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2008 Orkney
Birds, Wildlife & History
Tours Enjoy orcas & basking sharks! - click for 2007 - 2005 highlights We offer relaxed, tailor-made, birds, wildlife and activity holidays for small groups of people (maximum 4 guests) from our organic farm base at Gerraquoy, South Ronaldsay, the southernmost Orkney island - see 2007 highlights for examples of sightings. If self-catering is more your style we have a luxury small converted barn (Visit Scotland 4 star graded) suitable for couples - click Peedie House self-catering. Orcadian Wildlife tours are still available in September & October 2008. Self-catering availability is now limited to a few weeks in October 2008 only. Also in 2008: Seal Pupping Weeks - click seal pups for details. 2009 Bookings or enquiries: We're pleased to say that we have already taken several bookings for 2009 and some weeks in peak season are already booked up. If you really wish to visit in May or June 2009 then early booking is essential - these weeks book up first and quickly. Any bookings made before the end of the 2008 season will benefit from 2008 prices! Click 2009 bookings for further information.
Weekly log Sun 24 Aug 2008: Just back from the Bird Fair so nothing much to report from last week - large flocks of starlings building impressively. Sparrowhawks must be passing through as we are seeing them almost daily, and hen harriers are now regular at home. For monthly sightings and more click 2008 highlights.
What makes a holiday in Orkney with Orcadian Wildlife different?
We welcome
enquiries by email or telephone for 2008 and 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 2008 Offers page for prices, early or late season offers and short break (2-3 days) options. · Download a 30 MB Powerpoint file on Orcadian Wildlife. · Check the availability of our new self-catering cottage for 2 persons.
·
Congratulations to our prize winners
from the British Birdwatching Fair in 2007: 1st prize Mrs Ruth Slack of
Belper (short break with Orcadian Wildlife); joint 2nd prize Mr Roger
Burrows of Brixworth (Pentland Ferries travel voucher); joint 2nd prize Mrs J
Coles of Worksop (bottle Highland Park 12 year old malt whisky). Correct
answers to our questions were fulmar (commonest breeding seabird in Orkney); hen
harrier (commonest breeding raptor in Orkney); and 21 calling male corncrakes in
Orkney in 2007. · See How to get here page for travel details - Orkney is closer than you think!
A Selection of Guest Testimonials 2008 & 2007 "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. "A wonderful introduction to my latest favourite place!" Cath Casburn, Forres. "Our 4th wonderful visit to Orcadian Wildlife. Mountain hares, displaying hen harrier, unforgettable memories to cherish of a day spent on Hoy. As ever excellent food and hospitality." Tim & Cheryl Hunt, Norwich. "Had a great time, saw lots. Sarah/Steve thanks for the hospitality, my first time on Orkney. See you again." Neil Hughes, Melton Mowbray. "A great way for a solo traveller to spend a week - great hosts, good food and company: thanks for an eventful week delivered with enthusiasm!" Linda Ing, Dalham, Suffolk. "A totally relaxing week. Good food, good company and good birdwatching. The orcas on the last day were a considerable bonus!" Roger & Kate Seaman, Ipswich. " The food was great, the company most enjoyable, the sights impressive, the casual style most appreciated... " Neil & Ginny Eklund, Danville, Kentucky, USA. "We came to see and photograph the breeding birds of Orkney. Thanks to Steve and Sarah we did wonderfully at both - seeing 80 species. Gerraquoy was very homely, we leave with many fond memories." Chuck & Nancy Bell, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
"You have given us an
amazing experience of Orkney countryside, birds and wildlife that we will
treasure. My sincerest thanks!" Judith
Harker, California, USA
"Thanks for the cooking & the wildlife & the history and most of all the laughs." Marianne & Don Mockford, East Sussex "A lovely way to discover Orkney..." Elizabeth Purves, Birdwing's Flat, New Zealand. "Good company, good food, good walks, good birdwatching and a good rest plus a basking shark. Thank you." Tricia Bickerton, Hackney, London.
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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