Raptor Week – Eagles, Hawks and Harriers
This week is dedicated to one of the Highlands’ most charismatic groups of birds: raptors. From the impressive ‘barn door’ silhouette of the white-tailed eagle to a merlin darting across open moorland, the Scottish Highlands offer some of the best opportunities in Britain to observe these magnificent species.
Highlights
- The chance to see and learn about Scotland’s iconic raptor species, as well as a whole host of other wildlife-watching opportunities
- Spending time in diverse and beautiful habitats ranging from rugged coastlines through to impressive open moorland
- Staying on the Aigas estate with private hides and the opportunity to see pine martens, badgers and more
- Small group trips with expert guiding from our team of rangers who live and breathe Highland wildlife
What to expect
Spotting raptors requires both knowledge of their habitats and the patience to scan the skies and moors. At Aigas we are in the heart of prime raptor country; ospreys are frequently seen on the estate and golden eagles soar in nearby glens. However, to maximize your chances of seeing a wide variety of raptors, our programme explores a diverse range of Highland habitats.
One of the highlights of this programme is always visiting a nearby glen where we know the location of a golden eagle eyrie. This will give us the opportunity to not only see eagles but also watch their behaviour: perhaps a female sat on the nest, the male bringing in food or building materials, and even the possibility of a fluffy white eaglet poking its head up. This day will also offer the opportunities to see buzzards, kites, sparrowhawks and osprey, all of which breed in the area.
A visit to the vast blanket bogs of the Flow Country gives good opportunities to see a whole host of different species. Our focus for the day will be hen harriers, which breed on this open landscape and can regularly be seen quartering the bog in search of prey. As well as harriers, the Flow Country and its surrounding hills are home to breeding peregrine, merlin and both species of eagle, all of which we will have a good chance of spotting.
Out on the west coast we will be looking for Britain’s largest raptor: the white-tailed eagle. These birds were reintroduced to Scotland in 1975 on the island of Rum and are breeding very successfully on the west coast. On this day we will travel through multiple different white-tailed eagle territories as well as areas where hen harriers and short-eared owls can sometimes be spotted.
Our other days will be dependent on sightings: we may choose to go in search of yet more eagles, peregrines or even goshawk. Regardless, we will certainly end the week with an impressive selection of raptor sightings, as well as encounters with wildflowers, invertebrates, and mammals. Our expert Aigas rangers will guide you, sharing insights into raptor ecology and conservation during daytime excursions and evening talks.
Your adventure doesn’t end with birds of prey. Enjoy evenings in our dedicated wildlife hides, watching pine martens and badgers, and visit our wildcat breeding programme to learn about Scotland’s rarest mammal.
