Wildlife holiday Nov-Jan in the UK or Europe

southlonder · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2010, 01:02 PM

Does anyone where have any ideas? I would like to see the north of Scandavia but I don't know if there would be much wildlife.

BTW I am married with a very active 2 year old son.

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 05:08 PM

Personally I wouldn't choose to go to northern Scandinavia at that time of year as daylight hours would be little + only the hardiest wildlife remaining, though chance of seeing the "northern lights".

Any particular species you'd like to see? Then we'll have a better idea of where to advise.

slimrbp · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 05:27 PM

I agree with aeshna, I went on an Orca watching holiday in Norway last year at the end of November.
By then the sun didn't rise over the horizon, it was light at around 9-9.30 and dark by around 14:00. We were very North though in Tysfjord.
We did see an Elk and some White Tailed Sea Eagles

but no Orcas and no Northern Lights

. (It was only for a long weekend though)

southlonder · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Personally I wouldn't choose to go to northern Scandinavia at that time of year as daylight hours would be little + only the hardiest wildlife remaining, though chance of seeing the "northern lights".

Any particular species you'd like to see? Then we'll have a better idea of where to advise.

Wales and sea eagles would be good.

Ideally I would be going to see seabirds breeding but sadly I couldn't go this year.

aeshna5 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2010, 04:49 PM

Mull would be a place for both White-tailed (Sea) + Golden Eagles as well as otters + some great scenery + other wildlife.

ChrisJB · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Mull would be a place for both White-tailed (Sea) + Golden Eagles as well as otters + some great scenery + other wildlife.

I'd go along with this, or perhaps further north, choosing from the Applecross (good accessible ptarmigan site near here), Torridon, Loch Maree (both eagles here and scenery that will blow your socks off), Gairloch areas. You'll get otters and the last time I was up there, colossal numbers of both great northern and black throated divers (yet strangely, not a single red throated all week).
As for Tysfjord, I went there once and didn't see the killer whales either, but it was in August and the mountains were well good.

Chris

solus · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2010, 09:44 PM

I'm not sure any of the places mentioned would be all that suitable for a holiday in the depths of winter with a 2 year old unless you don't mind him potentially being cold and wet and quite possibly muddy half the time! If you plan to spend a long time looking for wildlife - and seeing Eagles and Otters can take a great deal of patience and perseverance - he may be too young to stay still for very long and there really is little to keep a small child interested, especially off-season with most 'tourist' places closed.

southlonder · #8 (**permalink**) 11-09-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solus

I'm not sure any of the places mentioned would be all that suitable for a holiday in the depths of winter with a 2 year old unless you don't mind him potentially being cold and wet and quite possibly muddy half the time! If you plan to spend a long time looking for wildlife - and seeing Eagles and Otters can take a great deal of patience and perseverance - he may be too young to stay still for very long and there really is little to keep a small child interested, especially off-season with most 'tourist' places closed.

I think you might be right.

Tringa · #9 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 09:06 AM

Any of UK places mentioned would be good but you need to be prepared.

Last New Year in Gairloch we couldn't get the car out for 5 days - no hassle we just walked everywhere, but perhaps not as easy with a two year old.

Though the amount of snow was exceptional, it is more likely to be wet and cold. Again no problem if you are prepared for it.

Will your OH be happy to be on extended child duty when you go off to wildlife watch?

Also consider the day light. In early December at the latitude of Inverness the sun rises about 8:45am and sets by 4pm.

Sounds as if I'm trying to put you off - I'm not, north west Scotland is a wonderful place on so many levels.

Another place to consider is the north Norfolk coast.

Dave

RobSutton · #10 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 10:30 AM

Islay - tens of thousands of Geese, Otters, Eagles and many other birds (I go every October/November and regularly clock up 100 species) and there are eight or so distilleries for when the weather's bad or you need a warming dram at the end of the day.