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Wildlife of Spain

With this popular talk, Andy offers a breath-taking tour of the wildlife of the spectacular Spanish mountains and wilderness. Beginning with the ferry journey across the deep, rich waters of the bay of Biscay, we visit the Cantabrian mountains, the Pyrenees, steppes, wetlands and other wonderful habitats and destinations across this wildlife-rich country, taking in along the way whales, dolphins, eagles, bustards, cranes, Brown Bears, Wildcats, orchids, butterflies, stunning landscapes, blue skies, blue cheese and vineyards! We also touch on conservation, looking at the current status of the Iberian Lynx and Iberian Wolf, and discussing how to see these iconic species in the wild!

Wildlife of Peru

Peru is a magnificent country full of contrasts, from the richness of the Humboldt Current offshore, to the high Andes and the pristine lowland rainforest of the Amazon basin. In this talk Andy delves into the marine ecosystem of the Peruvian coast and its countless seabirds and sealions. The talk then moves to the jungles of south-east Peru, where Andy spent a year as a guide, looking at antbirds, primates, macaw clay licks and oxbow lakes. We then move to the Andes, with glittering hummingbirds and tanagers and spell-binding mountain scenery, framed by a welcoming and colourful people and a rich history, culminating in the remarkable conquest of the Incas and the spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu. This is a talk not to miss!

Wildlife of Madagascar

Madagascar has been isolated from mainland Africa for 165 million years, allowing evolution to take its own unique course. Today over 80% of all Malagasy wildlife is endemic, occurring nowhere else on Earth, meaning it truly is an island of the “weird and wonderful”! During this talk, Kerrie will describe all corners of Madagascar, from the lush eastern rainforest, over the dry deciduous forests to the spiny deserts of the south-west. Across these habitats an incredible range of wildlife lies in wait for us, including the iconic Ring-tailed Lemurs, enigmatic Fosas, the bizarre-looking Aye-aye, 6 endemic (or near-endemic) families of birds, plus untold numbers of chameleons, geckos, insects, and more. There will also be time to touch on a little Malagasy history and culture, and discuss the island’s conservation priorities.

The birds of Ecuador and Colombia

Ecuador and Colombia are two of the best birding destinations on the planet. In fact, Colombia has more species than any other. In this talk, Andy covers a variety of ecosystems with stunning photography of the region’s birds. The talk covers some of the tactics used by bird guides in these challenging forest environments, some of the conservation issues present, and some of the rich history of both countries. Above all though, the talk is a celebration of the birdlife of the Andes, from the experience of a raucous Cock of the Rock lek and an antpitta feeding station to stunning fruiteaters, shimmering hummingbirds and endemic tanagers, and from the mighty Condor to the bizarre Hoatzin.

Wildlife of Southern Africa

Africa is the world’s greatest wildlife continent, and Southern Africa in particular contains some of the most spectacular natural landscapes left on Earth. In this varied talk, Ben will take you on a tour of the region’s wildest places, from the immense oasis of the Okavango Delta to the dramatic cliffs and rich coastal waters of the Western Cape. Remarkable mammals are everywhere, many (but by no means all) familiar to nature-lovers worldwide. Ben will cover such iconic species as Lion, Leopard, White Rhinoceros and Southern Right Whale, while more obscure – but equally fascinating – creatures include Aardvark, Caracal, Aardwolf and Black-footed Cat. The birdlife is just as astonishing, with giants like Ostrich, Southern Ground Hornbill and Lappet-faced Vulture complemented by a glittering array of bee-eaters, kingfishers and barbets. He will also discuss interesting aspects of conservation and animal behaviour, and suggest how you can experience Southern Africa’s natural abundance for yourself.

Ecuador and Galapagos

In this two-part talk, Andy first explores the richness of mainland Ecuador, from the moss-laden cloudforests of north-west Ecuador, to the high Andes and the lowlands of the Amazon in the east, where Andy once spent a year as a resident naturalist guide. The talk features stunning photography of such iconic species as Cock of the Rock, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Giant Anteater, Torrent Duck and Hoatzin. After the break we move on to the Enchanted Islands, covering the geological history and geography of the archipelago, the Darwin story, current conservation issues and the visitor experience, including snorkelling, marine life, seabird and sealion colonies, Giant Tortoises, Marine and Land Iguanas, the Darwin’s finches, Galapagos Penguins and much more!

Canada: The West

The province of British Columbia in the west of Canada embraces vast areas of wilderness and spectacular scenery and plays host to a large and diverse range of wildlife. Peter has led tours and privately travelled through the variety of different habitats and recounts his sightings of Orca, Humpback and Grey Whales as well as some excellent birdwatching. The talk covers Vancouver Island and the Nekite Valley on the mainland, where the Great Bear Rainforest, a remote and temperate coastal rainforest, is home to several threatened species and one of the last strongholds of the Grizzly Bear.

Monterey Bay

A favourite destination, Peter has visited Monterey Bay over twenty times in the last 12 years and this talk will illustrate why he continues to do so. Humpback Whales leaping clear of the ocean, pods of dolphins swimming at the bows of the vessel, a Blue Whale ‘fluking -up’ in the Bay and a menacing group of Orcas sending fishing California Sea Lions in a frantic dash to the safety of shore. These are just a few of the amazing sights illustrated. The beautiful ‘Big Sur coast’ of California is an ideal destination for wildlife watching and away from the water, Peter will show other highlights such as Sea Otters, Elephant Seals, California Condor and a great selection of seabirds, all amid a setting that is strangely familiar from countless depictions on film and TV.

Poland in Spring

Poland’s Bialowieza Forest is home to over 200 species of bird, as well as mammals such as Wolf, Lynx and Elk and Peter has been visiting the area for 15 years. His two-part talk will firstly illustrate the rich bird and other wildlife found in Bialowieza , such as Pygmy Owl, Red-breasted Flycatcher and River Warbler, plus Thrush Nightingale and all of Europe’s woodpeckers. Bialowieza is also home to one of Europe’s last remaining herds of Bison.

In the second part of the talk he heads north-west to the flooded meadows, lakes and rivers of the Biebrza Marshes in search of White-winged Terns, Aquatic Warblers, Spotted Eagle, Bluethroat and Common Cranes. together with a variety of breeding waders, waterfowl and passerines.

Poles Apart – Spitsbergen and the Antarctic

Having travelled as a guide to both the Arctic (Spitsbergen and beyond) and the Antarctic, Peter’s talk shows the similarities in species and the obvious differences. Both areas can be rich in whales and seals but then Polar Bears and auks occur in the north and Penguins in the south.

His talk shows some of the fantastic scenery that can be found, visiting both areas during their respective summers and an insight into the species to be found. His interest in seabirds is shown with the albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters and prions in the south and auks, gulls and skuas in the north.

Poles Apart – Spitsbergen and the Antarctic

Having travelled as a guide to both the Arctic (Spitsbergen and beyond) and the Antarctic, Peter’s talk shows the similarities in species and the obvious differences. Both areas can be rich in whales and seals but then Polar Bears and auks occur in the north and Penguins in the south.

His talk shows some of the fantastic scenery that can be found, visiting both areas during their respective summers and an insight into the species to be found. His interest in seabirds is shown with the albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters and prions in the south and auks, gulls and skuas in the north.

Spain: Extremadura and Coto Donana

This talk is about the contrasting habitats of south and central Spain – the sun-drenched steppes and plains of Extremadura, including the rugged oak-forested hills of Monfragüe National Park, and one of Europe’s finest wetlands – the Coto Doñana National Park. Peter’s talk is divided into two parts visiting Extremadura in both spring and winter followed on by spring visits to Coto Donana and the surrounding oak forests.

The talk shows a variety of the country’s birds, such as Black, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures; Booted and Bonelli’s Eagles and the endemic Spanish Imperial Eagles. Grassland birds like Great and Little Bustards and a number of Mediterranean specialities — Black Wheatear, Melodious Warbler, and Spotless Starling to name but a few The southern marshes and wetlands hold birds that just have a toehold in western Europe — Marbled Duck, White-headed Duck, Crested Coot and Purple Gallinule all depicted along with some of the diversity of Iberia’s magnificent scenery.

St. Kilda & the Hebrides - cruising to the Edge of the World

In a world where long-haul travel is now so accessible, it can be all too easy to overlook the treasures in our own backyard. St Kilda is a very special place, and one of only 35 sites in the world to hold joint UNESCO World Heritage status for both cultural and natural heritage. This exciting talk will take you on a journey to St Kilda from Oban, as Sara details the excitement of sailing to this remote archipelago through the beautiful Inner and Outer Hebrides. She also gives insight into the life of the hardy St. Kildan people, which was one of remarkable self-sufficiency. Having lived in the Hebrides for 3 years as a Wildlife Guide, Sara recounts the wonderful wildlife which inhabits these islands and surrounding waters – from otters, eagles and seabirds to dolphins, sharks and whales.

Indonesia - Sailing from Bali to Komodo

The archipelago of Indonesia comprises a staggering 17,000 islands, of which Bali and Komodo are two. This talk covers the wonderful wildlife of this remote archipelago (famously explored by the great naturalist Alfred Wallace), much of which is encountered on Naturetrek's exciting cruise which sails from Bali to Komodo, the latter being well-known to naturalists for being home to the world’s largest species of lizard, the formidable Komodo Dragon! Indonesia is also home to an astonishing 30 species of whales and dolphins, such birds as the Red-tailed Tropicbird and the critically-endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo, the mighty Manta Ray and pristine coral reefs teeming with colourful fish. Visiting here is a ‘must’ for anyone interested in tropical wildlife!

Whales and Dolphins of the Azores

Twenty three species of cetacean have been recorded in the Azores, including the largest animal to ever have lived, the Blue Whale. This is without a doubt the best whale watching in Europe – and it is possible to see 7+ species in a single visit, including the rare and elusive ‘beaked whales’ which live at depths of 2000m! This talk takes listeners through the biology of the cetacean species which inhabit the waters around these islands – from the deep-diving Sperm Whales which raise their calves here in the safety of these waters, to the attractive Striped Dolphins, which arrive in the Azores for the summer months. Sara also touches on other areas of interest to the natural historian, including huge lava caves, stunning UNESCO vineyards and Europe’s largest colony of Cory’s Shearwaters.