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News in Brief: India, Hungary, Bhutan, France, The Gambia, Fuerteventura & the UK
November 2025
‘Our “Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills” tour was a tremendous success, yielding an impressive 311 species of birds, 19 species of mammals, and nine species of reptiles’ says tour leader Harish Sharma. ‘The journey was filled with unforgettable moments and outstanding wildlife encounters.
We began at Sultanpur National Park, where a rich variety of birdlife set the tone for the tour. Watching Red-naped Ibis, Black-necked Stork and a bustling Painted Stork nesting colony was a delight, complemented by sightings of Greater Spotted and Booted Eagles.
Bharatpur offered equally memorable experiences, including displaying Indian Sarus Cranes, Black and Yellow Bitterns, Dusky Eagle Owl, Indian Jungle Nightjar, Orange-headed Thrush, Imperial Eagle and Bar-headed Goose. Additional highlights were Crested Bunting, Great Grey Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Indian Bush Lark, and a thriving colony of Indian Vultures. A serene boat trip on the Chambal River revealed Black-bellied Tern, Great Thick-knee, Marsh Mugger Crocodile and the endangered Gharial.
A cultural interlude took us to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal – each as impressive as the wildlife.
Corbett National Park brought thrilling sightings, including Ibisbill along the Kosi River, Himalayan Rubythroat, Wallcreeper, Collared Falconet, Brown Fish Owl, Himalayan Griffon, Cinereous and Red-headed Vultures and Crimson Sunbird. Encounters with Asiatic Wild Elephants, including a great sighting of a Tusker in the grasslands, were unforgettable.
In the higher Himalayas, clear views of Nanda Devi (7,817 m) and Trishul (7,120 m) enhanced sightings of Himalayan and Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers, Brown Dipper, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktails, Altai and Rufous-breasted Accentors, Kalij Pheasant, Rock Bunting, Pink-browed Rosefinch, Red-fronted Serin and mountain goat (Goral). Combined with sunny weather, delicious Indian cuisine and a visit to the Ganges, the trip was truly memorable.’
September 2025
‘Our small group was led by leading bat researchers both in Slovakia and Hungary; each night saw us outside a cave or a mine setting up mist nets to capture and record the various bats’ writes tour participant, Katie Jenks. ‘When walking we also had time to track wolves and spot tiny wolf footprints from the juveniles. Grass Snakes were seen swimming across lakes and the birding was also spectacular. Hungary is well known as a birding spot and a boat trip took us to the heart of the wetland area seeing White Stork, Spoonbill, a multitude of waders and wildfowl plus Beaver lodges on the banks. We were very lucky to be joined by a group of 25-30 Red-footed Falcons all circling overhead and landing in nearby trees and bushes. We also spent a while with two White-tailed Eagles having their lunch and then moved on to search for Long-eared Owl. These birds spend their time roosting in trees in towns and villages but can be hard to spot. The first village was especially tricky to spot them as they weren’t there. Moving on to the next village we found one in a Poplar on the main through road staring down at us – and the next town had eight!
We had one last treat on the way to the airport to fly home; a dormouse box check! We unearthed both Edible Dormouse and Forest Dormouse, most deciding to stay hunkered in their cosy nests staring up at us, with only a couple getting out to scold us. We totalled 21 species of bat during the trip – 16 seen and 5 heard on bat detectors. Getting so close to them both in the roosts and seeing them in the hand was very special.’
December 2025
'Any tour where the main wildlife attraction is dominated by one species is always a little nerve-racking for Naturetrek staff, clients and tour leaders alike!’ writes tour leader Neil McMahon.
‘No pressure then on this tour to find the enigmatic Wallcreeper? After all, we have never failed so far...! So, with our two venues visited and drawing a blank, what to do? In warm, sunny conditions our enthusiastic group returned again to the stunning fortress village of Les Baux, still with the burning desire to see this “blue riband” of birds. We walked the same track as before, seeing lots of Black Redstarts and posing Blue Rock Thrushes. Towards the conclusion of the walk, we were almost resigned to thinking of all the excuses why we hadn't seen one – and then one flew in! Why is it that when you work really hard for something and it pays off, it somehow feels sooooo good! With excitement and undeniable emotion on our part, the cliff-flitting waif flashed its vermillion and white-spotted wings as it flew past and landed out in the open on a vertical rock face. Despondent French birders who had been searching all day were immediately summoned and the excitement was infectious. The star of the show pirouetted and inched up the rock, checking cracks and fissures for something palatable. What an amazing, mysterious and unique bird – there really is nothing else like it! Our quarry stayed in view for quite a time before finally disappearing over a ledge, and was later seen to fly off quite a distance – phew! We only just had enough wine and beer to celebrate during our subsequent and well-earned Naturetrek picnic!
In addition to the Wallcreeper, of course, there was plenty else to look at. With avian flu causing so many issues with the European Common Crane population, we had concerns that perhaps there would be none this year for us to see. We needn't have worried, as almost everywhere we went there were always the bugling calls of these stately birds and lines and “v” formations of crane flocks continually on the horizon. There were plenty of family parties with juveniles in good numbers, so hopefully this population is untouched by the deadly virus.
Our visit to Parc Ornithologique is always a high point with amazing views of the extraordinary Greater Flamingoes and close encounters with several heron species and a small selection of waders. Key areas within the Camargue provided us with views of Eurasian Bittern, Western Swamphens, Bluethroats, Whiskered Terns, Water Pipits, lots of Kingfishers, flocks of Glossy Ibis, Hoopoes and a Moustached Warbler. A flock of over 30 Little Bustards was watched in flight close to our lovely hotel on the outskirts of Arles and Kestrels, Common Buzzards and Marsh Harriers were everywhere.'
October 2025
‘The “India’s Wildlife – A Photography Tour” was a remarkable success, offering guests an unforgettable experience in Bandhavgarh National Park’ writes tour leader Iliaz Khan. ‘We enjoyed sightings of 12 different Tigers – including the female tigress Raa with her three cubs and a Tiger in water – and spectacular behavioural moments were captured. Over 150 bird species were recorded, reflecting the region’s rich avifauna. A rare encounter with a wild Elephant, added extra excitement to the journey and we paid a spiritual visit to the sacred Shesh Shaiya, the magnificent statue of Lord Vishnu reclining on the 7-headed serpent, located in the heart of the park. Overall, the tour was highly rewarding and memorable, combining thrilling wildlife encounters, exceptional photography opportunities, and deep cultural significance.’
November 2025
‘This unforgettable journey through the best of Bhutan, Manas and Kaziranga, plus the Sunderbans extension, offered an extraordinary blend of culture, wilderness, and breathtaking biodiversity’ writes tour leader Anurag Yadav. ‘Beginning in Kolkata and flying into the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, the group experienced spectacular landscapes, vibrant festivals, sacred monasteries, and exceptional birding. Highlights included Blood Pheasants and Himalayan Monals at high passes, rare sightings such as Ward’s Trogon and Rufous-necked Hornbill, and the graceful Black-necked Cranes of Phobjikha. After days of cultural immersion and mountain birding, we crossed into India and continued to Manas National Park, where lush forests and grasslands revealed elephants, rhinos, wild buffalo, and a remarkable diversity of birds.
Kaziranga added another dimension of excitement with close encounters with Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, herds of elephants, rare raptors, otters, stunning Himalayan backdrops and the Gangetic River Dolphin. The group enjoyed diverse ranges, dynamic rhino behaviour, and peaceful moments along forest tracks. Finally, the adventure concluded in the mystical Sundarbans, where boat safaris introduced us to mangrove ecosystems, Brown-winged Kingfishers, Collared Kingfishers, estuarine birds and more.
From mighty mountains to endless grasslands and tidal mangrove forests, the journey delivered captivating wildlife, cultural richness, and memorable moments shared across three extraordinary landscapes.’
November 2025
‘The Kerala trip was quite delightful, both in terms of how it went and the sightings we enjoyed’ writes tour leader Narayana. ‘We began with the backwaters, which brought countless species of birds and a chance to immerse ourselves in the unique wetlands of the Western Ghats. Relaxing on a luxury houseboat, we took in the traditional craftsmanship that makes these boats so special.
From there, we continued to the woodlands of the Western Ghats, where the forest revealed a tremendous number of endemics. Among the birds, we saw the Malabar Whistling Thrush, Malabar Barbet, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Woodpecker, the elusive Sri Lanka Frogmouth, and the stunning Malabar Trogon.
The trip was also rewarding for mammal sightings. We observed the Nilgiri Langur – endemic to this region – along with plenty of Sambar Deer, Gaur, Indian Crested Porcupine (one of the rarest animals to spot), and Malabar Giant Squirrel. The graceful Slender Loris was a highlight among primates, while butterflies and other small creatures added to the richness.
A visit to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary turned out to be a major highlight. Known as one of the country’s best birding spots, it offers perfect habitat for frogmouths and other specialities, all thanks to effective protection.
Our journey ended with a city tour of Cochin, which was delightful for its history and culture. It’s remarkable how the city has developed while still preserving its charm.’
October 2025
‘The journey began in Kolkata, where the group arrived and rested before departing for the Sundarbans’ writes tour leader Sujan Chatterjee. ‘Over several days in this vast mangrove wilderness, we explored creeks and watchtowers, spotting an impressive array of birds including kingfishers, warblers, sunbirds, and multiple sightings of Peregrine Falcons. The major highlight was an exciting encounter with a Sundarbans Tiger, seen crossing clearings along the creek. Village walks and wildlife activity around the lodge added to the experience before returning to Kolkata.
Next, we flew to Jorhat to board the M.V. Sukapha, beginning an extended cruise along the Brahmaputra. The voyage combined wildlife, culture, and rural Assam experiences. Early days included close encounters with Capped Langurs and Western Hoolock Gibbons, a Brown Boobook, and extensive birding along wetlands. Cultural showcases from Majuli’s monasteries, mask-makers and musicians highlighted Assam’s rich heritage.
As the boat travelled towards Kaziranga, guests observed wildlife from the deck – buffaloes, Swamp Deer, and a remarkable herd of 40 wild elephants. Days inside Kaziranga National Park were extraordinary: countless rhinos including mothers with calves, Water Buffaloes, Swamp and Hog Deer, fish eagles, otters, and even a Tiger sighting near a pond. Additional highlights included Tokay Geckos, massive Tigers, and large flocks of pelicans and storks. Evenings featured Bihu cultural performances and tranquil riverside sunsets.
Further upstream, the group enjoyed village walks in remote Mishing communities, visits to tea estates, a bustling local market challenge, and an unforgettable riverside BBQ night that turned adventurous when the sandbank unexpectedly collapsed – requiring a dramatic tender-boat rescue.
Near Guwahati, the group explored Sualkuchi’s ancient silk-weaving traditions and visited the sacred Kamakhya Temple. The trip concluded with a powerful conservation perspective at the Garchuk rubbish tip, home to the world’s largest concentration of endangered Greater Adjutant Storks.
Nine travellers continued onwards to Manas National Park, where they enjoyed excellent birding and mammal sightings: elephants with calves, rhinos, Gaur, and a huge checklist of rarities including drongos, green pigeons, barbets, bee-eaters, babblers, tesias, and even Crab-eating Mongooses. A final stop at Kakaijana brought wonderful encounters with endangered Golden Langurs, including a troop that had adopted a baby Rhesus Macaque.
The group departed Kolkata after a successful and memorable expedition – rich in wildlife, culture, adventure, and camaraderie.’
November 2025
‘The Gambia is dominated by colours’ writes tour leader Andy Bunten. ‘The relentless deep blues of the skies; the leaves with hundreds of shades of green and, moving among them, the brilliant reds of firefinches and bishops, the turquoise blues of cordonblues and the breathtaking iridescent shimmering of sunbirds.
Our single-centre holiday, where we were the sole occupants of the lovely Mandina Lodges, was a peaceful haven among the mangroves. We had two wonderful days out to the coast, wetlands and towering woodlands and the rest were spent on gentle walks and blissful early morning canoe trips with Whimbrel, Broad-billed Rollers, Blue-breasted, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers our constant companions.
At the lodge the mangroves held Red-billed Firefinches, little sparks of fire zipping through the leaves, lumbering yellow billed Plantain-eaters and delicate Mangrove Sunbirds looking, with their white “spectacles”, as if they were inspecting the facilities. Doves galore that, with the ubiquitous Common Bulbuls, were our gentle early morning wake-up call.
The cooling swimming pool even had Pied Kingfishers and White-throated Bee-eaters dipping into it to join the human swimmers!
What amazingly rich and accessible wildlife, what an amazing location and what an amazing holiday!’
November 2025
‘We met at our base for the week, the Royal Oak Hotel in picturesque Betws-y-Coed and after checking in took a short walk beside the Afon Llugwy looking for White-throated Dipper’ writes tour leader Neil Murphy. ‘The following day we set off to the superb RSPB Conwy reserve, with highlights being Peregrine and Water Rail followed by Red-billed Chough on the Great Orme. Our second full day was spent on Anglesey where we headed straight to RSPB South Stack which provided us with good views of Merlin and Red-billed Chough. We then moved on to Penrhos Coastal Park where we found a Black-throated Diver, enjoyed Western Marsh Harrier at RSPB Cors Ddyga and finished at Newborough Forest for Red Squirrel.
Another day we headed to the uplands in search of Black Grouse but not until we had admired the White-throated Dipper on the river outside the hotel. Unfortunately, the Black Grouse did not show but we heard Red and came back via the Conwy Valley where we were delighted to see Northern Goshawk and Hawfinch. Our final full day saw us head north to the coast. Llanddulas seafront gave us great views of a large flock of Common Scoter, Kinmel Bay added a Black Redstart to our trip list, whilst Llanfairfechan provided Black- and Red-throated Divers and superb views of Red-breasted Merganser. We came back through the Ogwen Pass in Snowdonia to admire the snow-capped peaks and stopped at Swallow Falls which were in full flow due to the snowmelt, a tremendous sight and sound. We all agreed that we’d had a fabulous time, generally been very lucky with the weather and seen some great wildlife in beautiful north Wales and Snowdonia.’
November 2025
‘Islay is well known for its wintering geese and ducks as well as a number of raptors including Golden and White-tailed Eagles’ writes tour leader Mick Durham. ‘Six Naturetrek guests joined me to enjoy the sights and sounds of the geese, the wonderful views around the island and – oh yes – a wee dram of whisky!
The Port Charlotte Hotel were delightful hosts; the rain poured down on our middle day but we saw thousands of geese, including a rare visitor – a Red-breasted Goose, waders, ducks, five different species of raptors, some wonderful coasts and bays, seals and deer. We finished the tour with a spectacular walk around the Mull of Oa RSPB reserve, including visiting the American monument.
We tried to visit Finlaggan, the original home of the Lord of the Isles but the flooded path defeated us. The time spent at Kilchoman Distillery tasting their whisky and enjoying a coffee in their magnificent Visitor Centre was much appreciated, not just because it was raining and even driving around in the pouring rain gave us some wonderful views of a landscape running with water.
Our time on Islay had been brief, the weather wasn’t the kindest but we still enjoyed a great deal of what this wonderful west coast island has to offer.’
November 2025
‘From Glasgow, we progressed north-west with a stop at the RSPB reserve at Loch Lomond and after an unscheduled overnight stop at Arrochar due to the weather, we travelled the length of Loch Long and Loch Fyne amidst stunning scenery’ writes tour leader Neil McMahon. ‘Approaching Kennacraig, first one and then two adult White-tailed Eagles loomed over the loch alongside the vehicle and once we were safely parked, we were left somewhat stunned as these two giant raptors stroked the air currents, presiding over everything below them. After this stroke of luck, we soon found ourselves aboard the Finlaggan Calmac ferry bound for Islay and watching Great Northern Divers, Eider, Red-breasted Mergansers, Kittiwakes, four auk species and even a brief view of a Harbour Porpoise. Whilst in the Sound of Islay another White-tailed Eagle showed distantly in flight on neighbouring Jura, where there were also many active Red Deer.
We enjoyed two nights in a superb Islay hotel, with sightings of Barnacle, Greenland White-fronted, Pale-bellied Brent and Greylag Geese, Whooper Swans, Eider, Common Scoter, Rock Doves, lots of waders, Red-throated Divers, Hen Harriers, Red-billed Choughs, Twite and Snow Buntings – phew! Our visits to Loch Gruinart, Ardnave and Port Charlotte also yielded mammals in the shape of an Otter, Brown Hares, Rabbits (including several black individuals), Roe Deer and Harbour and Grey Seals.
Next, we headed around to the giant rock buttresses, hills and sea lochs of Mull, staying at Tobermory in another fabulous hotel. Our first full day was particularly wet but our persistence paid off with sightings of water-logged Red and Fallow Deer, Pink-footed Geese, Greenshanks and Great Northern Divers and a spell of dry weather brought out two awesome Golden Eagles and a fine male Hen Harrier. The next day was much better weather and the wildlife hotspot of Dervaig provided us with a female Otter and her two young treating us to an extended fishing lesson in the shallows next to the road, two more adult White-tailed Eagles and good views of Greenshank, Goosander and Dipper. A distant Otter and a party of 10 Greenland White-fronted Geese were the best on show at Calgary and our coastal road drive provided no less than three Golden Eagles, another White-tailed Eagle and typical birds of sea-loch shorelines including a dozen Great Northern Divers at Loch na Keal, a befitting conclusion to this tour in a particularly beautiful part of the world.'
December 2025
‘It couldn’t have been a better time to visit Fuerteventura, 60 miles off the coast of North Africa with average daytime temperatures around 20°C, as winter had arrived in the UK and the first snowfall of the season covered the landscape as we headed to various airports’ writes tour leader David Jackson.
‘We enjoyed sunshine almost every day and were treated to an incredible array of birds, butterflies, moths, and more. Highlights included five African Houbaras, three Cream-coloured Coursers, many Egyptian Vultures, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, a Greater Flamingo, and a Yellow-browed Warbler. Not forgetting, of course, the endemic Canary Island Stonechat that even perched on chairs outside our rooms one afternoon.
Much-wanted butterflies included Plain Tiger, Monarch, Greenish Black-tip, and a rare Desert or Bright Babul Blue in the hotel grounds as we were about to set off for the day. Moths on display included Barbary Spurge Hawkmoth, Striped Hawkmoth, and the lovely Crimson-speckled among others. We had an entertaining time watching Barbary Ground Squirrels at our picnic stops, and Berthelot’s Pipits foraged around our feet while African Blue Tits showed off their beautiful plumage in the trees above. The views from the miradors were simply breathtaking. We had to keep reminding ourselves that it was a ‘Go Slow’ holiday as there was little desire to return to base too early in the afternoons; maybe it was coffee and ice cream that kept us going, as well as the stunning scenery and wonderful wildlife.’
