Puma Tour 2007
	After the success of our Jaguar tours the question was could the success be repeated with Pumas. The odds looked less promising but the inaugural Puma tour proved yet again the value of putting in the effort with an astonishing series of sightings, with Pumas being seen on four consecutive days with a minimum of seven individuals being seen. A female with four small kittens was watched for over an hour and another female with a large young one in tow was seen on four consecutive nights close to our hotel. On two nights we even saw a Puma catch a Brown Hare near the hotel. In addition we also saw what was probably another individual on a ridge in the spotlight but although the bright eye-shine suggested Puma the animal was too far away for a conclusive identification in the spotlight.
Add to this a totally unexpected Kodkod (South America’s smallest cat), several Blue Whales (at two sites), Commerson’s, Chilean & Peale’s Dolphin, Grey (Chilla), Colpeo & Darwin’s Foxes, Marine & the endangered Southern River Otter, Southern Pudu, Southern Huemel & another 6 species of mammal and the tour was a resounding success. We will be modifying the itinerary slightly for next year which will probably mean that we do not see Commerson’s Dolphin but will have more time on Chiloe increasing our chances of seeing Kodkod & Southern River Otter. The 2008 tour (1-16 March) is already almost fully booked but one or two places remain and if demand is sufficient we may run a second tour. We are also taking advance registrations for 2009. For further information, bookings or advance registrations please contact Emma Brown at the Wildwings office. Richard Webb

Tsunami/ Earthquake Solomon Islands

We have had a number of calls from relatives on those on board about the earthquake/tsunami that occurred inthe Solomon Islands on Sunday. The ship is currently in Noumea, and is due to sail to the Solomons in the next few days.

We have heard from both John and from Heritage Expeditions that all is well and that the ship was not affected in anyway by the earthquake/tsunami.

Arctic 2008     

We now have advance details of many of our voyages for Summer 2008, all of which are booking now! Demand for summer 2007, especially Spitsbergen has been overwhelming so you may want to get in early. In addition to our Spitsbergen and Greenland itineraries  we also have the dates and prices for the spring Scottish Island voyages in May plus a selection of re-positioning trips from the UK up to the Arctic in June. Click here for more details.

BA to the islands!

British Airways now serve Trinidad direct from London Gatwick and so we have revised our Birding Trinidad and Tobago programme to reflect this new superior air service.  Our famous Birding Package based at the delightful Pax Guest House now cost from only £1299 per person including return flights, 7 nights full board accommodation and 6 days guided birding, amazing value.

Western Pacific Odyssey update

The first, historic voyage is about to depart from Auckland, New Zealand. A full report from this pioneering trip will appear on this website in early May 2007. In the meantime the Solomon Islands recce report has just been added. We have a few berths left in both 2008 and 2009 and we will open up the 2010 voyage for advance registrations shortly.

Birdwatch Magazine Sweden : Autumn Migration NEW!

Our new 2 centre trip to Oland and Falsterbo is now open for bookings, see the April 2007 issue of the magazine for full details including the recce report or click here for the tour details only. 22^nd – 29^th September 2007, led by Anders Eriksson, £999pp sharing a twin room.

Big Cats.

Chile Pumas Recce March 2007
Great news from Richard Webb, still in Chile. 4 sightings of Puma during the first night's spot lighting including as close as 30m! Our first full tour will run in March 2008, please contact us if you want to be amongst the first to receive details. tours@wildwings.co.uk

Male Gurney's Pitta, Thailand, Feb 2007 Mark Andrews	Nordmann's Greenshank, Thailand Feb 2008 JBG	Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Thailand Feb 2007 Mark Andrews
NEW! Thailand 'Spoon-billed Pitta' Tour As a result of a recent short, but frantic visit to Thailand by Mark Andrews and JBG, we are putting together a new small-group trip for February 2008. This trip, to be led by Mark, will concentrate on a number of key species including the now critically endangered wader, Spoon-Billed Sandpiper (along with a good chance of Nordmann's Greenshank) plus will seek Blue, Eared and Giant Pitta. An optional 3 night extension to Southern Thailand will concentrate on Gurney's and Banded Pittas plus another chance for Nordmann's Greenshank. If you would like details of this new trip when finalised, please contact us at tours@wildwings.co.uk

AIRLINE HAND BAGGAGE

 VERY IMPORTANT

 Due to the continuing heightened security introduced last summer please note that you are only allowed ONE piece of hand baggage, regardless of airline and/or class of travel with the following Maximum dimensions.

 56cm x 45cm x 25cm  (22”  x 18” x 10”)

 In addition, strict restrictions apply to ALL forms of liquids, a maximum of 100ml per type, which MUST be in a clear transparent plastic bag, not greater than 1 litre in volume.

 Baby foods and prescription medicines are also allowed.

 Notes: We understand these regulations are being strictly enforced, note nothing is allowed in your pockets either. Binoculars, telescopes, cameras and lenses, laptops etc  are allowed in your hand baggage.

 These restrictions also apply to inbound flights to the UK. The situation at overseas airports varies currently, check with your onward carrier locally (if applicable)

Galapagos Photo Exhibition, Shrewsbury    

Regular client, Jonathan Cutbill has an exhibition of 325 photographs taken during a WildWings Ultimate Galapagos Tour at The Gallery, Pride Hill Shopping Centre, Shrewsbury throughout the month of February 2007 as part of the fifth Darwin Festival. (Currently a lady share place only available on this summer’s voyage by the way). Admission is free.

Save the Albatross Campaign Update

We are delighted to have been able to send another four figure cheque to the campaign this month as our annual company contribution from our client’s travels to the Southern Oceans in 2006. This essential long-term project has really moved up a gear in recent months with the RSPB now having a ‘Task Force’ team in action on fishing vessels from various countries. If you wish to make your own donation via WildWings please just add the amount to your final invoice and mark it ‘STA’. A receipt will be sent to you at the time and an extra thank you will also be sent at the beginning of next year when we make our next annual donation which will include any personal ones made to us. Or simply visit the special website and make your own donation direct, please! www.savethealbatross.net

Carbon Offsetting

The world seems to be going ‘green’ at last and we wholeheartedly support this concept in respect of international air travel. The fact that at least two of the organisations currently gaining most publicity in the UK are Limited Companies does disturb us slightly however. Unless anyone out there knows different, a Ltd Company exists to make its shareholders profits? If you are going to pay money to offset your carbon footprint please give it to an existing bird or wildlife charity instead.  And what better than the Save the Albatross Campaign, in support of Nature’s ultimate flyers!

Suggested amounts would generally seem to be as follows (per person, return)

Europe                   £5

Arctic                    £10

N America (East)  £12

N. America (West) £20

Caribbean               £15

S America              £25

Antarctica              £30

Middle East           £15

Far East                 £25

Australasia             £40

(Note: As above, we would be happy to pay your payment on to the Albatross campaign.)

Expedition Cruise News

We continue to offer the best choice of voyages to both the Antarctic and Arctic. With nearly 50 vessels alone going south this winter, the choice of operator, itinerary and dates are becoming more critical to ensure the best wildlife experience. We only work with the ships we know and trust, our advice is free (15 years experience) and we offer the best prices too (Always check with us for the latest situation). Demand for the Arctic this coming summer is huge, with many Spitsbergen voyages full already. If you want to get in early for 2008 contact us soon, rates and dates are coming in now. Speaking of which, we can now offer lower prices on the Atlantic Odyssey in 2008, led by Tim Cleeves, contact us soon for your berths (all booked clients will pay the lower prices too of course). The Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia has just opened for bookings for 2008 , (2007 has long waitlists only), book soon if you want to experience this tubenose fest, prices from £3879*pp, 9^th – 27^th November 2008. Our ‘world first’ Western Pacific Odyssey 2007 is soon to depart (full report on this website from early May 2007), 2008 and 2009 are booking now too.   The first season of Icebreaker voyages to the Emperor Penguin colony at Snow Hill Island were all a great success from client reports and photos. Four departures are now on offer this coming autumn, with reduced prices now from £5099*pp.  The October voyages are the best, the chicks should still be on the adult’s feet. And for the very first time, one of the voyages will allow a lucky few (experienced divers only) to join the Emps in the ocean itself ! (supplement £1215).

Christmas Island Bird Week

The second such event has just been announced and we are taking bookings now, 1^st – 7^th September 2007. We have one week packages from both Singapore (from £829pp twin share) and Perth (from £1099pp twin share). Endemic seabirds and landbirds in this tropical paradise including Abbott’s Booby and Christmas Island Frigatebirds not to mention the stunning ‘Golden Bosuns’ plus much more. Ideal for photographers, artists,  ringers, island fans and of course seabird buffs too. Limited places only.

Upcoming Tours

We still have some places on our spring and summer trips available, first come, first serve. The first Eilat Bird Festival has proved popular and bookings must close by mid-February. Tom Gullick has a few spots left on both his Spring Central Spanish trips and his Pyrenees trips in June (Wallcreeper or your money back!). Bookings are still open for our famous Polish Bird Festival in May, now with flights from Manchester as well as London. Our short breaks to Sweden in conjunction with Birdwatch Magazine have a few places left too (“10 out of 10”, a 2006 client). A few final berths remain on our return to Kamchatka and the Kuriles voyage in June (closing very soon). Our annual Ultimate Galapagos voyage has just a lady share place at time of press, as does our first Brazil Jaguars Tour this summer.   Finally, we just took a cancellation on our Baja California & Sea of Cortez whale and dolphin watching voyage in late March, one twin cabin.