Following in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s footsteps, explore the White Continent’s rugged landscape, meeting vast penguin colonies in South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands, greeting albatross in the Falkland Islands, and enjoying every long moment of daylight in the austral summer.
Jim Wilson
Ornithologist
Jim hails from the seaside town of Cobh, County Cork, Ireland. He is a highly respected ornithologist and ecologist with more than 40 years of birding experience in Ireland, Europe, USA, Africa, the Antarctic, and the Arctic. Before setting out as a full-time freelance wildlife author, tour guide, and broadcaster, Jim had a career in medical laboratory science and pathology IT administration. He has written a number of books including, The Birds of Ireland – A Field Guide (2013), Shorebirds of Ireland (2009), Irish Garden Birds (2008) and An Identification Guide to Irish Whales and Dolphins (2006). He has produced two educational DVDs, Bats of Ireland (2009) and Whales and Dolphins of Ireland (2004). He also co-produced an iPhone app called Antarctic Wildlife Guide (2015), the first photo-ID guide app to the birds, whales, dolphins, and seals of the Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the Beagle Channel, and Ushuaia. As well as being involved in many national and international conservation projects, he set up the long-running national Irish Garden Bird Survey. He was national chairman of Birdwatch Ireland, Ireland’s equivalent of the Audubon Society and is a former director of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.
Jim's Blog Posts
What Was Your Favorite Wildlife Experience of 2016?
Even Our Staff Agrees - You Don't Want to Miss the Baltic!
Jim's Upcoming Expeditions
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Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands
January 4 — January 25, 2018 -
Across the Antarctic Circle: Voyage to the 7th Continent
January 22 — February 4, 2018Be one of the very few to cross the Antarctic Circle and witness one of the planet’s last frontiers. In Zodiac cruises, search for humpback, minke, and orca whales, as well as leopard, Weddell, and crabeater seals. And of course, keep your eyes open for gentoo and Adelie penguins.
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Discoveries of Coastal Europe
April 28 — May 11, 2018The coast of Western Europe makes for a sweeping journey—soak up the fine food and fantastic art, plus the myriad historical sites, from France’s Mont Saint-Michel, Spain’s Santiago de Compostela, and the French- and British-influenced Channel Islands.
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Wild & Ancient Britain with Ireland
May 9 — May 24, 2018Witness some of Europe's largest seabird colonies—puffins, gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes, and more—on our return to the British Isles. Visit Giant’s Causeway, Neolithic monuments, and a variety of architectural wonders.
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The Untamed North: Greenland to Iceland
June 24 — July 8, 2018Greenland beckons with its glittering icebergs and wildflower-bedecked tundra, while Iceland enchants with its mighty glaciers and geothermal hotspots—hike, sail by Zodiac, photograph, and commune with seabirds in these ethereal landscapes.
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Svalbard: A Polar Bear Quest
July 10 — July 23, 2018The Arctic summer and its lingering daylight allow ample time to discover Norway and Svalbard, with their abundant wildlife and stark natural beauty—journey by Zodiac and on foot, meeting the region’s hardy residents.