magee; a Cattle Egret at Portmuck; the wildflowers of the Causeway Coast; the chance to get to grips with the identification of various warblers; Brent Geese at Greencastle and Great Crested Grebes displaying. It was a pleasure to explore the delightful countryside of this seldom visited part of the UK." Heatherlea Guide Andy Jones