By the end of the course the participants should feel more confident in the identification of waders from all over the UK, but in particular, those seen in and around the Cairngorms National Park and coastal areas nearby.

They should also feel they can see how to improve their wader identification skills and that they have learned some useful hints and tips on telling difficult species apart using plumage, behaviour and other features.

Summary

• The course will be based in the Cairngorms National Park and run over two days. It will include a day in the ‘classroom’ and day in the field.
• It will cover all regular UK species of wader, but with a focus on those species found in the Cairngorms National Park – including scarcer species.
• The ‘classroom’ day will cover all aspects of wader recognition – plumage, structure, habitat, behaviour, time of year and calls, how to tell the difficult species apart and other useful hints and tips.
• The field day will be out in suitable habitat for a selection of species, to put into practice what was learned the day before. Given the species covered, the field day will take place on the coast.
• The course is run by Speyside Wildlife using one of our experienced guides, Roy Atkins.

Course Schedule

• The course will be held over 5-6 March with 5th being the classroom day and 6th the field day.
• Lunch is provided on the classroom day but please bring a packed lunch on the field day.
• On the ‘classroom’ day please bring paper and pencil and your favourite bird book – we tend to use the Collins ‘Bird Guide’.
• For the field day please bring your binoculars, telescope if you have one, your bird book and paper and pencil to make notes – also suitable clothing for a day on the coast where weather is unpredictable.