The Winter Birds of Dumfries & Galloway

Tour Code: GBR66

An exciting 5-day tour to Dumfries and Galloway, including time enjoying the wildfowl and waders that overwinter on the Solway Firth, as well as roosting Hen Harriers and a visit to a nearby Red Kite feeding station.

5 days from
£995 (land only)
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

In autumn, the scenic lowlands of south-west Scotland act as a gigantic Arrivals Hall for inbound birds from the far north. The Solway Firth hosts Svalbard’s entire breeding population of Barnacle Geese. The sheltered bays attract seaducks such as Greater Scaup, Common Scoter and Long-tailed Duck, while the nearby marshes and fields are perfect for a variety of northern wildfowl, waders and smaller birds such as Bramblings, Redwings and Fieldfares. Add in an excellent range of residents such as Red Kite, Willow Tit and Tree Sparrow, plus birds of prey such as Short-eared Owls and roosting Hen Harriers, and you have the perfect recipe for an exciting early winter holiday.

  • Observe the goose spectacular at Caerlaverock, with Barnacle, Pink-footed and Eurasian White-fronted Geese
  • Visit a Hen Harrier roost at dusk
  • See Red Kites close up at a feeding centre
  • Scan the bays for wintering sea-ducks
  • Gorgeous scenery of lowland Scotland
  • Have great views of small birds such as Willow Tit, Lesser Redpoll and Tree Sparrow
  • Good chance of Red Squirrel

Grading

Grade A. We will undertake some gentle wildlife walks during the course of the holiday (with any more demanding walks always being optional). It may be wet and muddy underfoot, which can make the paths a bit slippery.

This single-centre tour is based in St John’s Town of Dalry, an attractive village lying just
south of the Carsphairn Hills and west of Dumfries. From here we will explore the varied and
wildlife-rich nature reserves of this picturesque region of Scotland, including the RSPB reserve
at Mersehead and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Caerlaverock in which Svalbard's
entire population of breeding Barnacle Geese overwinter. Caerlaverock overlooks the Solway Firth
and also attracts flocks of Pink-footed Geese and a few Greenland White-fronted Geese, plus
thousands of Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pintail and other ducks. Whooper Swans overwinter here
too and it is possible to get wonderful views of these majestic birds from the reserve’s comfortable
hides. Feeders attract Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls and Bramblings and
flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing are common. At the nearby Nith Estuary we hope to find Scaup,
Red-breasted Merganser, Common Scoter and a variety of waders including, perhaps, Purple
Sandpiper and – weather permitting – stunning views across the Solway.


To the west lies Loch Ryan and Wigtown Bay, both of which are excellent areas to look for Golden
Plover, Slavonian Grebe, Black Guillemot and Long-tailed Duck. We also hope to see flocks of
waders taking to the sky in mesmerising, swirling flocks as they move from their feeding to
roosting sites. Woodlands around Loch Ken are home to Willow Tit, Sparrowhawk and Nuthatch,
as well as the charismatic Red Squirrel. A nearby feeding station attracts good numbers of Red
Kites in the winter, and there will be many wonderful photographic opportunities as they wheel
around overhead before swooping down to snatch a morsel of food. We will end each day with an
evening visit to a nearby Hen Harrier roost to watch as these elegant raptors fly in for the night.
Stunning silver-bodied males with their contrasting black wing-tips, together with brown females
and immature birds (collectively known as ‘ringtails’), roost here together, often allowing
breathtaking views. Merlin, Short-eared Owls and Barn Owls are also commonly encountered.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Dumfries
Day 2/4
Daily excursions around Dumfries & Galloway
Day 5
Depart Dumfries
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Accommodation:

    We stay in a comfortable country inn, where all rooms have private facilities.

  • Food:

    Breakfasts and evening meals are included in the holiday cost, however lunches are an additional cost. Suitable arrangements will be made for a lunch stop each day. 

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2024

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 11th Nov – Fri 15th Nov SPACES £995
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.
£995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£95
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 Rollie
Chris-Rollie.jpg

Tour Leader: Chris Rollie

Chris was born in Ayrshire and grew up overlooking Glenafton, where he developed a love of nature and especially birds from an early age.  Educated at Stirling University and Jordanhill College (Glasgow), Chris was a biology teacher for nearly ten years, while volunteering as a casework officer for the Scottish Wildlife Trust and becoming an active member of the developing raptor study group movement in Scotland in the 1980s.  In 1991 he moved with his young family to Galloway to become the RSPB's first Conservation Officer in the region, becoming Area Manger in 2000 and reintroducing red kites after an absence of 140 years.  After 28 years with the Society, latterly being their avian lead across south and west Scotland, Chris took early retirement at the end of 2018 to spend more time outdoors surveying, guiding and travelling.  He chairs Dumfries & Galloway Raptor Study Group and the UK Ring Ouzel Study group and remains a volunteer with RSPB on hen harriers, golden eagles and ring ouzels.  He has travelled extensively in Europe and USA, and undertaken sabbaticals in Morocco and Syria.  An experienced lecturer, he loves meeting people who share his passion for wildlife and landscapes.  His other interests include history, architecture and poetry.  

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.

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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

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