The Azores means pretty much one thing to the avid whale watcher - Sperm Whales. That’s what brings us to these remote islands, strung out like beads halfway across the Atlantic. Of course Sperm Whales are not the only appeal of a holiday in the Azores, but the chance to see lots of Sperm Whales - and see them very close - is irresistible.
It was during our second of three autumn trips to Western Canada that the group had an extraordinary run of luck. While on a small boat at Zeballos in search of Sea Otters, tour leader Tim Melling spotted an animal swimming between two nearby islands. A split second later, the valleys were resounding with his scream of 'Cougar!' and the boat raced forward to take a better look.
Tour leader Mark Galliot describes a memorable holiday enjoying and photographing a wide variety of special butterflies in the French Pyrenees this summer. This tour is run in conjunction with, and raises money for, the British charity Butterfly Conservation.
The Isles of Scilly have long enjoyed a reputation for sightings of American birds in September and October but in recent years the Atlantic weather systems responsible for bringing these lost migrants to Europe have tended to track north and brought rarities to Scotland whilst South West England has suffered a relative paucity of records.