WINTER ON THE SCOTTISH SOLWAY with Toucan Birding Tours

Departures: 3 – 5 January 2009.
                    7 – 9 February 2009.

Tours start in Dumfries on a morning and party rendezvous is in Dumfries (collection included). Overnight accommodation in Dumfries prior to the tour can be arranged but is not included in the price of the tour (please contact me for suggestions). Tours end in Dumfries. Pick ups can be arranged in Lancashire en route to Dumfries.

Itinerary.

Day 1. Meet in Dumfries and spend the day birding the Nith Estuary and Colvend Coast. Overnight accommodation near Loch Ken.
Day 2. Full day birding the Ken – Dee Marshes and nearby lochs.
Day 3. Morning birding near Laurieston Forest and the upland road, returning to Dumfries in the late afternoon.

During this weekend tour we’ll concentrate our efforts in the Nith Estuary area, Southerness Point, Mersehead RSPB and Loch Ken. Apart from the Barnacle Geese that the area is so famous for, we’ll be in search of sea ducks (the Inner Solway is the home of large flocks of Scaup), waders (good chance of Purple Sandpipers) and raptors including Hen Harrier. At Loch Ken we’ll make the wintering flock of Greenland White-fronted Geese our priority and visit a Red Kite feeding station nearby. There’s plenty of variety in this short break too as we’ll visit some woodlands as well as some upland areas before returning to Dumfries.

Saturday: After arriving in Dumfries we’ll make the short journey around the Nith Estuary to the Solway Coast and the wintering grounds of Barnacle Geese. The Inner Solway is the winter-feeding ground for virtually the whole of the Svalbard population of this endearing goose and the Barnacles may be using one of a number of sites on the coast and we’ll encounter Pink-footed Geese with them. Vast numbers of wintering wildfowl will be present including Red-breasted Merganser, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal. Herds of Whooper Swans can be found dotted around the coast here and there is always a chance of birds of prey like Hen Harrier, Peregrine or Merlin. We’ll devote some of the day to the open shoreline where huge flocks of waders like Knot, Oystercatcher and Golden Plover can be found. Purple Sandpipers can be found on the rocky coastline and wintering Greenshank or Whimbrel are regular in the pools. The Inner Solway is famed for its large rafts of Scaup and we will see some offshore although high tide is the best time to witness the largest concentrations. Little Egrets have become more frequent on the Nith in keeping with its nationwide increase and we may find a Mediterranean Gull too.
In the late afternoon we’ll drive towards Loch Ken where we’ll spend the night in our hotel near the River Dee.

Sunday: A full day to explore the Ken – Dee RSPB Reserve where the rare Greenland White-fronted Geese spends the winter. The surrounding grasslands and shores of Loch Ken, as well as the ancient woodlands are a great place to spend the day and we’ll see a variety of birds as well as the geese. The trail to the hides is a good place to see Willow Tit as well as many other more common woodland species. Red Squirrels are regularly seen on the reserve too, sometimes on the feeders. Some of the smaller lochs in the area can be good for birds. Goosander and Goldeneye can be expected and small numbers of Smew have been fairly frequent in recent years. Careful scrutiny of the wildfowl here may reveal something of interest in with the Tufted Ducks, in fact Lesser Scaup has been found on a few occasions in recent years. Red Kites are now firmly established in the Ken – Dee Marshes and we will visit a feeding station to observe these spectacular raptors at close quarters.

Monday: We’ll leave the Loch Ken area this morning and make a leisurely trip through Laurieston Forest. Providing the weather is favourable we’ll take a road through the uplands for part of the journey where we could see Red Grouse, Hen Harrier, Ravens, Stonechats or even Crossbills in the forest. As we descend to the coast we’ll check the streams for Dipper and Grey Wagtail before heading along the coast or past some inland lochs before arriving at Dumfries where our tour ends.

Price: £210.00 per person.
Single Supplement: £15.00.

Prices based on a minimum of 4 participants per departure. This holiday includes breakfasts (Sunday – Monday) and packed lunches (Saturday - Monday), accommodation, transport and services of birding guide.

Not included: Insurance, items of a personal nature, dinners (available in hotels) and drinks.

Accommodation is in a comfortable hotel near Loch Ken (near Castle Douglas). Easy walking on roads, tracks and paths. Walking boots and wellingtons, waterproof and warm clothing recommended.

Departures: 15 – 19 December 2008.
                     6 – 10 April 2009.       
                       

Tours start in Dumfries on a Monday morning and party rendezvous is in Dumfries (collection included). Overnight accommodation in Dumfries prior to the tour can be arranged but is not included in the price of the tour (please contact me for suggestions). Tours end in Dumfries. Pick ups can be arranged in Lancashire en route to Dumfries.

Itinerary.

Day 1. Meet in Dumfries and spend the day birding the Inner Solway. Overnight accommodation near Loch Ken.
Day 2. Full day birding the Ken – Dee Marshes and nearby lochs.
Day 3. Loch Ken – Stranraer, birding en route.
Day 4. Full day Loch Ryan area.
Day 5. Loch Ryan and return to Dumfries by late afternoon.

The Scottish Solway is the home to internationally important numbers of wintering birds. The spectacle of vast flocks of geese, sea duck or wheeling clouds of waders has to be seen to be believed. Combine this with opportunity to see Hen Harriers or Barn Owls hunting at dusk and we have a recipe for some very memorable birding! We will follow a schedule that has produced some excellent birding over recent years and expect to see Whooper Swans, huge numbers of Barnacle Geese, Greylag, Pink-footed, Greenland White-fronted and Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Scaup, Eider, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Barn Owl, many waders (with Purple Sandpiper very likely), Willow Tit and Twite. In recent years there have been a few surprises like Snow Goose, Smew, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck or Green-winged Teal.

Monday: After arriving in Dumfries we’ll make the short journey around the Nith Estuary to the Solway Coast and the wintering grounds of Barnacle Geese. The Inner Solway is the winter-feeding ground for virtually the whole of the Svalbard population of this endearing goose. The Barnacles may be using one of a number of sites on the coast and we’ll encounter Pink-footed Geese with them. Vast numbers of wintering wildfowl will be present including Red-breasted Merganser, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal. Herds of Whooper Swans can be found dotted around the coast here and there is always a chance of birds of prey like Hen Harrier, Peregrine or Merlin. We’ll devote some of the day to the open shoreline where huge flocks of waders like Knot, Oystercatcher and Golden Plover can be found. Purple Sandpipers can often be found on the rocky coastline and we may find a wintering Greenshank or Whimbrel in the pools. The Inner Solway is famed for its large rafts of Scaup and we will see some offshore although high tide is the best time to witness the largest concentrations. Little Egrets have become more frequent on the Nith in keeping with its nationwide increase and we may find a Mediterranean Gull too.
In the late afternoon we’ll drive towards Loch Ken where we’ll spend the night in our hotel near the River Dee.

Tuesday: A full day to explore the Ken – Dee RSPB Reserve where the rare Greenland White-fronted Geese spends the winter. The surrounding grasslands and shores of Loch Ken, as well as the ancient woodlands are a great place to spend the day and we’ll see a variety of birds as well as the geese. The trail to the hides is a good place to see Willow Tit as well as many other more common woodland species. Red Squirrels are regularly seen on the reserve too, sometimes on the feeders. Some of the smaller lochs in the area can be good for birds. Goosander and Goldeneye can be expected and small numbers of Smew have been fairly frequent in recent years. Careful scrutiny of the wildfowl here may reveal something of interest in with the Tufted Ducks, in fact Lesser Scaup has been found in recent years. Red Kites are now firmly established in the Ken – Dee Marshes and we will visit a feeding station to observe these spectacular raptors at close quarters.

Wednesday: We’ll leave the Loch Ken area this morning and make a leisurely journey west towards Stranraer. Providing the weather is favourable we’ll take a road through the uplands for part of the journey where we could see Red Grouse, Hen Harrier, Ravens or maybe Crossbills in the forest. As we descend to the coast we’ll check the streams for Dipper and Grey Wagtail before heading along the coast towards Loch Ryan. We’ll take our first look at Loch Ryan on the way to our hotel seeing our first Eiders, Scaup or Slavonian Grebes.

Thursday: Today we’ll concentrate on Loch Ryan in search of the small wintering population of Pale-bellied Brent Geese that winter on this massive sea loch. Divers (mainly Red-throated), grebes (mainly Great Crested and Slavonian), Common Scoters, Eiders and Red-breasted Mergansers will be out on the open water. Large numbers of Scaup can be found here too and Long-tailed Ducks are regularly seen. Twite find shelter in the surrounding fields and gatherings of gulls may include a Mediterranean or Iceland Gull. In the afternoon we’ll go in search of the regular wintering Greenland White-fronted Geese near Luce Bay and we may find some Pink-footed Geese or maybe even a Snow Goose with them. We’ll end our day at a regular spot for hunting Barn Owl and Hen Harriers before returning to our hotel for the night.

Friday: A last look around Loch Ryan, one of the smaller inland lochs or Luce Bay before heading back towards Dumfries. We’ll stop at a few birding sites as we make our way back along the coast to catch up with anything we may have missed so far. Our tour ends in Dumfries where overnight accommodation can be arranged (not included in the price of the tour). 

Price: £395.00 per person.
Single Supplement: £25.00.

Prices are based on a minimum of 4 participants per departure. This holiday includes breakfasts (Tuesday – Friday) and packed lunches (Monday – Friday), accommodation, transport and services of birding guide.

Not included: Insurance, items of a personal nature, dinners (available in hotels) and drinks.

Accommodation is in comfortable hotels near Loch Ken (near Castle Douglas) and Loch Ryan (near Stranraer). Easy walking on roads, tracks and paths. Walking boots and wellingtons, waterproof and warm clothing recommended.

Please contact the office by phone or e-mail to check availability and we will send you a booking form.

Check availability by e-mailing us or calling 01772 713 886

or write to us at:

TOUCAN BIRDING TOURS,
49 Queen's Drive,
Fulwood,
Preston,
Lancs, PR2 9YL
ENGLAND

 

Payment should be by cheque made out to TOUCAN TOURS.