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2010 Orkney
Birds, Wildlife & History
Tours Enjoy our seabirds, raptors and whales & dolphins! Orkney is one of the best places in Britain to get close to and enjoy seabirds, birds of prey and whales & dolphins (cetaceans). We offer relaxed, tailor-made, birds, wildlife and activity holidays for small groups of people with a maximum of 4 guests from our organic farm base at Gerraquoy, South Ronaldsay, the southernmost Orkney island. If self-catering is more your style we have a luxury small converted barn (Visit Scotland 4 star graded, Green Tourism Business Scheme silver award) suitable for couples - click Peedie House self-catering. click for 2009 - 2005 highlights of wildlife sightings
Orcadian Wildlife tours welcome enquiries by email or telephone for 2010 & 2011 bookings and availability (our contact details are at the foot of this index page or click here). As guests you will enjoy a large conservatory, with stunning views over Grimness Head and the seabird island (RSPB nature reserve) of Copinsay. Imagine relaxing or eating your meals with bonxies, Arctic skuas, short-eared owls and hen harriers flying overhead; or watching whales and dolphins out to sea! Guests in April and October will benefit from lovely low light for photographs, and seeing the winter birds like great-northern divers, long-tailed duck and snow buntings. For Autumn 2010 availability please phone or click here to check self-catering details.
Bookings are now being taken for May - June
2011 - please book early to avoid disappointment .
Please don't hesitate to book or enquire using the
Booking
or Enquiries page.
Weekly log : Week commencing Saturday 7 August 2010: Our annual trip to Shetland went well in mid July, with sightings of orca (pod of 4 moving through Yell Sound on 15/7); otters and the usual close up views of gannets at Hermaness and puffins at Hermaness and Sumburgh. Meanwhile back in Orkney, we're seeing whimbrel & sparrowhawk almost daily in late July, meaning the late Summer passage has begun. A basking shark off Burwick on 27/7; and several sightings of harbour porpoises, including at least 10 off Rerwick Head on 30/7, was a fine way to see out the month. The bird of the year (so far!) turned up at the south end of our island on 5/8 in the form of an Alpine swift. Only one of just 3 records in Orkney, it was a large and handsome bird, giving close up views of its white belly and chin. 6 crossbills at Rackwick on Hoy and a pure white albino starling on South Walls were also of interest (8/8). At Cantick Head on South Walls (also 8/8) we had the best ever views of a pair of adult harbour porpoises playing beneath us in the clear sea - we could actually see them swimming underwater, awesome! For 2010 - 2005 sightings click 2010 highlights. For 2009 & 2008 cetacean sightings click here.
What makes a holiday in Orkney with Orcadian Wildlife different?
·
See Examples
of Tours page for ideas
for a one week tour and islands to visit. · See 2010 Offers page for prices, early or late season offers and short break (2 - 3 day) options. · Download a 30 MB Powerpoint file on Orcadian Wildlife. · Check the availability of our new self-catering cottage for 2 persons. · See How to get here page for travel details - Orkney is closer than you think!
A Selection of Guest Testimonials 2010 "Thank you for sharing these wonderful islands with us. Superb hospitality, excellent food, expert knowledge. There is no better way to see Orkney that we could think of! A special thank you to Sami for teaching us all about birds!" Roderick & Sylvia Edwards, Westerham, Kent. "Exceeded our expectations! Weather wonderful. Amazing to see so much in the company of our excellent guides. It's been a great joy to meet you all and enjoy your hospitality. Thank you so much." Geoff & Judi Singleton, Hexham, Northumberland. "Hemos pasado unos dias magnificos.....Gracias." Beltr án y Chata de Ceballos, Sevilla."Despite the rain showers we managed walks both cliff & moorlands. Fantastic support in enabling a 'baby birder' to identify so much. Thank you." Pam & Malcolm Mundy, Sutton Coldfield. "Hold ups on Hoy, hoopoe hunting on South Ron add to our memories of Orkney to treasure and keep us sane for another year." Tim & Cheryl Hunt, Norwich.
Orcadian Wildlife offers tailor-made wildlife and history tours to small groups of people up to a maximum of 4 guests.
Your base for your wildlife tour will be our family farmhouse and small organic farm (click here for more details) on the southern island of South Ronaldsay, easy to access from the Gill's Bay (vehicle) or JoG (passenger) ferries near John O'Groats on the Scottish mainland. Transport will be in our comfortable 7 seat people carrier - with only 4 guests there will be plenty of space! Through careers, guiding experience and general interest, both your hosts have an excellent general knowledge of wildlife and Orkney. Contact Us: Steve or Sarah Sankey
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