A week of Scottish birding across the Highlands featuring a two-night stay on the remote North Coast!
Saturday 14 February to Saturday 21 February 2026
Saturday 21 February to Saturday 28 February 2026
Price: £1,595pp (no single supplement), deposit £300pp
BOOK NOW
Call 01479 821 248
For further information about this or any of Heatherlea’s other holidays, see: heatherlea.co.uk
February is an exciting month for birding in the extreme north of the British mainland, and this Bird Watching readers’ holiday, run by Scottish wildlife holiday experts Heatherlea, is something a little bit different, featuring remote northern hideaways as we locate the very best Scottish birdlife in winter.
Our speciality birds include Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Golden and White-tailed Eagle, and we look for these during approximately two absorbing days birding the Scottish interior, which may be frozen and/or snow-covered at this time. Flocks of Waxwings, Lesser Redpolls, Twite and Bramblings are very possible, while northern rarities including Great Grey Shrike, uncommon geese and gulls are often found at this time.
Activity at the coast features concentrations of winter visitors offshore, and rarities and scarce British birds sheltering in harbours. Gulls, waders, geese and ducks, divers, passerines and raptors, just about anything can turn up!
We make an exciting expedition over three days to the very far north, staying in Thurso for two nights, and visiting secluded harbours and windswept lochs to find the birds that make this holiday so special.
You will probably visit four different coastlines – the very far north in Caithness, the rugged east-facing coast north of Inverness, the long expanse of the Moray Firth, and either Aberdeenshire or the west coast, depending on available birding opportunities and of course the weather.
This is a time of year when tourists are few on the ground, and wild landscapes and solitude (you won’t see many other birders!) are to be combined with exceptional birding.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1: Saturday
Arrival, welcome, dinner and briefing. Don’t forget our courtesy collection service from Aviemore.
Day 2: Sunday - Local specialities
We visit a moorland location in our minibus to see Black Grouse popping and cooing at the lek. In the Caledonian forest Crested Tits are noisy and we look for Scottish Crossbills, but with both Common and Parrot Crossbill also present, separation of these three species can pose a real ID challenge! Capercaillie also occur in these forests though are increasingly scarce and we no longer actively look for them. Any sightings should be seen as incidental. Buzzard, Treecreeper, Siskin, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk and even Golden Eagle are all more than possible.
Days 3-5: Monday-Wednesday – Birding the far North!
We cross the Black Isle north of Inverness (where we may see Red Kite), heading for Sutherland and Caithness – the remotest and most under-birded counties on the British mainland. We call at key sites on the journey, a fascinating part of a unique holiday. Glaucous and Iceland Gull are regular in harbours and we can reasonably expect to see both. In secluded lochs and coastal bays, wintering Red-throated, Black-throated and Great Northern Diver are occasionally joined by rare White-billed Diver. Other uncommon seabirds might include Black Guillemot or storm-driven Grey Phalarope and Little Auk. The Caithness coast can be excellent for flocks of Twite, Snow Bunting and perhaps many thousand migrating Fieldfares, Redwings and Starlings. Rarities can often feature and in the previous years Heatherlea has seen Crane, American Wigeon, Snow Goose, Long-billed Dowitcher, Ring-necked Duck, Smew, Ring-billed and Bonaparte’s Gulls and Great Grey Shrike in this region. Waxwing and Jack Snipe may be possible too.
Our two-night stay in Thurso gives us the chance of detailed searches of harbours and bays, with views to the Orkney Isles across the Pentland Firth. We will spend time on Tuesday looking at large lochs and fertile pastures where we check the wildfowl, with large numbers of geese and ducks expected. In previous years we have seen Brent (both races), Tundra and Taiga Bean, White-fronted (both races) in among the good numbers of Pink-footed Geese. Time will be dedicated to birding the 'Flow Country' where a late-afternoon drive through expanses of peaty moorland can produce Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier and Merlin. Our return journey will see us call at estuaries and mudflats, returning south in time for dinner on Wednesday.
Day 6: Thursday – Cairngorm Mountains
Today we visit the Cairngorms with Ptarmigan in mind. The birds are mainly white at this time, and our quest is usually successful. We round-up a few more interesting birds, perhaps including Peregrine, Snow Bunting, Dipper and Goldeneye. Local fields may contain returning waders, and Lapwing, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Golden Plover are splendid in fine breeding colour. We will also use this day to target any Scottish Specials we may have missed on Sunday.
Day 7: Friday - Moray Coast
Back to the coast, this time in Morayshire. We will almost certainly see Common and Velvet Scoter, and Long-tailed Duck, perhaps at very close quarters. Great Northern and Red-throated Diver are highly likely, and rarities are frequent at this time of year. Previous winter visits have yielded Glaucous and Iceland Gull, Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Surf Scoter and King Eider – a feast of seawatching! Red Grouse, Corn Bunting, flocks of grey geese and waders, including Purple Sandpiper, are on the agenda too. You can expect around 70 species on this day.
DAY 8: Saturday - Departure
Breakfast and departure. Don’t forget our courtesy return service to Aviemore.
All itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and elements beyond our control (e.g., weather). This particularly applies to water-based travel, provision of which is always weather dependent.
Information
Accommodation: Five nights at The Mountview Hotel, Nethy Bridge, two nights at The Station Hotel, Thurso. All accommodation is ensuite.
Food: There is a choice of evening meal, and vegetarian, vegan and other diets are welcome. Breakfast may be chosen from a full Scottish menu. Packed lunches are taken in the field. You don’t need flasks for hot drinks.
Walking: Light, although mountain walking for Ptarmigan can be strenuous, depending on the snow level. The mountain day is optional.
Weather: Expect a wide variation in weather conditions. Blazing sunshine and rain are equally likely, and you will probably experience a bit of everything, including snow! Bring waterproofs, walking boots or shoes and warm clothing.
Biting insects: Unlikely to be encountered.
Group size: Maximum seven clients per guide.
Optics: Telescopes will be useful, and you should bring binoculars. We have a limited number of top-quality Swarovski binoculars, which you may borrow at no charge (subject to availability). A camera would be useful, too!Black Grouse at the lek
What’s included
· Five nights comfortable accommodation at The Mountview Hotel, VisitScotland rated 3 Star. All rooms are ensuite, with TV and hospitality tray. There is no single supplement, and guests are never expected to share. Single guests may be upgraded to double room accommodation at no extra charge.
· Two nights comfortable ensuite accommodation in Thurso featuring good home-prepared food.
· Full Scottish breakfast, a substantial packed lunch, and a delicious dinner.
· Six full days of wildlife watching.
· Guidance from a professional Group Leader.
· All transport by comfortable minibus.
· All estate access and ferry fees.
· A checklist specifically prepared for your holiday to record your sightings and notes.
· Courtesy bus service to and from public transport in Aviemore.
· What's not included in your holiday price – insurance, drinks and other items of a personal nature.
BOOK NOW
Call 01479 821 248
For further information about this or any of Heatherlea’s other holidays, see heatherlea.co.uk