{"id":2,"date":"2012-05-14T08:16:58","date_gmt":"2012-05-14T08:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wpress.orcadianwildlife.com\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-01-07T15:03:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T15:03:51","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/orcadianwildlife.co.uk\/wPress\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

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2026 TOURS <\/strong><\/h1>\n

Relaxed tailor-made wildlife and culture holidays for small groups of a maximum of 6 only. I’d like to thank all guests for your early bookings and wonderful support: 2026 dates are now available, many bookings have already been taken (many weeks are already FULL<\/span>), and we are over 90% booked, with only 4 spaces left<\/span>  – thank you! (See Availability of Wildlife Tours tab above, under Wildlife Tours). <\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Orkney-based wildlife tour operator, Orcadian Wildlife recently WON<\/strong> the Business for Nature Award at RSPB Scotland\u2019s prestigious 2023 Nature of Scotland Awards! In 2025 Orcadian Wildlife celebrated its 22nd anniversary season of sharing Orkney\u2019s amazing wildlife with its guests. Founded as a family business in 2004 it has been for many years the only wildlife tourism operator providing week-long tours resident in Orkney. From Hen harriers to Orcas to Scottish primroses, Orkney\u2019s wildlife is unique!<\/h2>\n

Why tour Orkney with us? We pride ourselves on the attention given to you, our guests, in blending Orkney\u2019s wildlife and culture. We live here, and know that you will witness memorable lifetime sightings in our beautiful archipelago with its 5,000 year-old monuments. <\/em>The weather will be fresh, the days long and the sights and sounds of our Simmer Dim will remain with you always.<\/em><\/h4>\n

Highlights include Long-tailed duck, Scaup and Great-northern divers, close up and breath-taking in their summer plumage. Lapwings, Curlews, Snipe and Redshank will be calling and displaying. Hen harriers will be \u2018sky-dancing\u2019 or making food passes for your enjoyment. May brings the 1st flowering of the Scottish primrose, then later the cliff-tops will shock with their pinks and blues: Thrift and Spring squill. Other delights include large seabird and auk colonies on RSPB reserves; Arctic and Little terns, Arctic skuas and Bonxies; and perhaps even Orca or other cetaceans in Scapa Flow or the Pentland Firth. Orchids are in bloom in the moorlands and sea turf.<\/em><\/h4>\n

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    Hen Harrier female, Grimness, South Ronaldsay.<\/em><\/p>\n

Guests may expect to see around up to or around 100 species of birds, even though many common passerines are absent here.  Migrants are interesting and almost anything can (and does!) turn up. Rarities seen have included Varied Thrush and Siberian accentor. But please don\u2019t be put off by rarities, we\u2019re very happy with novice birdwatchers and pleased to pass on our skills.<\/em><\/h4>\n

A local saying is that Orkney soil bleeds history.  Orkney abounds with ancient Neolithic monuments like Skara Brae over 5,000 years old, and our many standing stones speak for themselves. We have had guests from all over the world who have enjoyed hugging stones like at the Ring of Brodgar or Stones of Stenness.  Our circular Pictish brochs are awesome in construction and siting. Our Viking past is very much alive in place names and accents. Indeed Orkney is often described as a little piece of Norway beyond Scotland. <\/em><\/h4>\n

Here’s a short video made by Jack Archer of Hopscotch Films for the Nature of Scotland Awards 2023, when Orcadian Wildlife won the Business for Nature Award!<\/em><\/h4>\n