Fair Isle: Spring on the Magical Isle

Tour Code: GBR356

A 10-day tour including week's spring birding at the legendary Fair Isle Bird Observatory.

10 days from
£2,495 (Inc ferry)
Land only price from
£2,345
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

Lying isolated in the North Atlantic between Shetland and Orkney, Fair Isle is world-renowned as a magnet for migrating birds. In spring, its position on major flyways makes it the perfect landfall for birds arriving from the south, east and even further afield, while its compact size means every corner of the island can be explored in a day’s walk. With croftland, moor, cliffs and sheltered geos, the variety of habitats ensures that each morning brings fresh arrivals and the tantalising possibility of something unexpected.

A stay at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory (FIBO) places us at the very centre of the action. From here, guests enjoy comfortable accommodation as well as immersion in the island’s ornithological life, with ringing, migration monitoring and daily news from the observatory staff. Over 380 species have been recorded on Fair Isle, and in spring the mix of passage migrants and rarities is unrivalled. Falls of thrushes, warblers and flycatchers often pepper the crofts and dykes, while drift migrants from Scandinavia and beyond can include Bluethroat, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck, Thrush Nightingale or Icterine Warbler. Eastern gems such as Red-throated Pipit and Collared Flycatcher have occurred, while ultra-rare species such as Thick-billed Warbler and Palllas's Reed Bunting remind us that anything can turn up.

With Great and Arctic Skuas returning to breed, seabirds filling the cliffs, and the constant excitement of migration, spring birding on Fair Isle is both exhilarating and unpredictable, a true pilgrimage for rarity hunters.

We also offer this tour in the Summer and Autumn.

  • Highly sought-after eastern & southern vagrants are possible
  • The chance of finding a truly rare bird and common migrants in numbers
  • Stay at the legendary Fair Isle Bird Observatory
  • Chance of Orca and other cetaceans
  • Aurora borealis is often seen
  • Experience island life and culture
Itinerary
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Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 25th May – Wed 3rd Jun 1 £2,495
Book Tour Show Details
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,345
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£205
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Chris Wilkinson
Chris Wilkinson

Tour Leader: Chris Wilkinson

It all started with a bamboo butterfly net, sweet jars from the corner shop and buddleia bushes in his grandma’s garden. Chris’s childhood fascination with all things natural was ignited by the Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admirals, Peacocks and various Whites that were found in profusion in those days. He can still recall the excitement of seeing and catching his first Painted Lady late one summer, having no idea that the creature’s origins were far to the south in North Africa. Chris grew up in Nottingham and spent many happy hours birding the gravel pits and woods of the Trent Valley with his father. This was a time when Willow Tits were common and the purr of the Turtle Dove was a familiar summer sound. Family holidays were spent mostly on the east coast and visits to Gibraltar Point and the reserves of north Norfolk served to inspire his love of birds and the natural world.

Chris is a lifelong birder and has been fortunate enough to have travelled the world in pursuit of his passion. He has birded extensively and independently in the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, Central America, South America and Australasia. While birding in the UK, he has been fortunate enough to have found a few rare species, the best being White's Thrush, Western Orphean Warbler and Fea's-type Petrel. He was also lucky enough to have been on a Cornish headland when a Red-billed Tropicbird flew by. In addition to his passion for birds, Chris is a keen and active naturalist and organises nature walks on the heaths, on the downs and in the woodlands of his home county of Surrey. He is particularly interested in butterflies and moths and spends a lot of time in search of the UK’s scarce and rare species. When not leading a group, he may be found deep in a Surrey woodland keeping a moth-trap company! 

2027

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 24th May – Wed 2nd Jun SPACES £2,495
Book Tour Show Details
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,345
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£205

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!