Beginners Wildlife

One of National Geographic Traveler's 50 Tours of a Lifetime 2015 and the best place to start if you're new to wildlife watching! An all-inclusive bird and mammal watching holiday based at our converted steading in the Cairngorms National Park, with our popular single-centre, houseparty style. Learn to identify those tricky species that are so confusing, from the common to the rare, including the Highland specialities. Comfortable minibus transport.

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Trip Report

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Day 1	Arrive in the Cairngorms 7 nights at the Steading
Days 2-7	Wildlife and birdwatching exploration including the Cairngorms, the Moray Firth, Dava Moor and Abernethy Forest
Day 8	Depart after breakfast
Leaders	John Grierson plus one from our Speyside Team

Walking	Most walks are 1-2 miles on wide sandy tracks, although there is the possibility of a forest walk of up to 4 miles
Weather	Varies from cold to warm and sunny (8°-20°C), with less rainfall than much of Scotland, but snow possible in the mountains
Insects	Biting midges can be a nuisance so bring repellent
Meals	All included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8.
Accom	Double (ensuite), twin (ensuite) and single (ensuite and non ensuite)

Group

New to wildlife watching? Why not improve your skills, with hints and tips from guides who love to help you learn - and see some great birds and mammals of the Cairngorms.

	* Pick up useful identification tips from our expert guides
	* Local specialities - Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill and Osprey
	* Coastal visit for terns, gulls and eclipse plumage ducks
	* Divers and grebes
	* Learn to identify species using bird calls
	* An evening for Pine Martens and Badgers too
	* Come by train or plane with station/airport pickups

Day 1	Dinner together on Saturday evening starts the holiday
Days 2-7	Specially created to help you gain confidence in identifying birds, this is a week to ask as many questions as you like, no matter how simple you think they may sound. We love helping you learn and whether it is a bird call you don’t recognise, a raptor high overhead, or the fine art of telling a Meadow Pipit from a Tree Pipit we can help! We’ll tailor the week to what you need, but also find exciting new birds for you, so while picking out the difference between Great Tit and Coal Tit calls, we’ll show you Crested Tit as well! Raptors can cause great confusion, so grab this opportunity to become familiar with them - with young on the wing they are at their most numerous. Learn to tell that distant Golden Eagle from a Buzzard (well most of the time!), tell a Sparrowhawk from a Kestrel and we’ll hope to find Peregrine, Hen Harrier and Merlin, all of which become easier with experience. The most difficult bird of all is the crossbill, with three species possible - even the experts can’t always be sure which is which! The meandering River Spey and its rushing tributaries hold Dipper and Grey Wagtail, while abundant Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher call to their young. It’s a great mix of exciting birds in beautiful glens, forests and moorland scenery. We’ll see Red-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe on the coast and learn to identify Sandwich, Little and the more difficult Common and Arctic Tern. If you are really keen, we can do the gulls too! Ospreys fish in the surf here and ducks are challenging, with the males in ‘eclipse’ plumage. We’ll also seek out the different species of deer and hare that can be seen and on one evening we’ll visit our hide and look for Pine Marten and Badger - perhaps the best view you’ll ever have.
Day 8	After breakfast on Saturday we say our farewells.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Red-throated Diver	Red Grouse	Parrot Crossbill
Black-throated Diver	Sandwich Tern	Siskin
Slavonian Grebe	Arctic Tern	Redpoll
Golden Eagle	Common Tern	Red Squirrel
Osprey	Dipper	Pine Marten
Merlin	Ring Ouzel	Badger
Peregrine	Crested Tit	Red Deer
Hen Harrier	Scottish Crossbill	Roe Deer

"There were as ever many highlights, beginning with the warmth of the welcome as I stepped down from the train. I have to say that the sight of a Roe Deer running across the road in the evening light as we were approaching the Steading set the atmosphere for the week that followed!"
Kathleen Murray

"A few days into the holiday John asked me to identify what was in the telescope. I was a bit reluctant in case I got it wrong but when I looked it was a Goosander and I knew- it felt great!"
Joan Oglesby

"Seeing Osprey, Skuas and Pine Martens. I particularly enjoyed my visit to Spey Bay but then every day and every place was special. I just would like to finish by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my holiday so thank you to you all at Speyside Wildlife and I hope to come back next year."
Fay Tempest

"Having been met with a warm welcome at the station the holiday began with a highlight on the road to the Steading. In the evening light a Roe Deer with her youngster ran across the front of the van then paused in the woodland to look back at us. That's when I knew without doubt that my week of delights had truly begun! It carried on with wonderful close-ups of Badgers and a Pine Marten at the hide and was topped by a glorious 20 minutes watching a pair of young Otters fishing then playing on the shore and in the waves. A huge thank you to all who work so hard to ensure that my time at the Steading is the highlight of my year. May you go from strength to strength..(but keep the numbers down!) Kathleen."
Kathleen Murray

"Difficult to be specific. Some really lovely days out and some good sightings …... A lovely surprise was when Brian brought a birthday cake to one of our group on the last night. It was just a lovely holiday, and thanks to all."
Pam Drysdale

"Elaine's magic moment was watching the Dolphins feeding and playing at Chanonry Point on Monday. Mine was the evening in the hide watching the Badgers and Roe Deer feeding, sadly no Pine Martens turned up, but a magic evening nevertheless."
Elaine & Greg Laver

You only have to arrive at our beautifully converted Steading at Ballintean and you’ll know you’ve come to the right place. Few roads reach into the mountains of the Cairngorms National Park, but the one to Ballintean in stunning Glen Feshie – known as ‘the jewel of the Cairngorms’ – takes you into its very heart. Our 120 acres are flanked by pine forest, with the sweeping slopes of the Cairngorms rising up before you, just across the tumbling waters of the clear, rushing River Feshie.

Astonishing wildlife begins right outside the door and you can wander wherever you like. Crested Tit, Woodcock, Common Sandpiper, Dipper and Grey Wagtail can be seen, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and, regularly, Golden Eagle fly over. We have our very own forest hide and Osprey nest. Scottish Crossbill, Redstart and Red Squirrel are in our woods, Pine Marten visit our baited sites and Otter lurk along the river. It’s no wonder we hardly want to leave home each day.

It was designed with our holidays completely in mind and you’ll enjoy all the facilities of a small country hotel, simple elegant ensuite rooms, beautiful furnishings and a warm welcome that will linger with you long after you’ve returned home. It’s completely informal, but with all that you might need and the personal attention of all of us as hosts. There’s every chance to really unwind and it’s all yours for the week.

Each bedroom combines simplicity with individual character, comfort and crisp modern facilities. Windows enjoy every aspect of the glorious views, allowing sunlight to glance along timber beams and the wooden floors of the huge split-level lounge and natural history library.

Our ‘piece de resistance’ is the dining room’s magnificent table that we all eat around. It helps to create the relaxed informality that our holidays are renowned for and it’s a chance for us all to enjoy delicious meals prepared by our talented duo of chefs.

Mealtimes are something we take very seriously and, with a choice at dinner every night from a menu that uses the finest Highland produce, you’ll enjoy a real taste of Scotland amidst bistro-like surroundings. Our breakfast choice is imaginative and substantial, we can cater for a wide variety of dietary needs, and our carefully prepared choice of packed lunch each day includes home-bakes, fruit and hot drinks. All presented with a smile and attention to detail.

Our Steading is always a holiday highlight for our guests – we know you’ll love it

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