Moray Firth & Cairngorms

— Spring Birding and Wildlife

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Highlights

All four divers in summer-plumage including a boat trip to search for White-billed Diver
Spring migration in full swing
Cetaceans in the Moray Firth with the chance of Orca
Caledonian forest specialities including Crested Tit, Crossbills and Red Squirrels
Diverse lowland wetlands where Crane and Marsh Harrier breed
Mountain birding for both Eagles, Ring Ouzel and grouse
A superb array of seaduck in the sheltered bays of the Moray Firth
Displaying Black Grouse
Good chance of Scottish mammals including Otter, Roe, Red and Reindeer
Farmland birds including Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow and Grey Partridge
Led by expert naturalist and birder Calum Urquhart

Long-tailed Duck is just one of the seaduck that we are likely to encounter

Overview

Join this exciting tour which explores the very best of the Moray Firth coast and Cairngorms. Using just two bases the group will visit a variety of sites along the coast from cliffs and headlands to huge sandy bays and estuaries. These will be home to a variety of coastal species including Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks and Eiders, Otters and Seals and hopefully all four species of Diver. We will have an exclusive boat trip to look for the stunning White-billed Diver as well as the possibility of cetaceans. The Moray Firth is also home to a large resident population of Bottlenose Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and Minke Whale and in recent years has also seen the arrival of Orca along the coast during this week.

We continue on our coastal exploration visiting the fascinating port at Fraserburgh where Purple Sandpipers and Turnstones should be foraging whilst Loch of Strathbeg will be home to a plethora of species which could include Common Crane, Marsh Harrier and Garganey. The estuary at the Ythan is home to four species of tern and an abundance of waders and wildfowl and with migration in full swing it should be alive with birds coming and going.

This tour will also take in the Cairngorms with time to look for both Golden and White-tailed Eagles, Goshawk and Merlin, Mountain Hare and Wild Goats. In the forests we will enjoy Crested Tits, up to three species of Crossbills, Osprey and Red Squirrels. The moors should be alive with Red and Black Grouse and the mountain lochs will be home to breeding Black-throated Divers. We may even be lucky enough to find the rare Kentish Glory moth which is on the wing at this time of year.

All in all this tour will enjoy one of the most diverse mixes of wildlife and right at the cusp of spring when winter migrants are still moving north and the summer migrants have just arrived.

Itinerary

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.

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

Gallery

Otter feasting on a fish along the rocky shore

Sanderling flock together to feed on the sandy beaches

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Who we Support on this Tour

Scotland: The Big Picture

RSPB
Trees for Life

Dates and Prices

            Set Departure Dates
            Cost
            Availability
       
            Sat 26th April to Sat 3rd May 2025
            £2495*
            Spaces available
       
            Sat 18th to Sat 25th April 2026
            £TBC
            Spaces available