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All I could expect and saw good species including: Golden Eagle, three hen harriers, Merlin and Willow Tit. Chris was an excellent leader, knows everything about the area and worked very hard to make the most of our trip.
A.P. West Yorkshire, Feb25
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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The Winter Birds of Dumfries & Galloway
Tour Code: GBR66An 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
£995
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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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.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Dumfries
Day 2/4
Daily excursions around Dumfries & Galloway
Day 5
Depart Dumfries
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
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Great to have Chris Rollie leading who is so knowledgeable about the local area, history, geology and culture as well as the wildlife. Excellent evening meals and very welcoming staff at the hotel.
J.L. Lancashire, Nov24 -
One of the most enjoyable trips I have been on. Very good range of habitats visited without too much time spent in the minibus. We saw Water Rail and Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock, ducks, grebes and divers on Loch Ryan. Clachan Inn was comfortable and the food was sensational. The Inn is ideally situated for the various sites visited. Birding was excellent and the additional contact about history, geology, arboriculture was fascinating.
P.W. Hampshire, Nov24 -
It was one big highlight. The company was very good and the food was truly outstanding.
N.T. Berkshire, Feb 24 -
Visiting Loch Ryan and seeing Slavonian Grebes was an absolute highlight. We saw a lot of the birds, especially geese, that come into the area over winter. Chris is a great leader and was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He knows the area well and took us to some lovely habitats. The hotel provided excellent evening meals that were very good quality and the staff were helpful and friendly.
E.G. Devon, Feb 24 -
Superb combination of wonderful hospitality & cuisine & great birding with our guides phenomenal local knowledge & contacts facilitating amazing wildlife viewing (including hen harrier roosts) & fascinating local background ranging from geology to history to insider information about projects such as the red kite re- introduction. [Naturetrek are] dedicated to providing personal great wildlife experiences & willing to help customise holidays.
S.J. Derbyshire, Feb 22
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Mon 17th Nov – Fri 21st Nov
FULL
£995
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.
£155
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Wed 11th Feb – Sun 15th Feb
6
£1,195
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,195
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£165
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
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.
Wed 18th Nov – Sun 22nd Nov
SPACES
£1,195
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,195
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£165
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?
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!
