Island Holidays Blog

Nose down for the brochure!

Back from Romania which was excellent - except for some organisational glitches which took me by surprise.  In spite of low water levels in the delta we got everywhere we wanted to go and had some brilliant birding.  Up in the mountains the bears performed brilliantly - it was very exciting - but we missed out on the Wallcreeper - a singularly elusive bird.

As always it's good to be home - I'm so lucky living in Perthshire and Scotland is at its best in late May/early June.   The weather's been a bit grey since I got back but this morning I was woken at 4.30 with the sun streaming in the bedroom window - which will teach me for forgetting to draw the curtains!  Just as well, though, as the volume of work is scary and it's good to get a head start in the morning when the brain is still fresh.   I go into deep decline by lunchtime!  This mornign I'll need to nip through to Perth to do a big shop (neighbours coming for supper plus a bare larder after having been away).  Should be back before the phones start at 9 o'clock.

I've got a feeling the blog might not have very regular attention over the next couple of months as the brochure pressure increases day by day.   But I'll try to be good and have a chat with you all as often as I can.  It's good to know you enjoy checking up on me!   Right now there's a tour report to illustrate - actually, more than one.  I've just finished the Outer Hebrides - would you believe they saw a Snowy Owl? - and North Cyprus, and am expecting Will Wagstaff's Scilly report (or should it be "silly"?) any day now.   There are several tours going out at the moment so it's all go!

Birds, bears and botany

Romania here I come!   I leave at lunch time today to fly to Amsterdam where I'll overnight so that I'm there in plenty of time for the clients arriving from various UK airports for the onward flight to Bucharest tomorrow.   It's a fabulous country - still very poor but making terrific progress since its entry into the European Union which is good to see.   Mind you, I still go armed with notepads and pens for the school kids so they've a long way to go yet.

Rumour has it that water levels in the Danube Delta are really low and that our houseboat won't be able to access all the places we want to go.  Instead we'll hop into little boats which will mean rather long cramped journeys - but the birds are fantastic so there's always plenty to look at.  I've never seen so many herons in my life!

The second part of the holiday is in the Carpathian Mountains and this I'm really looking forward to as I didn't have enough time to get up there when I went to do the recky a few years ago.  Don't worry - the clients will have a local botanist who works with the National Park to guide them so they won't be relying on me knowing a place I've never been to!   Perish the thought!   One evening we'll be going to look for brown bears and that will be rather exciting.  Cameras are banned after one client last year (and you now who you are) took a flash photo which frightened the animal off and no-one got a good look at it.  How to win friends.......   He swore he'd turned the flash off but that's technology for you and the upshot is that no-one is allowed to take a camera into the hide with them.   So there!   Libby says!

Anyway, I'd better stop chattering on as much remains to be done as always.  I don't think I've ever been up to date in the 21 years I've been running Island Holidays so there's no reason today should be any different.   There won't be a chance to get to a computer during this holiday so you can expect a long silence from me.

Australia

My lovely aunt, Sheila, is going to be celebrating her 80th birthday in Perth in November.  Now if that was Perth, Scotland it would be really convenient - just 25 miles away - but, no, we're talking Western Australia here.   In a moment of madness I said I'd be there which sort of equates to going to Seoul (South Korea) for the weekend for my cousin's wedding!   But it won't be a weekend - I'm making a big trip of it.

The planning is coming together and is based on investigating the new Australian tour which we will be introducing in our 2009 brochure (you can get the initial outline on our newsletter which is now up and running on the website).   I wanted to go to Lord Howe Island but it really is rather on the expensive side and there are limits!   So I'm contenting myself with Brisbane and the famous O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat which looks stunning.  I met the people there at the Bird Fair last year and doubtless they'll be at Rutland again in August so there will be some familiar faces.

From there I'll fly down to Tasmania and Bruny Island.  At the moment I'm working on the itinerary with the help of one of the island's leading naturalists, Dr Tonia Cochrane who is being terrific.  Trouble is that I think there's a bit too much in it.  I'd really love to see Tasmanian Devil (see picture) and Duck-billed Platypus but might have to cut that bit out.   At the end of all that I'll fly all the way across Australia to Perth and then come home via Singapore or somewhere.   The whole thing will take most of November and will not only be wonderful but make me better able to ensure the trip next March is absolutely perfect for my clients.   So excuse me now while I go back to the planning.

Comings and Goings

It's that time of year where we have so many tours coming and going it's hard to keep track!  I actually have to check each day to see who's going where, who is already somewhere and who's due back!  It seems from the questionnaires that the vast majority of people are more than satisfied - the "excellent" box gets lots of ticks which is gratifying.  We're certainly not perfect but we really do try our very best and it's good to know that it mostly works well.

The newsletter has had a good response - phones and emails were red hot yesterday.  I've just sent it through to Rich (my webmaster) for posting, so it should be on the website later today with any luck.  Apart from that there's just so much to do for the brochure that I can't see how it can possibly get out on time - but Karon says I say that every year and it always does.  It's the sheer volume of detail which can be overwhelming and it's not helped by people not replying to emails - at the moment I'm waiting for something like 70 replies!   Very frustrating.

By the way - you know last time I said the Ospreys were back but I hadn't seen them?  Well, that's been put right.  I walked round that way on Sunday evening and, as I passed, she got up off the nest and flew around a bit before returning to settle again.  It was almost as if she wanted a good stretch and then duty called.   And talking about duty calling, I think it's about time to get back to that brochure.

Day off!

I did the unheard of - had a bank holiday weekend (almost).   Admitedly I nipped in to the office to do the odd hour here and there, but basically I behaved like a human being for the whole weekend!   I guess the focal point was the rather excellent rib roast on Sunday evening with half a dozen friends (I think there were 7 of us).   Shame I burnt the Yorkshire Pud!   Then there were Clover and Bracken who came to brighten my life for Saturday and Sunday - a pair of Flat-Coat Retrievers.  Clover is getting on a bit - she's nearly 10 - but little Bracken is only 6 months and full of energy.  They were a real joy.

Yesterday really was the first day of summer in this neck of the woods and how lovely it was.  The bluebells are beginning to come out and the woods are full of anenomes and dog violets while the banks are carpeted in primroses and the smell of wild garlic fills the air.   The local Osprey are back although I haven't seen them myself yet.  Every time I go for a walk past their nest they're either out or sitting tight.  One of my neighbours was admiring the way they go all the way to Africa and then find their way back to the self-same tree:  dammit, I go to Africa and find my way home too and nobody says I'm amazing!

So now it's back to work with a vengeance with less than 2 weeks before I head off to Romania and the brochure seriously badly behind.   Watch out for the new newsletter which should be on the website in the next couple of days and hitting doormats or inboxes very soon. 

Free Passports

I've just heard that if you are a British citizen and were born on or before 2nd September 1929 you are entitled to a free 10-year, 32 page passport.

Apparenlty this is in recognition of the sacrifices made by World War II veterans and civilians.  I don't think this news is hot off the press but you might well want to pass it on to any of your friends who are of that generation and who still enjoy roaming this wonderful world of ours.

Talking about roaming the world, I was working on our itinerary for Uganda next March yesterday and nearly packed a bag and left to jump on the first flight!   We've got a slightly different itinerary this time and it looks absolutely wonderful.   Some of the accommodation which Johnnie has chosen for us is really outstanding and the chances of seeing Chimps and Gorillas are strong.  Although it's primarily a birding tour, you can't be in that neck of the woods without being surrounded by game as well, to say nothing of impressive scenery.   I haven't been able to get out there yet and so want to go.   Down girl.  Get on with that 2009 brochure .....!!!  (By the way - I haven't finalised the price for next year yet so haven't changed the web page - departure will be 17 March.)

The rain in Spain ...

You don't really expect lashing rain, fierce winds and seriously cold temperatures in southern Spain in late April, but that's what we got.   Some of the streets in Seville were flooded as we left the city on Saturday morning and the river was a raging. rich muddy colour and seriously full.

Not that we were deterred.  The rain eased as we headed up to Extremadura and the rest of the day was sunshine and showers (more of the latter than the former) but always with a really strong wind.  The Montagu's Harriers were on great form, displaying, prey-passing in mid air and getting their nest sites organised.  They breed in colonies in barley fields and, of course, there's a problem when it comes to the harvest.  That'a s lot of what Fergus's work is about (see previous blog) - mapping the nests and ensuring the farmers avoid them when the time comes.

We had a busy three days, quite a bit of it with the harriers and other members of the AMUS (Action for Wildlife) team but also had time to check out hotels and restaurants for the tour and do a bit of general birding.  I was thrilled - I had seven "lifers" (species I'd never seen in my life before) including Great and Little Bustard and the rare Black-shouldered Kite which was fantastic.   There was a wonderful spot smothered in orchids and, a rare treat, a Nightingale singing but in full view (they usually lurk in the bushes and frustrate the heck out of you if you want to see as well as hear them.

All in all it was an excellent (if chilly) three days - five if you count the travel, but that wasn't excellent, it was just tedious!   I love the place I live, but having to take the extra flights to and from London really does add a lot of time to any journey.   On the other hand, what would I do if there wasn't something to grumble about?

Hit the Road Jack

Do you remember that song?   It seems what I do rather often and today is no exception.  Just half an hour and it's time to leap into that trusty Golf and head to the airport where the chaps in Secure AirParks seem to know me reasonably well! 

Unfortunately there are no direct flights from Scotland to Seville so it's that same old story of flying to London and then hanging around.   I'll be leaving just after 8 this morning but don't land in Spain until 10 past 7 this evening.   And when I get home people ask if I had a nice holiday!!!!

But it should be an interesting trip.  Tour leader Fergus Crystal will be meeting me and tomorrow morning we head up to an area of Extremadura about 1 1/2 hours north of Seville - think we have to arrive by 8.30 a.m. (repeat comment about nice holiday).   Fergus spends 5 months of the year out there working on a Montagu's Harrier conservation project in a really rural area.  I'm hoping that we'll be able to get some involvement in that work for our clients when you/they go out next March.  We're timing the holiday early in the year so that the flowers and butterflies are at their best as well as the migrant birds arriving.   

I doubt there'll be a chance to get near a computer while I'm away - it will be fairly intensive: learning about the area, the project, inspecting hotels and looking for reliable transport and restaurants.  The latter is fun!   So I'd better stop, transfer data to the laptop and head off into the great unknown.

Want a free passport?

Well, apparently you can get one - if you were born on or before 2nd September 1929!  I didn't know that!   The information came courtesy of an email from one of my delightful clients who thought that some of our more mature travellers might be interested.

Over the years I have never failed to be impressed by so many of you who travel with us well into your 80's (and for some even beyond that).  I well remember a wonderful 93-year-old from Shetland who put the other members of the group to shame!  She was quick and nimble, not only in mind but in body. Which all goes to show that age is totally irrelevant - unless you want a free passport.

I'm away to try to find out more.   The Passport & Identity Service website hasn't given me anything - not that I've read every word of it - but I hope by the end of today to know more.  I'll then put a wee piece in our next newsletter which I'm currently (supposed to be) writing!

I'm off to Extremadura in Spain on Friday - probably won't have time to do another blog before then: as always there's too much to do and never enough time in which to do it.  Still, the sun pouring into the office this morning gives a bit of energy and enthusiasm.   Onward!

Daddy Simpson

Congratulations to tour leader David Simpson and his partner, Aud, who have produced a son and heir.  Joseph Horatio was born a couple of days ago (I think - my mobile was turned off so I've only just got the message)and weighed in at 3.4 kilos which I reckon to be around 7 - 8 pounds.  (Don't have a photo of the baby yet so you'll have to make do with one of the proud father.

Great excitement all round but it won't stop Dave leading our wonderful holiday in his own part of France - the North of Aquitaine/Dordogne region from 10 May.  It's a fabulous part of the world and Dave's all-round-naturalist approach, love of the landscape and appreciation of the finer things of life such as food and wine all enhance the visitor's experience.  This time of year the spring flowers will be in bloom and the trees will have that wonderful fresh green which disappears so quickly.  As for the butterflies ......   Then there's the pre-history aspect with cave paintings and so on.  Wish I was going too!