British Wildlife Holidays for Autumn and Winter

Standing by the shore on a frosty morning, a thin layer of mist blanketing the water as the sky turns a delicate shade of pink, and you start to hear a distant noise that gradually gets louder and morphs into distinct honking sounds as the flock approaches from their overnight roost to have a bathe before going in search of food for the day. As the light increases, it’s possible to see hundreds, if not thousands, of geese spread out across the bay, in a graceful but noisy gathering. This is just one of the many fantastic encounters that can be enjoyed on a British autumn or winter tour with us.

Autumn months in the UK can be very colourful, as the leaves change colour and the southbound bird migration gets into full swing. It’s a great time to get out and potentially see some unusual species. Ranging from migration hot spots in Shetland, Yorkshire and down to the Isles of Scilly, we run a range of tours with expert guides that specifically focus on the bird migration, where species such as Yellow-browed Warbler, Wryneck and Red-breasted Flycatcher can turn up. Elsewhere in the UK, it’s the time of the Red Deer rut, with huge stags bellowing through the glens and sometimes battling it out for access to the harem. A lot of species are starting to prepare for winter, with some caching food for the colder months. Red Squirrels are known for doing this, and our photography tour to the Cairngorms in the autumn may allow you to capture some of this behaviour. As the season progresses, we’ll start to see large flocks of geese arrive, with Islay and the Solway being particularly good places to find these.

Sometimes it is difficult to know where to start, but this guide will give you some idea of the options available for different wildlife experiences.

Autumn Migration

Throughout the country, there are a number of sites that are particularly good stopping off points for birds on migration, either due to their geographical location making them often the first land that birds reach after a sea crossing, or due to their food sources. Up in the far north of the country are the Shetland Islands, a convenient resting place for birds from Scandinavia who have crossed the North Sea. While we can’t guarantee what will be around on any given day, it’s an excellent place to look for small passerines, including warblers, flycatchers, thrushes and pipits; a number of transatlantic and vagrant species will often turn up here too. East Yorkshire is another great location for migrants, with both Flamborough Head and Spurn Point protruding into the North Sea, making them ideal landfall sites for tired birds. Buntings, chats, crests and warblers are among the types of species that often turn up, while shearwaters and divers follow the coastline. Norfolk is particularly well known for the large wader flocks that can be seen around the coast at some of the iconic reserves such as Cley, Titchwell and Snettisham, as well as waterfowl and a variety of smaller birds too. The Norfolk Broads also attract wetland birds and wildfowl during the autumn, although Common Cranes now spend much of the year here. Right down on the south coast is the place where many birds gather and feed up before attempting the next leg of their journey – crossing the Channel. Any promontory where the land juts further into the sea provides a good setting off point, with both East Sussex and Dorset being good examples of this. Black Redstart, Redstart, Wheatear, chats, Skylarks and waders are all found regularly in these areas. Situated on the north Dorset coast is Lundy, a small, traffic-free island that frequently has a good number of autumn migrants. Off the west coast of Cornwall sit the Isles of Scilly, located about 20 miles offshore. They appear to be perfectly situated to provide relief to migrants who have wandered off course, and it’s not unheard of to have Siberian, North American and southern European migrants all materialise on the islands in the same week!

Geese

There is something very special about seeing huge gatherings of geese during the autumn and winter months. The criss-crossing of individual birds through a skein as they fly overhead, and their honking calls as they keep in contact with each other is always something to behold. Up in Scotland, Islay is one of the key sites for various species of geese, gathering to feed on its lush grass. With numerous sites around the island where they like to gather, there is something new to find at and between each location. Dumfries and Galloway lies on the northern side of the Solway, which is another key wintering ground for Barnacle Geese. It’s also a great area to look for waders, wildfowl and divers, as well as Hen Harrier roosts. Aberdeenshire, on the east coast, is known for Pink-footed Geese flocks, but also plenty of waders, seaducks and pupping Grey Seal colonies. In the south, the Norfolk Broads are another key location for Pink-footed Geese, with Lapwing, Golden Plover and various wildfowl turning up too.

Owls & Woodpeckers

One of the birds that can be seen more frequently during the autumn and winter months are owls. Short-eared Owls in particular are more visible at this time of year as they typically move to coastal areas to hunt. On Mull, they can be seen all year round but are more concentrated during the autumn and winter months, once they leave their breeding territories. Norfolk and Aberdeenshire both have wide open spaces along the coast where it’s also possible to see these stunning birds as they hunt for food during daylight hours. Barn Owls are often seen more frequently during the winter months, as they try to find enough food to keep themselves going through the colder weather, and there are other raptor species around too, including Marsh and Hen Harriers.

Other birds that many people love to see are the woodpeckers, and there are several tours where the sometimes elusive Lesser Spotted Woodpecker can be seen. They start drumming much earlier in the season than Great Spotted or Green Woodpeckers, and it’s much more staccato in sound; late winter is the ideal time for finding these. Among the best sites for these are the New Forest and the Forest of Dean, both of which are possible places to find Hawfinch and Crossbill too.

Winter Birding

If mixed winter birding sounds appealing, then most of our tours look for a variety of species; however, there are a number of places with a broad range of habitats to consider, depending on interest. Coastal areas are great for waders and waterfowl, such as ducks, Avocet, Godwit, Redshank and plovers. Areas with reedbeds also attract Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, herons and egrets. Areas of heathland hold chats, Dartford Warbler and possibly a Merlin or two. One or two areas of the country still have populations of Cirl Bunting, and south Devon is among the best places to find these, along with a whole range of waders and waterbirds around the Exe Estuary. From our Scottish tours, we have several that visit the east and north-east, taking in a variety of habitats, including coasts, estuaries, reedbeds and wet areas. On irruption years, Waxwing and a range of winter thrushes can also be found.

Red Deer Rut

Scotland is particularly well known for the Red Deer rut that occurs during the autumn months. Males with impressive racks of antlers vie for the attention of the female harem, their posturing and bellowing sometimes descending into a clash of the titans if the fight turns physical. Red Deer are found throughout much of the UK, but the highest concentration is in the Scottish Highlands. The two tours that focus on these are based at Ardnamurchan and Alladale. Ardnamurchan is on the west coast, on a peninsula that overlooks Loch Sunart, while Alladale lies north of Inverness. Along with the deer, both are fantastic places to look for Golden and White-tailed Eagles, along with other upland species. 

Other Mammals

For those who prefer fur to feathers, there are some iconic British mammal species that are very charismatic and fantastic to see. Among these are the Red Squirrel, Otter, Mountain Hare and seals. Red Squirrels are primarily restricted to small areas of the country; however, one stronghold is the Highlands of Scotland. Where there are predominantly pine forests, they cling on, bounding through the forest with their bushy tails waving behind them like a fluffy amber flag. Mountain Hares also remain in these areas. During the autumn and winter months, their fur changes from a cryptic brown to ermine, to fit in better with the wintery landscapes. Often they will sit really still on the hillside, hoping to remain undetected by any passing predators. Both Harbour and Grey Seals are found around the UK’s coastline, hauling out onto banks, rocks or sandbars to bask if it’s sunny or rest on cooler days. Grey Seals further north typically give birth between September and December, so autumn and winter tours to coastal areas, particularly on the east, offer a good possibility of finding pups among the colonies. Harbour Seals are more ubiquitous and can be seen all round the UK. Size, head shape and nostril shape are key features to look at to distinguish the two. Pine Marten are found scattered throughout the highlands, with both the Cairngorms and Ardnamurchan being good places to watch for these charming mammals at specific sites.

Photography

During the autumn and winter we run two different photography tours to the Cairngorms area, in search of the region’s special species, with the spectacular scenery providing an inspiring backdrop to each week. These tours are led by a professional photographer who will be available to coach and guide you during the tour, both in terms of photography technique and post processing to make the most of your images. Using a combination of field skills and hides, species that are focused on include Red Squirrel, Crested Tit, Red Deer, Pine Marten, Mountain Hare, Red Grouse, Ptarmigan, woodland birds and waders.

Vegetarian/Vegan Tours

We have recently launched a selection of tours where all meals are vegetarian or vegan, working with local hotels that have creative and tasty menu choices for those who don’t eat meat. Among these is an autumn tour to the southern Cairngorms area, focusing on the regional birds and mammals such as grouse, Red Deer, Dipper and many more.

To see all of our British holidays through the autumn and winter months, click here.