Orkney birdwatching, wildlife & culture
holidays.
Self-catering also available.
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2009 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 2008 - 2005 highlights of wildlife sightings
Orcadian Wildlife tours welcome enquiries and bookings for the autumn 2009 and 2010 seasons. Please note that there is no availability in May and June 2009 (fully booked). Only one week remains available in July (week commencing 25 July 2009) - see the link 2009 bookings for details. If you really wish to visit in May or June 2010 then early booking is essential - these weeks book up first and quickly, and are already doing so.
Weekly log : Week ending Saturday 27 June 2009: A brilliant week of weather with high pressure dominating. The raptors have now fledged their young and are dispersing from their breeding areas. Fingers crossed for a better year for our seabirds (they deserve it after several disastrous breeding seasons) with lots of young kittiwakes showing and auks and terns bringing in sandeels. Twayblades, oysterplants and grass of Parnassus all in flower. Also reports of pods of orcas in the Pentland Firth (27/6) and Risso's dolphins by barrier #1 (26/6). For 2008 sightings click 2008 highlights. For 2008 cetacean sightings click here.
What makes a holiday in Orkney with Orcadian Wildlife different?
We welcome
enquiries by email or telephone for 2009 availability and bookings.
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.
Don't hesitate to book or enquire using the Booking
or Enquiries page.
·
See Examples
of Tours page for ideas
for a one week tour and islands to visit. · See 2009 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.
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Congratulations to our prize winners
from the British Birdwatching Fair in 2008: 1st prize Mr Adrian Grant of
Manchester (short break with Orcadian Wildlife); 2nd prize Mr John Middleton of
Lincolnshire (Pentland Ferries travel voucher); 3rd prize Mr Michael Ball of
West Sussex (bottle Highland Park 12 year old malt whisky).
The correct
answer to our question "which bird of prey has links with a 5,000 year-old neolithic tomb on our home island South Ronaldsay, Orkney?" was white-tailed
(sea) eagle - · See How to get here page for travel details - Orkney is closer than you think!
A Selection of Guest Testimonials 2009 "Another pair of very satisfied repeat visitors! Thanks once again." Lesley & Tony Wood, Bristol. "Thank you for such a lovely holiday. We've learnt lots on identification and just to be here while the orcas were here was enough. Thank you for making us feel one of the family." Mavis & John Middleton, Ely, Cambridgeshire. "We have had an enjoyable and interesting stay. Thanks for your efforts on the road and in the kitchen." Deidre Ranson & Colin Moody, Sittingbourne, Kent & London. "Best bird of the trip - 4 orcas! Hen harrier & short-eared owls a close second!" Yvonne Simmonds, London TW10. "Thanks for the wonderful weather! And fantastic birds - red-backed shrike was a bonus on the last morning." Mildred Howes, London TW10. "Cobwebs blown to the North pole! Thank you for your warm hospitality." Penny Penton, London SW13. "A most enjoyable introduction to Orkney. Warm hospitality, knowledgeable guiding, great walks and birding. Thank you both!" Cynthia Dixon, London SW19. "Thank you for looking after your 'handicapped' guest so well, sharing your knowledge on archaeology and birds. A very enjoyable and 'different' week." Jean Tustin, North Shields, Tyne & Wear. "Most welcoming and homely. Was able to have good banter and laughs. Saw the most glorious birds, snowy owl being the highlight. Beautiful holiday." Karin & Tony Hollick, Digswell, Hertfordshire. "A brilliant prize to win at the British Birdwatching Fair. Our 1st visit to Orkney in 20 years. Very relaxing but saw many good things. Compliments to the chefs." Adrian & Betty Grant, Manchester. As we said last July we'll be back! We've enjoyed the birdwatching particularly the achievement of 'the record' of 100 species in one week. Wonderful company, many laughs and lovely meals. Many thanks to you all." David & Mary Penton, Market Bosworth. "We have had a wonderful week! Everything has exceeded our expectations. Thank you to all three for yur wonderful knowledge, hospitality and effort to make this a week to remember." Stephen & Ros Smith, Dadlington, Warwickshire. A Selection of Guest Testimonials 2008 "The deep local knowledge, the warm hospitality, minke whale and weather, and delicious food were wonderful." Helen & Helmut Hesse, Winnipeg, Canada. "A wonderful holiday; great company, great food!" Norma Pritchard, Derby. "Lovely time spent here. Many thanks." Alison Pritchard, Derby. "A fantastic holiday and some superb birds. In the words of Arnie S 'I'll be back!'" Greg Osborne, Castle Donington, Derby "How lovely it was to be in your home, f êted, feasted and shown about. And thanks for the lovely weather as well!" David & Sue Hirsch, Los Angeles, California."Many thanks for everything. The 'trench' at the Ring of Brodgar was of course a highlight. Enjoyed training to be a cowhand!" Richard & Moira Moore, Billericay, Essex. "Thanks to Steve, Sarah & Sami for making this week so wonderful. We have thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, and the appearance of a yellow-billed diver and rosy starling was an added bonus! Your knowledge of the islands was appreciated. Hopefully we will be back!" David & Mary Penton, Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. "What a brilliant experience! Many thanks for everything." Don & Sandy McLauchlin, Stoke-on-Trent "A great week - highlights were rose coloured starling, minke whale and Sami the bird expert!" Mark & Jane Beauchamp, Colchester. "An excellent week of wildlife and archaeology. I particularly enjoyed listening to the loons and the snipe." John Moor, Bristol. "Many, many thanks for an excellent week: birds, flowers, archaeology, food and cooking, serious hospitality, expertise and wonderful company including Sami." Alan & Jenny Suggate, Durham. "We had a wonderful week filled with all the great things that exceed the pyramid of needs. Thank you especially for Hoy." Laurie Sogawa, Tokyo, Japan. "Thanks for the wildlife, challenging technical walks through the bush, time travel through the neolithic, bronze and iron ages, and marmite. And a special thanks to Sami for all his help with bird identification." Peggy Kaszas, Halifax, MA USA. "Thanks for giving us such a super week of Orcadian birding, wildlife & archaeology. Good food & good company." Ann & Barry Thompson, Sibsey, Lincolnshire. ""Thank you Steve, Sarah and Sami for making this a unique holiday in so many ways. We were able to make so much more of the week thanks to your guidance, advice, food and humour!" The Cheverton family, Oakham, Rutland. "Thank you for making the history and wildlife a reality, it's wonderful. All the films are insignificant." Margaret Brown and Isobel Leek, Harpenden, Herts. "Brilliant! Thanks for a great time." Pete & Kathy Etheridge, Eastbridge, Suffolk. "Enjoyed Orkney and of course the immense knowledge imparted by Steve & Sarah." Beryl Ambrose, Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey. "A fantastic three days - hope to be here for much longer next time." Terry Mason, Ruddington, Notts. "Thanks for the great time: Skara Brae was fantastic and the birding was great (snow geese in the garden!)..thank you very much!" Markus Bohnsack and Andrea Wächter, Edinburgh and Magdeburg, Germany. "10/10 for hospitality, knowledgeable guiding, main courses and puddings! And a great deal of help with crossword." Pam Rein and Gill Steinberg, Torbay, Devon and Lyme Regis, Dorset. "Three days is too short - wish I'd booked a week! Top birds (and hares). Top landscape. Lovely people. Excellent food. You really looked after us. A BIG thank you." Ilse Collinge, Stockport, Cheshire. "What an exciting week! Top birds (and hares). Top landscape. Lovely people. Excellent food. You really looked after us. A BIG thank you." David & Tricia Hawkins, West Bay, Dorset.
Orcadian Wildlife offers tailor-made wildlife and history tours to small groups of people up to a maximum of 4 guests.
These shots were taken in October 2007 on a nearby beach and at our home of Gerraquoy, and show our Land Rover that will take you around the Orkney archipelago. It's a comfortable vehicle and you'll see lots from it! Your base for your wildlife tour will be our family farmhouse and small organic farm 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. 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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