Mike Dilger's Wildlife Highlights of 2022
2022 was certainly a wildlife-packed year as both I and all the guests who've joined me on numerous trips right across the UK have had one thing on our mind - making up for lost time! Here are some of the many highlights we were lucky enough to enjoy.
The year kicked off in style with three trips to the Somerset Levels in January. This collection of reserves, with RSPB Ham Wall as the jewel in the crown, has rapidly become one of the best wetland sites in the UK. Playing host to thousands of wildfowl and waders in winter, the Levels are surely the only place in the UK where you're guaranteed to bag three species of egret. Raptors were, as ever, exceptional with hen and marsh harrier both making an appearance, and you can always expect a rarity or two - Baikal teal anyone? It's not often the tour leader gets a lifer!
March is a prime month to be up in the Scottish Highlands as the high Arctic winter visitors temporarily rub wings with the early summer, and next up I was leading our Early Spring in the Scottish Highlands tour. Golden eagle was once again a highlight for many in the group, with at least four different birds seen during the week. This coincidentally was the number of different diver species also seen, as white-billed, joined the more regular great northern, red-throated and black-throated divers out on the Moray Coast. Black grouse were lekking beautifully at this key time of year, while mammals didn't disappoint with red, roe and sika deer, red squirrels and bottlenose dolphins all delighting the group.
Three separate tours to Mull over the summer all delivered the island's famous trio - that of both species of eagle and otter. Knock House was the most marvellous base as we admired Mull's dramatic landscapes and its wild inhabitants, with the highlight for many being the two-and-a-half boat days. The Treshnish Isles never disappoint, with the closest puffins you will ever see, while one day's sea-watching out in the Minch produced so many minke whales we lost count. For the photographers in the groups, the close encounter with white-tailed eagles just offshore was something they'll never forget. Fancy a white tail from 20 metres away? Then Mull is for you!
Aigas in the Highlands was the perfect place to celebrate the Festival of British Wildlife as pine martens, red squirrels, eagles, otters, beaver and dolphins all competed for the guests' attention over a memorable week, which for me, was closely followed by a trip up to Shetland. Gathering just after 'simmer din' - or the longest day, the guests saw an amazing array of breeding birds nigh on impossible to see anywhere else in the UK. Top billing went to the fabulous, red-necked phalaropes, with honourable mentions to whimbrel, bonxies, storm petrels and red-throated divers.
Of course, Shetland has some of the most impressive seabird cliffs in all of Britain, and the sheer cliffs were stacked with puffins, auks and awe-inspiring gannetries. The islands are also famed for their otters, and everyone's favourite amphibious mammal didn't disappoint on this occasion either.
As I write this, I'm back up in Speyside for a couple of back-to-back autumnal trips. Calling cresties, pine marten and rutting red deer anyone?!
“Mike was a fantastic host with great knowledge and he changed our perspective on life when we go walking now. We laughed and enjoyed ourselves for the whole week.” Alan R, Autumn in the Scottish Highlands, Oct 2022
View all our wildlife holidays with Mike Dilger or to find out more about our trips contact our friendly team.
