The Great British Bird Race - Highland Scotland

Summary

Experience the raw beauty and wild challenge of winter birding in the Scottish Highlands with Naturetrek’s bird race set amidst some of Britain’s most iconic landscapes. From the ancient pinewoods of Abernethy Forest to the snow-clad peaks of the Cairngorms and the rich coastal waters of the Moray Firth, this race offers both spectacle and reward.

The goal: to record as many bird species as possible in 48 hours. We will be in friendly competition with the best birding counties in Britain, so every species will count.

We’ll visit the Caledonian forest of Abernethy, searching for Crested Tits flitting through the Scots Pines and flocks of Crossbills and Siskins overhead. A visit to the Cairngorm Plateau brings the chance of encountering hardy specialists like Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting and, perhaps, a Golden Eagle or two soaring over the ridges.

Down by the coast, the Moray Firth provides a completely different birding scene. Here, we’ll scan for Long-tailed Ducks, scoters, divers and grebes offshore, while Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone work the rocky shoreline. Estuaries and farmland inland may yield flocks of Whooper Swans, Pink-footed Geese and wintering raptors.

With expert local leaders, stunning scenery and a birdlist unlike anywhere else in the UK, this Highland bird race offers a thrilling and atmospheric start to the birding year — packed with challenge, beauty and the magic of the north. Will Highland Scotland take the Naturetrek Bird Race crown? It has to be one of the favourites!

Join us for birds, banter, and the thrill of a wild winter bird race!

• The thrill of the bird race
• Look for Ptarmigan, Black & Red Grouse
• Three species of Crossbill!
• Golden Eagle around the high crags
• Crested Tit in Caledonian Pines
• Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders & Scoters in the Moray Firth
• Snow Buntings in the dunes
• Potentially a big total in a rich and diverse county