From the Editor ….2013 looks like being another very busy and enjoyable year for Heatherlea. Exciting holidays based at our HQ Hotel in Nethy Bridge include 14 weeks of new itineraries, andyou can now book short breaks and B&B in the ‘quieter’ months. ‘Spring Saver’ prices are available on some holidays, and of course your price is guaranteed. Overseas, our new Pre-flight service helps you organise your holiday, and at the time ofwriting our overseas bookings are approx 10% up on last year, so book with confidence!

Wherever you go, we hope your birding in 2013 is spectacular and memorable. Thanks to all of you who chose Heatherlea in 2012, see youagain soon!

Kevin, Caryl and the Heatherlea team

NEW FOR 2013Experience Heatherlea from only £45Two new ways to enjoy Scottish birding!B&B from only £45! Join us for a Winter Wildlife Break atMountview Hotel and take advantage of fantastic B&Bprices! With resident Heatherlea guides to provideup-to-the-minute birding info, we can help you getthe best from your private birding day.

Heatherlea day tripsEach Thursday in March we will run aspecial ‘local birding day’ in ourminibus. This will target BlackGrouse, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Capercaillie (in our private estate), Red Grouse and more. Full day price £50pp (hotel guests),£90pp non-residents. See page 5.

he eatherleabirding and wildlife holidays

January 2013

TH T I M E S

NEW! THE HEATHERLEAPRE-FLIGHT SERVICE!Fed-up organising hotels, car parking and airport transfers? Let Heatherlea takethe strain as we do all this for you. A huge choice of hotels, and very attractiveprices. See page 12.

Heatherlea (Scotland) Ltd, The Mountview Hotel, Nethybridge, Inverness-Shire Scotland PH25 3EBT: 01479 821248 E: info@heatherlea.co.uk W: www.heatherlea.co.uk twitter: @heatherleabirds

SCOTLAND 2013Holidays based at our home in Nethy Bridge - Mountview HotelYour gateway to Scottish birds and wildlifeHeatherlea is THE place for top quality birding holidays in Scotland, chosen by more and more birderseach year. Great guiding and personal care from ourcrack guiding team earns us five stars from visitScotland for our days in the field (the ONLY Scottish wildlife operatorwith this distinction), and our guides are known far and wide for their birdingskills. At Heatherlea you stay in our own three star Small Hotel, enjoy mealsprepared by experienced and capable Chefs, and travel in large minibuseswhich are great mobile hides. Come to Heatherlea and enjoy ….

� Heatherlea Guides Ian Ford, John Poyner, Jonny Pott, Dave Pullan and Phil Knott have been leading groups in Scotland formany years, and our in-house knowledge is simply unbeatable. Highly skilled birders and real ‘people people’ who love to showyou the wonderful wildlife of the Scottish Highlands. Come and see how our guides make all the difference!

� All the birds, plus Pine Marten, Basking Shark, Minke Whale, Otter, several dolphin species and don’t forget Red Squirrelon our feeders! All Scotland’s resident specialities, migrants, summer visitors and rarities. With exclusive estate access, andup-to-the minute ‘hot spots’ for key species, we maximise your chances.

� First-rate birding with Scotland’s best guiding team. Your holiday includes the services of a Heatherlea Guide, a very valuable asset! Much more than a friend to help you identify birds, your Heatherlea Guide organises everything to suit wildlife,weather and your progress through the week. He knows where the birds have been showing, and the best route to maximiseyour chances. We think you will see far more wildlife with a Heatherlea Guide than under your own steam, and you can relax andenjoy yourself, as we do all the planning.

� Not just Strathspey, but Mull, Handa, the far West Coast, Caithness, Eigg and Muck, Lewis and Harris, Aberdeenshire andthe Moray coast on our Nethy Bridge based holidays – tremendous content! We have 21 different full week itineraries at alltimes of year. We also offer short breaks at very attractive prices. NEW! B&B options for the independent birder – Full details on page 5.

� Award-winning three-star hotel (including drinks licence!) and food. En-suite accommodation, free WIFI and hotel internetfacility, drying room, TV, hospitality tray, hairdryer and alarm clock in all rooms.

� Because we own the hotel, everything is done for you, our birdwatching guest. All holidays guaranteed to run. Singlesoften upgraded to double room at no-charge, and no single supplement.

� We also transfer you to rail or bus links at no extra charge. We think our holidays offer terrific value compared to ‘do ityourself’ options.

Above all, We are more than merely sympathetic to wildlife watchers, we show keywildlife to you. Our fully inclusive guided holidays concentrate on the realexperience, and we take time to ensure that each of our guests enjoyseverything we do. HEATHERLEA at THE MOUNTVIEW – run BY birders FOR birders!

HEATHERLEA NEWS2

+ =tremendous quality and value!

HEATHERLEA NEWS

We have great ‘Spring Saver’ prices, available until31 March. Prices may rise as our booking registerfills, so please contact our office before booking sowe can confirm both availability and our best price. Don’t forget, there are no hidden extras withHeatherlea. Once your deposit is paid, we guarantee not to raise prices or to cancel your holiday. All wildlife activity, accommodation, mealsand guidance is included, so apart from postcardsand drinks at the Hotel Bar, you have everythingyou need!

2013 Scottishholidaysbased at Mountview Hotel, Nethy Bridge

‘Spring Saver’ prices

SAVE UP TO£200pp!

NEW! New Year Birdlist Booster Jan 5, Jan 12, Jan 19, Jan 26This brand new holiday will be great fun, rounding up as many birds as possible for your 2013 list. We seek the ‘Scottish specials’ first, then northern birds at the coast and any available rarities. Max your list in 2013! Highland Winter Birding Feb 9, 16, Feb 23, Mar 2Wild landscapes and solitude (you won’t see many other birders!) and exceptional birding on this unique holiday, incorporating the very best in Scottish winter birding. Features an exciting expedition to coastal locations in the very far north. The Top 20 in Winter Mar 9, Mar 16Both eagles, Otter and Pine Marten on the west coast, where early dusk and shortage of natural food means we watch wildlife at times convenient to ourselves. Ptarmigan, Capercaillie,Black Grouse, Dolphins, Red Squirrel, Mountain Hare, the list is long! NEW! Highlands and Mull Mar 23, Mar 30Early spring in the Highlands is a great time for the ‘specials’. Add an overnight on Mull, andthis becomes a really cost effective way to see Scotland’s special birds in one holiday. Wintervisitors and early spring birds complete a big birdlist.Spring into Scotland including Mull Apr 6, Apr 13, Apr 20Perhaps the ultimate spring wildlife experience in Scotland, including an overnight stay on thewest coast and a full day on Mull! All special birds are breeding, winter birds are still here ingood numbers, summer visitors arrive daily. Ever popular! NEW! Highlands and Skye Apr 27Two nights on Skye as we enjoy eagles, otter and a birding boat-trip amid spectacular scenery.All the birds of the mainland too, with many summer visitors arriving. An exciting way to includeSkye in your Scottish birding experience! Birding the Highlands in May May 4, May 11, May 18A gently-paced holiday for those who want to see the specialities without too much travelling.We are based at Mountview Hotel for a full week of exploration, featuring all the key breedingbirds. Ideal for ‘first-time’ birding visitors to Scotland. High Season across the Highlands May 25, Jun 1, Jun 8Glorious Handa Island is a great day out, and we stay overnight on the west to see White-tailedEagle the following day. Dotterel join Ptarmigan on the hills, and with all the birds settled for theseason, this is classic birding. One of our most popular trips!

£445 – £795 £445 – £795

£1045 £845

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£1045 £945

£1045 £845 - £945

NORMAL PRICE

SPRING SAVERPRICE until 31

MarchHOLIDAY

3

4 HEATHERLEA NEWS

Highlands and Orkney Jun 15Visit Orkney’s key birding places in summer, where breeding Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier andBlack-tailed Godwit are found. Also includes breeding auks, skuas, and other seabirds, eagles,woodland species and more on this great trip. NEW! Highlands and the Far North Jun 22A brand new adventure in Caithness, Sutherland and the Highlands as we celebrate the birds ofearly summer in the far north of the mainland. We also visit Caledonian pinewoods and ruggedglens to find the special birds that everyone wants to see. Natural History Jun 29, Jul 6Birds, mammals, insects and flora on this unique and highly rewarding holiday, aimed squarelyat the natural history all-rounder. Many species found only in the north of Scotland (or very rarefurther south) make this a fascinating holiday. Eagles, Divers and Dotterel Jul 13, Jul 20The best British birding in July? Both eagles on Mull, Dotterel and Ptarmigan on the tops, diversin breeding plumage inland – great birding! We stay overnight on Mull, see Caper with chicks inour private estate, and see the Gannets at Troup Head. The Top 30 in Summer Jul 27, Aug 3,Ever popular, featuring the birds and mammals of a Highland summer. Great fun on the westcoast, where Basking Shark are now regular, and Minke Whale, Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Common Porpoise add a strong cetacean element. Crammed with birds and other wildlife! NEW! High summer wildlife by land and sea Aug 10, Aug 17Birds and sealife during the height of summer, featuring boat trips east and west of northernScotland for dolphins and whales, plus all the special birds. A thoroughly enjoyable if less intensive exploration of wildlife by land and sea. NEW! Specials and migration featuring the Burma Bank Aug 24, Aug 31Sabine’s Gull, Sooty Shearwater and much more on ‘the Burma Bank’, Scotland’s newest birding hotspot, now available with Heatherlea! Waders at Easter Ross, and all the specialities,there is so much in this new itinerary.Scottish Specials and Autumn Migration Sept 7, Sept 14With migration in full swing this holiday can yield shearwaters, waders, skuas and petrels onour ferry trip to the Outer Hebrides - expect the unexpected! Plus of course our resident specialities including Caper, Blackcock, Crestie, Ptarmigan, and both eagles.The Outer Limits Adventure Sept 21, Sept 28, Oct 5Including two nights on the Outer Hebrides, this is an exceptional itinerary which takes you tothe ‘outer limits’ of Scottish birding. On other days we seek all the specialities of the Highlands.Outstanding scenery and great birding. The Top 20 in Autumn Oct 12, Oct 19An extraordinary holiday for those who love mammals and birds. Both eagles, otters, pinemarten, badgers from a warm hide, Capercaillie, Black Grouse and seaduck are just some ofthe highlights. See reports on our website! NEW! Late Autumn in the Highlands Oct 26, Nov 2Autumn in northern Scotland is a wonderful birding time. We have Caper, Blackcock, CrestedTit, Scottish (Parrot) Crossbill and Golden Eagle inland, seaduck flocks are at maximum volume,and this is an excellent time for geese and rarities. The Last and First Birds of the Year Sun 29 Dec 2013 – Sun 5 Jan 2014Fancy a New Year treat? Finish your old birdlist with a flourish and make a great start to yournew one. Targets include Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Ptarmigan (weather permitting!), CrestedTit and Scottish Crossbill TWICE.

£1145 £995

£1145 £945

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£1145 £995

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£1095 £995

More good news! A price promise from Heatherlea you just can't beat!* All holidays based at Mountview Hotel are filling and we won’t cancel.* No surcharges! Forget inflation, the price of fuel and food, once your holiday price is confirmed,

Heatherlea will not increase the price of any holiday based in Nethy Bridge.* No single supplement.* Singles are never expected to share.* Free collection from Aviemore transport links* Free use of top-of-the-range Swarovski optics (subject to availability). Book with confidence! HEATHERLEA at THE MOUNTVIEW – run BY birders FOR birders!

To book, ring us on 01479 821248or email info@heatherlea.co.uk .We will provisionally reserve aroom for you immediately. Thereare no hidden extras: all travel,accommodation, meals and guid-ance is included!

5HEATHERLEA NEWS

SHORT BREAKSfrom only £495

BIRDS of the SCOTTISH

HIGHLANDS

Join us to enjoy some of the very best birding in Britain!

Targets include Golden Eagle, Capercaillie, Crested Tit,

Scottish Crossbill, Black Grouse, Red- and Black- throated

Divers, Slavonian Grebe, Osprey and many more.

Price £495 no single supplement.

Sat 9 Feb – Wed 13 Feb, Tues 12 Feb – Sat 16 Feb, Sat 16 Feb – Wed 20 Feb, Tues 19 Feb – Sat 23 Feb, Sat 9 Mar – Wed 13 Mar, Tues 12 Mar – Sat 16 Mar, Sat 16 Mar – Wed 20 Mar, Tues 19 Mar – Sat 23 MarSat 6 July – Wed 10 July, Tues 9 July – Sat 13 July, Sat 20 July – Wed 24 July, Tues 23 July – Sat 27 July

CAPERCAILLIE SHORT

BREAKS

Three great birding days with Caper in mind, as we

concentrate on the world’s biggest grouse. Blackcock,

Golden Eagle and Crested Tit are also on the agenda, and

winter seawatching can be exceptional too.

Price £520 no single supplement.

2012 dates

Sat 3 Nov – Wed 7 Nov, Tues 6 Nov – Sat 10 Nov,Sat 10 Nov – Wed 14 Nov, Tues 13 Nov – Sat 17 Nov

2013 dates

Sat 9 Nov – Wed 13 Nov, Tues 12 Nov – Sat 16 Nov,Sat 16 Nov – Wed 20 Nov, Tues 19 Nov – Sat 23 Nov

Ideal for busy birders! Feb, Mar, July, Sept, Oct, Nov 2013Fully-inclusive 4-night short breaks, ideal for busy birders who want to round-upspecial birds in a wonderful landscape. All breaks include four nights DBB and threedays birding in the field. Join us to enjoy some of the very best birding in Britain!Targets include Golden Eagle, Capercaillie, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, BlackGrouse, Red- and Black- throated Divers, Slavonian Grebe, Osprey and manymore including exceptional coastal birding at any time of year.

HEATHERLEA at MOUNTVIEW HOTELYOUR GATEWAY TO SCOTTISH BIRDS AND WILDLIFE!

FROM ONLY £45! Looking for a winter wildlife break in Scotland?With birding holidays running all the time, TheMountview Hotel is the perfect place. Join us andtake advantage of these fantastic B&B prices!

MOUNTVIEW HOTEL - PRICES JAN/FEB/MAR 2013Daily rate B&B 3 Night Break 7 Night break

£45pp £120pp £270ppNO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS! Strictly subject to availability

Dinner available in our restaurant, you can book a table on a daily basis.To book call 01479 821 248 or email info@heatherlea.co.ukTHE MOUNTVIEW HOTEL, NETHY BRIDGE, PH25 3EB

NEW! ‘Local birding day’ in the Heatherlea minibuswith one of our top guidesEach week in March we will be running a ‘local birding day’ in the Heatherlea minibus. This will be on Thursday each week, andtargets include Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Capercaillie (in our private estate), Red Grouse and more. PLEASE NOTE if weather is very wet, this day will take you to the fabulous Moray Coast to see wintering seaduck, divers, wadersand more. You will also receive a checklist, and can order a packed lunch for just £5. A great birding day out at a fantastic price!

Full day price £50pp (hotel guests), £90pp non-residents.

HEATHERLEA NEWS6

A recent Heatherlea holiday as experiencedby one of our guests.

Mark was a guest on our ‘Capercaillie Short Break’ holiday in November 2012.

Matt Merritt

Hello all,This was the first trip I have ever done like this as I would describe myself as a local patch birder.

I was a little apprehensive joining a group that had met up a day earlier and already had a

chance to bond and wondered if I would be accepted in to the group. I need not have worried as I

was welcomed in warmly by everyone. As I sat down to enjoy a lovely evening meal the group

were all keen to relate events that had taken place that day. Capercaillie, Goshawk and Crested

Tit as well as Sika and Roe Deer - I couldn't wait for the next morning to come!

The next two days exceeded my wildest expectations, it didn't build up slowly and get better as

the day went on but started on a high and just got better and better. Exceptionally close views of

Red Grouse behind me, Black Grouse performing at the lek in front, with Roe and Red Deer a

short distance away and a Fox screaming in the distance, all this before breakfast WOW what a

start. Itʼs difficult to put my finger on one thing that stood out as each hour was filled with

excitement. I can honestly say I was like a child at Christmas. As I said Iʼm a local patch birder so

I was expecting to see one or two birds I hadn't come across before - here goes!

Black-throated Diver Black Grouse

Slavonian Grebe Crested Tit

Velvet ScoterHooded Crow

White-tailed Eagle Waxwing

The memories I will take away include Woodcock feeding 10ft away. Feeding Coal Tit from my

hand as well as one landing on my finger whilst pointing out a Treecreeper to one of the group.

Close views of Crested Tit and male Velvet Scoter. One memory will last forever and that was my

first view of White-tailed Eagle found by Matthew Merritt, Editor of Bird Watching magazine. It

struck me then watching everyone's faces beaming with joy whilst stood in the rain on a cold grey

day with the wind belting down the valley what a fantastic trip I'd had.

The whole event was made even better by the expert guidance and exceptional spotting skills of

Ian Ford – (whatever youʼre paying him isn't enough ). It was a real pleasure and I canʼt wait to

come back. I will end by saying a big thanks to all

the team who work in the background and a

special thanks to Ian for showing me round and

sharing his knowledge and passion for birds

Best regards

Mark Nightingale

Subject: My recent visit to Scotland

From: MARK NIGHTINGALE

To: info@heatherlea.co.uk ,

My recent visit to Scotland

HEATHERLEA NEWS 7

Looking for something different nextspring? Here are two unique holidays!NEW! New Year Birdlist BoosterDates: 5 Jan – 12 Jan, 12 Jan - 19 Jan, 19 Jan - 26 Jan, 26 Jan - 2 Feb

Price: £795pp No single supplement.

Get your yearlist off to a cracking start! Top priorities will be resident special birdsyou have to visit Scotland to see. This means we will be spending time inlandlooking for our key targets, Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Ptarmigan, Crested Tit,Scottish (Parrot) Crossbill, Golden Eagle and White-tailed Eagle. Next we seek a hostof northern winter visitors, and round-up rarities and anything we might havemissed. By the end, you should have around 120 or more species for your 2013 list!

Holidays run Saturday - Saturday, with the option of just doing the first three days,or leaving at any point afterwards. After this, guests may leave Heatherlea, orchoose to 'add-on' extra nights/days birding. We treat you as an individual, meaning your personal sightings are important to us, and we will try to make sure everyone sees everything, particularly the 'Key Target' species.

NEW! Wildlife Photography in the HighlandsDate: Wed 20 – Wed 27 March

Price: £895pp No single supplement.

Winter is the best time for wildlife photography in the Scottish Highlands. Our targetswill be selected from Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Crested Tit, Buzzard, Snow Bunting,Ptarmigan, Mountain Hare, wildfowl and woodland birds. Your Leader will be PeterCairns, an award-winning nature photographer, who you will join for three full daysdedicated tuition and in-depth photography. Fully indulge your photographic passionwith exclusive access to excellent sites, as you gain an insight into many of thesecrets of a successful nature photographer.

You will learn about;· Use and positioning of hides (including floating hide!) · Know your subject.· Lighting, viewpoints and background. · Basic post processing and archiving.· Creativity and composition.

A unique opportunity for all amateur photographers!

The holiday also includes three full days of wildlife watching based at our hotel in Nethy Bridge, featuring Black Grouse,Capercaillie and Golden Eagle, together with at least one full day at the coast, where winter numbers provide exciting birding.Because our group will be small (max seven clients), and because this holiday is exclusively for photographers, expect to linger for longer than on pure birding holidays – you may have some new skills to try out!

Suitable for both novice and more experienced nature photographers wishing to develop their skills and portfolios.

See our website for more details, or ring Heatherlea to request full details by post.

Spot the King!

image by P Cairns

HEATHERLEA NEWS8

Saturday 10 MarchArrival, welcome, dinner and briefing.

Sunday 11 MarchEasy, compliant Cresties seen up close in the woods and atfeeders. Two Iceland Gulls were scoped from the side of theroad on the Granish dump. Stunning close views of a rogueCaper in a special place! Reindeer running down theCairngorm ski road, again at really close quarters. BothMountain Hare, then Ptarmigan were scoped from the CoireCas car park before walking up close to them. What a kick offfor the Winter Top 20, with eight target species seen on thefirst day!

Monday 12 MarchOn our way to the West, both Roe Deer and Red Deer wereseen by the Glentruim road. Stopped by Loch Laggan and sawa Red-throated Diver. At Spean Bridge two Iceland Gulls flewover in a flock of gulls. Black Guillemots were seen by theCorran Ferry. Common Seals were hauled up on the Sallachanislands and Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Eider and Goldeneye swam around thesame vicinity.

Skylarks, Meadow Pipits,Chaffinches, ReedBuntings and Twite werefound in fields, and atlunch time, RingedPlover, Oystercatcher,Turnstones and Curlewwere watched in the Bayof the Cross with moreGreat Northern Divers and Slavonian Grebes out to sea. We hadone very distant and one very close brief views of Golden Eaglein the Black Glen. Pine Martens were seen well in the evening.

Tuesday 13 MarchAfter our overnight stay, we met up for an early start with ourguide Matt Wilson. We were encouraged to see a femaleStonechat with nest material in her beak and a pair of GreyWagtails by Loch Sunart, both species having suffered in hardwinters. After breakfast, seven Golden Eagles, four of whichwere juveniles, were seen over Loch Sunart, which isunprecedented. A White-tailed Eagle was also seen here and aperched bird later on.

FOCUS ON ……HEATHERLEA TRIP REPORTTop 20 Highland Wildlife in Winter – March 2012

Individual HighlightsTanis: Two highlights: getting Peter to see Capercaillie.Strathdearn with Golden Eagles – magical.

Sue: Fascinating watching the birdwatchers!

Colin: Seeing how the birds and mammals behave. Crossbillseating Larch cones. Turnstones turning stones.

Jillian: Watching Dippers with their song and dance (andnictitating membrane).

Stephen: Impressed as a new birdwatcher by theprofessionalism of the guides.

Carole: The view of the Hen Harrier will last a long time –stunning!

Pat: Loved every minute of it. Third time and it’s getting betterand better. Today’s Black-throated Diver and Mike’s help. TheCapercaillie made me cry.

Julie: Two birds – Dipper and Golden Plover – I had wanted tosee. Capercaillie, Red and Black Grouse – wonderful.

Mike: Experiencing a whole Capercaillie – I’ve seen bits in thepast! Tundra Bean Geese with Pinkfeet great, Crested Tit onfeeders. Seeing a Pine Marten close up. The joy of seeing otherpeople’s joy.

9HEATHERLEA NEWS

Matt shared his considerable knowledge throughout the dayand showed us Soersa his young White-tailed Eagle. Later wetravelled back to Nethy Bridge, spotting some Sika Deer on theway.

Wednesday 14 MarchSaw Treecreepers, Goldcrests and Cresties at Loch Garten. AtNethy Community Hall we had good views of Dipper on theriver, as well as at Broomhill Bridge, where one was singing.Along Carr Road we found three Tundra Bean Geese along withmany Greylag and Pink-footed Geese. Pairs of Brown Harewere seen at intervals along Carr Road including a pair boxing.Also thirty Golden Plover in flight. At the Carrbridge loos a pairof Common Crossbills, along with Siskins, were discoveredfeeding on larch cones. Ended the day driving up to Dava Mooramong displaying Red Grouse.

Thursday 15 MarchHad an early start to look for Black Grouse. It was a bit windy,however twelve Black Grouse were located. A female HenHarrier put in a stunningly close appearance before wereturned for breakfast. A pair of Brown Hares ran along theroad ahead of us.

On the Moray Coast we began by visiting Loch na Bo, whereWhooper Swans, female Goosander and other ducks wereseen. A singing Goldcrest was in a scope view for three to fourminutes, which some of the guests had time to observe. AtLoch Oire three Iceland Gulls of varying ages were found, andat Loch Spynie a third winter Iceland Gull was found.

At Lossiemouth, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Dunlin,Turnstone and a Spotted Redshank were seen during lunch. At

Hopeman we found six Purple Sandpipers in with Turnstones.Also close in Long-tailed Ducks and Eiders. We found a GreySeal in Burghead Harbour and a flock of mostly drake CommonScoter out to sea. As we turned into Roseisle, a pair of GreyPartridge were spotted in the corner of a field.

Friday 16 MarchHad another search for larger Crossbills. A small flock ofCommon Crossbills were located briefly, but windy conditionsand the presence of a Sparrowhawk did not help. We returnedto the Moray Coast, continuing westwards. At Burghead BayVelvet Scoters were located, and we found a winter plumageBlack-throated Diver. Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck,Razorbills and Red-breasted Mergansers were also found, andGannets flying further out to sea.

Next stop was Nairn Harbour for lunch. We found a flock ofsixty Knot with some Bar-tailed Godwits. Also a Kittiwake, anda ridiculously early Sandwich Tern found by Ian. We thenheaded inland and upstream of the River Findhorn toStrathdearn to find a field of over fifty Golden Plovers. A bitfurther up during our tea break Ian managed to get onto aGolden Eagle flying up the Strath. Eventually we had threeeagles flying above the ridge on the opposite side of the riverwith excellent, prolonged views.

In all nineteen out of twenty of the Top 20 were seen, althoughonly two members of the group saw large crossbills. We onlydipped on Otter, a shame, we usually see them on this holiday!

Saturday 17 MarchBreakfast and departure. Thanks from your guides and all theteam at Heatherlea. We hope to see you again sometime!

Tina: Loved every minute. The grandeur of the scenery,‘Attenborough moments’ including habitats and behaviour.

Freya: Behavioural moments – watching the Caper eating pineshoots and the frustrated female Lapwing.

Sarah: White Blue Hare sitting and lolloping. Interacting withthe Caper and finding the Greenshank.

John: The Capercaillie, the Pine Marten, the good views ofTwite, the Findhorn Valley and the wonderful company of thegroup.

Trish: Black-throated Diver, full set of game birds – fourGrouse and two Partridges.

Peter: Learning from Matt, getting support to get good viewsof Capercaillie. Appreciate help from Tanis and Sue and theguides.

Heatherlea guides Ian Ford and Jonny Pott.

Trip Report by Jonny Pott.

‘The Top 20 in Winter’ is available w/c 9 March and16 March 2013.

See our website for more details, or ring Heatherleato receive a full details by post.

Matt tells about White-tailed Eagle

2013 GO FURTHER! Birding holidays tothe islands and far west coast.These very popular holidays offer carefully designed itineraries to explore the beautiful and wildlife-rich Scottish islands and farwest coast. Each takes you to the right place at the right time, and in 2013 we offer more choice than ever, with new holidays toSkye, Orkney, the Solway Firth and Sutherland and Caithness. All are run at a leisurely pace, though we might move a bit fasterwhen rare birds are in our sights!

Transfers from Nethy Bridge are included in most holidays, and you may book an extra night’s stay at either end of your holiday. Ifdriving, your vehicle may be left safely parked at Mountview Hotel free of charge, and if usingpublic transport you may use our morning courtesy bus to Aviemore links. As an alternative youcan join the holiday at a convenient point closer to our destination.

Tremendous value! This is often the most economical way to visitthe remotest parts of Scotland – Heatherlea GO FURTHER!holidays make it easy and give you real savings. (The dates beloware slightly different from the ones in our brochure because somedepartures are already sold out).

10 HEATHERLEA NEWS

NEW! WILD SKYESat 11 May – Thurs 16 May Price £995pp ssupp £110OUTER HEBRIDES in Spring for birdersSat 18 May – Fri 24 May, Price £1175pp ssupp £140MULL, IONA and the Treshnish IslesWed 22 May – Sat 25 May Price £795pp ssupp £60NEW! SUTHERLAND and CAITHNESSSat 25 May – Fri 31 May Price £1045pp ssupp £120SCOTTISH ISLAND ADVENTUREMon 17 June – Mon 24 June Price £1525pp ssupp £140NEW DEPARTURE! ORKNEY ISLANDS ADVENTUREMon 17 June – Mon 24 June Price £1595pp ssupp £140SHETLAND and ORKNEYSat 22 June – Sun 30 June Price £1695pp ssupp £200WEST COAST WILDLIFETues 25 June – Sat 29 June Price £795pp ssupp £80ST KILDA and the HEBRIDES Price £1995pp ssupp £110Wed 3 July – Sat 13 July NEW! St Kilda only £1795NORTH RONALDSAY and mainland ORKNEYSat 14 Sept – Fri 20 Sept Price £1095pp ssupp £120SHETLAND for birdersSat 21 Sept – Sat 28 Sept, Sat 28 Sept – Sat 5 Oct Price £1195pp ssupp £140FAIR ISLE for birdersSat 5 Oct – Fri 11 Oct Price £995pp ssupp £30OUTER HEBRIDES for birdersSat 12 Oct – Fri 18 Oct Price £1195pp ssupp £140ISLAY and JURASat 26 Oct – Wed 30 Oct Price £895pp ssupp £80SOLWAY FIRTHSat 16 Nov – Wed 20 Nov Price £745pp ssupp £80

11

NEW! St Kilda optionwithout the Hebridean birding tour.Fri 5 July – Fri 12 July Price £1795pp shared cabins (singles welcome if happy to share)

Want to ‘do’ St Kilda, but without theHebrides? Now you can! This option includesthe six night voyage to St Kilda plus anovernight and dinner in Stornoway the nightbefore. Travel to Ullapool from Nethy Bridgeand ferry fees also included – a great way toget to Britain’s most isolated outpost.

NEW! Orkney IslandAdventure second departureMon 17 June – Mon 24 June Price £1595pp single supplement £100

The full Orkney experience! This brand newholiday takes you around mainland Orkneyplus the less-frequented islands of Westray,Rousay and Hoy. We also visit famous NorthRonaldsay, where anything can turn up! Arelaxed itinerary also focusing on archaeology,including admission to all the key sites.

HEATHERLEA NEWS

HEATHERLEA NEWS12

Many of you enjoy birding and wildlife holidaysoverseas, but organising things pre-flight can bea nuisance. We’ve been addressing this here atHeatherlea, and our new pre-flight service takesall the pressure away. With our extensive new‘Backroom’ containing thousands of hotels andsupport services available to you at no extracharge, you only need to make one call and wewill organise everything for you!

When you book your holiday with Heatherlea, tellus how you plan to travel to the airport, and wewill chat to you about the services available.Once we have met your needs, we will organiseeverything for you, so you can relax and lookforward to your holiday. If you are alreadybooked to travel with us in 2013, please just callour office to book your pre-flight services. Allpart of the new enhanced service fromHeatherlea!

Even if you are not flying with Heatherlea to foreignclimes, please contact us – we will be very happy toorganise Pre-flight services for you.

Which airport?Our overseas holidays depart from Heathrow,Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester. Pleasecheck the individual holiday page to see whichairport we use for the holiday you want.

Getting to the airportDriving to the airport? If you want to leave yourcar at a secure car park, Heatherlea are happy todo this for you. We only use recognisedoperators, and will also advise you of distance tothe airport from your car, and the nature oftransfers from the car park to the terminal.

Overseas Adventures – do it the Heatherlea way!

NEW! THE HEATHERLEA PRE-FLIGHTSERVICE

Hotels from£29 per

double room

4-star Hotelsfrom £37.50 per

double room

Luxury AirportLounges fromonly £17.50pp

13HEATHERLEA NEWS

Need a Hotel?If your flight leaves early in the morning, or if youare travelling a long way to the airport, you mayneed to stay overnight before you fly. Heatherleahave access to dozens of comfortable, highquality hotels to suit any budget. All offer en-suite facilities and TV in the rooms, and manyalso have restaurant facilities for evening meal orbreakfast. Call Heatherlea and we will arrangeyour stay to best fit your requirements, it’s easy!We have access to many deals unavailable to thegeneral public, and when 4-star hotels havespare capacity, rooms are often available to us atvery attractive prices. We pass the saving on toyou, so you really do get good value as well asthe convenience of having someone else do allthe organising! On some holidays you can stay inthe same hotel as your Heatherlea guide or othermembers of your holiday party. We will organisethe facilities you want in your room (hospitalitytray? Hairdryer?) and any other services whichmight help you and save you money (eg securecar parking at the hotel). Finally, we can sendyou a map of the hotel location, and arrangetransfers to the Terminal for you.

After Check-inIt can sometimes be quite a time betweencheck-in and flying, maybe up to three hours.During this time you may need to eat breakfast,find a seat, get a newspaper and/or a hot drink,and entertain yourself before you head for thedeparture gate. Heatherlea can help! At all ourdeparture airports we have negotiated deals withAirport Lounge providers, many of whom offerextremely comfortable facilities including hotfood, drinks, TV, newspapers, WIFI and more.

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER!Join us in Yellowstone, Ecuadoror Andamans in 2013, and yourPre-flight services come

FREE OF CHARGE!That means car parking, hotel overnight andentry to a luxurious Airport Lounge, all with ourcompliments and at no cost to you. Thank youfor choosing Heatherlea!

MANCHESTER DEPARTURESIN 2014 include….Many of you preferManchester flights toLondon, so Heatherlea willsoon be offering holidaysdeparting from here. Thisservice will begin in 2014,and all will include full ATOLprotection and the Heatherlea Pre-flight Service.

LESVOS PANAMAFLORIDA GAMBIA COSTA RICA MALLORCA

Please let us know if you may be interested, andwe will keep you fully informed as holidaysdevelop.

HEATHERLEA NEWS14

Overseas Adventures – do it the Heatherlea way!Heatherlea overseas wildlife holidays have areputation for being ‘less-intensive’, ideal forthose who want to relax whilst experiencing thebest wildlife watching. Heatherlea holidays arenot ‘dawn to dusk’ expeditions, and we takesensible breaks when in very hot places andregular comfort breaks on every holiday. Allitineraries are planned carefully so you won’tmiss out on memorable wildlife, whilst enjoyingrelaxed, informal days that are great fun.

Every holiday is run the ‘Heatherlea way’, forguests who we consider friends as well asclients. That means rewarding and exciting daysin the field, in the company of capable Leaderswho really look after you, and good qualityaccommodation and meals, with a real flavour ofthe country we are visiting.

Please take a close look, and find great holidaycontent at very attractive prices - wherever youwant to go!

Looking Forward …. In 2014 Heatherlea will be expandingsignificantly, with a big range of holidaysoverseas, particularly in the Americas. Muchmore in our April Newsletter, so don’t book for2014 without checking with Heatherlea – youcould miss some great new destinations anddeals! Those of you who plan early might like tomake a note of these new destinations fromHeatherlea, already under development.

NEW DESTINATIONS IN 2014 include….TEXAS MALLORCA FLORIDA FUERTAVENTURA NEW YORK CITY IRELAND for birders PANAMA BULGARIABRAZIL Pantanal

New ATOL Certificategives you real protection!Join any Heatherlea overseas holiday, and youwill receive an ‘ATOL Certificate’ as part of yourbooking confirmation. This is a valuabledocument which guarantees your safe returnhome from abroad in the event of emergency.Heatherlea have been full members of the ATOLscheme for many years, and you are of coursealso protected under the Package TravelRegulations, which can be seen herewww.direct.gov.uk (Travel and Transport section).We hope you will choose Heatherlea, butwhoever you travel with, look for the ATOL logoand unique ATOL Number – without this, yousimply are not protected.

Mr A Birder 1

Holiday package to Spain

Heatherlea (Scotland) Ltd.

15HEATHERLEA NEWS

GAMBIA Price: £1595ppMon Jan 14 – Mon Jan 21 ssupp £140ppLeader Ian Ford and local guides

SPAIN – BIRDING and LYNX Price: £1195ppThurs Jan 17 – Thurs Jan 24 ssupp £95ppLeader Cristian Jensen.

COSTA RICA Price: £3595ppSat Jan 19 – Sun Feb 3 ssupp £395ppLeaders Paco Madrigal and Kevin Shaw

NEW! HOLLAND and FLANDERS Price: £1295ppby train. Sat Feb 9 – Sat Feb 16 ssupp £110ppLeader Josef Leestmans

NEW! AUSTRIA – HUNGARY Price: £1295ppSat Feb 16 - Fri Feb 22 ssupp £90ppLeader Gerard Gorman

CAMARGUE by train Price: £1345ppThurs Feb 21 – Thurs Feb 28 ssupp £110ppLeaders John Poyner and Chris Townend (with more than 7 clients)

ICELAND Price: £1395ppThurs Feb 21 – Mon Feb 25 ssupp £125ppLeader Andy Jones

NEW! PYRENEES long weekend Price: £895ppFri Feb 22 – Tues Feb 26 ssupp £70ppLeaders Kevin Shaw and Josele Saiz

COSTA RICA Price: £3995ppSun Feb 24 – Mon March 11 ssupp £395ppLeaders Erick Castro and Ian Ford

NEPAL Price: £2995ppThur Feb 28 – Tue Mar 12 ssupp £295ppLeader Mike Coleman and local guides.

MOROCCO Price: £1745ppFri March 22 – Mon April 1 ssupp £150ppLeader Cristian Jensen

PO DELTA & VENICE Price: £1495ppSat April 6 – Sat April 13 ssupp £310ppLeader Kevin Shaw

NEW! TRINIDAD and ST LUCIA Price: £2995ppFri April 12 – Tue April 23 ssupp £250ppLeader Mike Coleman and local guides.

LESVOS Price: £1545ppSat April 20 – Sat April 27 ssupp £125ppSat April 27 – Sat May 4

Heatherlea OVERSEAS ADVENTURES 2013Some are now full or nearly full – please phone or email to check details. Max 12 clients on most holidays.

continued >>

Heatherlea (Scotland) Ltd, The Mountview Hotel, Nethybridge, Inverness-Shire Scotland PH25 3EBT: 01479 821248 E: info@heatherlea.co.uk W: www.heatherlea.co.uk twitter: @heatherleabirds

For MOREDETAILS of

all our 2013holidays

READ our colour brochure

VISIT our website www.heatherlea.co.uk

TELEPHONE 01479 821248 to speak to Kevin, Amanda, Emma or Isabel.

EXTREMADURA Price: £1545ppSat April 20 – Sat April 27 ssupp £125ppLeader Dave Pullan

NEW! SKYROS Price: £1495ppSat April 27 – Sat May 4 ssupp £125ppLeader Phil Knott

NEW! TURKEY Price: £1995ppWed May 1 – Sat May 11 ssupp £390ppLeader Cristian Jensen

POLAND Price: £1695ppSat May 4 – Sat May 11 ssupp £130ppLeader Gerard Gorman

SPAIN - PYRENEES to EBRO DELTA Price: £1695ppSun June 2 – Wed June 12 ssupp £155ppLeader Cristian Jensen

SPITSBERGEN Price: £4295ppTues June 25 – Wed July 3 shared cabinsLeader Ian Ford

NEW! FAROE ISLANDS Price: £2695ppMon July 8 – Mon July 15 ssupp £340ppLeader Andy Jones

YELLOWSTONE & GRAND TETON Price: £3995ppMon July 22 – Sun August 4 ssupp £695ppLeader Ian Ford

ICELAND Price: £2495ppThurs July 25 – Thurs August 1 ssupp £250ppLeader Andy Jones

NEW! SPAIN – ASTURIAS Price: £1395ppand LE DANOIS BANK ssupp £110ppWed Aug 7 – Wed Aug 14 Leader Phil Knott

NEW! AZORES Price: £2195ppSat Aug 24 – Sat Aug 31 ssupp £195ppLeader Andy Jones

ANDALUCIA and N. MOROCCO Price: £1545ppWed Sept 18 – Wed Sept 25 ssupp £140ppLeader Josele Saiz

NEW! ECUADOR Price: £3495ppSat Sept 21 – Sat Oct 5 ssupp £395ppLeader Dave Pullan

HUNGARY IN AUTUMN Price: £1395ppSat Sept 28 – Sat Oct 5 ssupp £130ppLeader Gerard Gorman

NEW! ANDAMAN ISLANDS Price: £3295ppFri Nov 22 – Tues Dec 3 ssupp £295ppLeader Gerard Gorman

JAPAN Price: £5995ppSun Dec 1 – Fri Dec 13 ssupp £445ppLeader Mike Coleman and local guides.

2014 Advance notice!COSTA RICA Price: £3995ppSat Feb 8 – Sun Feb 23 ssupp £395ppLeaders Paco Madrigal and Ian Ford

2014 Advance notice!NEW! INDIA Price: £3295ppThurs March 6 – Tues March 18 ssupp £445pp

>> Heatherlea OVERSEAS ADVENTURES 2013

‘The Heatherlea Times’ is a free paper which can be circulated to anyone you like!

Thanks to photographers whose work is featured in this issue; Peter Cairns, Ian Ford, Rosemary Furness, Cristian Jensen, Neil McIntyre, Matt Merritt, Jonny Pott, John Poyner, Dave Pullan, Kevin Shaw, Adams Touissant.