Bird Language Course

A Week-Long Birding Masterclass with Dan Gardoqui

LOCATION

Lassintullich Lodge

PLACES

12 Total

2025 DATES

15 - 20 June

PRICE

From £1099

Full Board

BOOK

HERE

1 ROOM LEFT -

In this unique 5-day Bird language Workshop, Dan Gardoqui, bird language expert and experienced nature educator will open your eyes and ears to the fascinating world of birds. We'll not only learn the names of the fabulous feathered ones, but we'll bring our curiosity to better understand what it's like to be a bird. "Where do they sleep at night?" "How do they know where to migrate when they're all alone?" "Can they tell me and my family apart in the garden?" As we dig into learning the language of birds, we'll learn how to tune into wild conservations and get glimpses into the daily drama and peace of wildlife. The voices of the birds are truly fascinating - watch Dan's remarkable mimicry in the film 'The Birder' below.

What is this Bird Language Course About?

With over 30 years of experience as one of the USA's top nature educators and wildlife trackers, Dan will bring a wealth of experience 'over the pond' for this exciting bird language intensive. His enthusiasm for birds and engaging teaching style will bring the language of birds to life as he expertly guides you though;

The 5 voices of the birds
Bird identification
Birding by ear
How to interpret bird language on the landscape
Visiting a diversity of bird habitats; ancient scot's pine forest, birch woods, rivers, lochs, mountain & moorland
Natural history and ancient lore of local birds
Bird Tracks & Signs
Bird migration and evolution
How to interact with wildlife on a deeper level.

The Perfect Study Location

Supporting Dan on this unique course is Steven Hanton, who is a certified 'Track & Sign Specialist' with a Certificate in Bird Biology from Cornell University. With almost 20 years of experience as a wildlife tracker and nature educator in Scotland, he brings local knowledge and expertise to the course. Together they have carefully selected what they believe is the perfect location to study the language of birds - Lassintullich House in the heart of Highland Perthshire. Nestled on a private estate with views over Dunalistair Water, this Victorian Highland Lodge is the perfect rural setting to immerse ourselves in nature while enjoying the luxury of the lodge to return to eat, rest and mull over the day's learning. This course is fully catered and we promise you'll not be disappointed by the food - Scottish fayre full of local produce and scottish classics.

Lassintullich Lodge bird language course

Birder film

Anchor 1

Watch Dan Gardoqui's remarkable mimicry in the short film 'The Birder'

Bird Language Course Details

LOCATION

Lassintullich Lodge

PLACES

12 Total

2025 DATES

15 - 20 June

PRICE

From £1099

Full Board

BOOK

HERE

LIMITED AVAILABILITY LEFT -

This course is hosted by Lassintullich House on Dunalistair Water near Kinloch Rannoch. This 8 bedroom Highland lodge has lounge areas, 2 kitchens, woodburning stoves and all the classic trimmings of a contemporary Scottish rural house.

For full details on the lodge visit - 'Highland Life'.

The surrounding area teams with wildlife and is known for its excellent bird diversity and rich mammalian life too. The lodge is only 200m from Dunalistair Water, a loch with fantastic wetland habitats and great bird life. On our door step is also the ancient Black Wood of Rannoch - one of the best examples of ancient Caledonian pine forests in Scotland. Also easily available to us are riverine, mountain, moorland, plantation and grassland habitats.

The weather in the highlands can be changeable, even in June. Its likely to be warm for Scotland (15 - 20 degrees C) during the day, but can feel alot colder if its wet and windy. Please prepare accordingly.

Warm clothing, waterproof jacket and trousers for day trips.
35l day pack
Sturdy walking boots/wellies
Indoor shoes for the lodge, or slippers!
Binoculars, waterproof notepad and pen, books, field guides.
Camera (optional)
Personal medication/small personal first aid kit.

Travel and arrival - Detailed joining instructions will be sent out to you well in advance of the course commencing. The course begins on the sunday evening, with guests asked to arrive between 1800 - 1900. The first evening will be relaxed as you settle into the accommodation and we all meet each other. The course finishes at approx 1600 on the final day.
Accommodation - This course is hosted at Lassintullich Lodge. The 8 bedrooms are a mixture of master suites, doubles, and twin occupancy sharing. The fee structure is as follows:
- King suite with ensuite - £1345 pp
- King suite with shared large bathroom - £ 1295 pp
- Shared twin room with shared large bathroom - £1145 pp (+ £200 for single occupancy supplement subject to availability)
- Couples sharing a double room pay £1099 pp
Food and Drink - This course is fully catered to a high standard. Expect hearty Scottish fayre, local produce, seasonal classics and plenty of it! We can cater to most dietary requirements and will collect this information upon booking.
Weather/conditions. We will spend most of the day outdoors visiting various habitats, returning to the luxury of the lodge for dinner and evening sessions. The weather can be changeable and a kit list is provided but the lodge also has drying facilities.
Age requirements - 16 - 18 welcome if accompanied by an adult, otherwise 18+.
Fitness/ability - Although this course is not strenuous, a basic level of fitness is required. The ability to walk 2/3km with a light day pack over potentially uneven ground is a minimum requirement.
Payment - We take a deposit upon booking and the full balance is due 8 weeks before the course. If we cancel the course for any reason (unforeseen circumstances or not enough participants) then we will refund 100% back to you. See our full Terms and Conditions.
Insurance - We have comprehensive liability insurance and risk assessments, but we recommend that you have a basic level of insurance.
First Aid/Medical - Your course leader will be trained to First Response Emergency Care level 4 (Ambulance ECA) and will carry a comprehensive first aid kit with the group at all times. Please bring with you plenty of any required personal medication.
Toilets/showers - There are indoor toilets and showers at this venue.

What happens if I'm late for a course? Please keep us informed on your journey if you are going to be late.

Where do I park and is it safe? Private parking is available at the venue

Do you allow dogs? I'm afraid not. Dogs are not suitable on this course.

Is there phone signal and charging available? There is charging available and signal is generally good.

Do most people come on their own? Yes they do, and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and like-minded people. We also have many people that choose to come with a friend or family member who also wants to have an awesome time.

Do I need prior experience? Not at all. Some courses are aimed at a more advanced level but this is made clear in the course description. Most courses cater for all abilities including absolute beginners.

What is your cancellation policy? Full terms and conditions are available here but basically;

You'll get a 100% refund if we cancel the course (almost never for weather, sometimes if there are not enough bookings but 8 weeks in advance of the course)
If you have to cancel then we will always try to refill the course place, and if we can we will refund you in full.
Full course fee is due 8 weeks before course
- If you cancel 4 - 8 weeks before the course you are liable for 50% of the course fee.
- If you cancel less than 4 weeks before the course then you are liable for 100% of the course fee
- This is due to the fact that courses involve a large amount of planning and expense in advance.
- Sometimes we can transfer you to another course if there is availability.