From huge sea lochs to heather-cloaked mountains, the Highlands and islands are a few of the finest locations to see the distinctive wildlife in Scotland. We will not assure you will see probably the most well-known Scottish animal — Nessie doesn’t usually floor for photographs — however wildlife encounters are by no means removed from the floor.
The place to see wildlife in Scotland
Scotland could also be small, however the variety of wildlife is something however. Pink squirrels scurry via Caledonian pine forests, golden eagles swoop over the Cairngorms, and purple deer roam the dramatic glens of Glencoe. Search for mountain hares hopping throughout the Highlands, or watch playful otters frolicking in lochs and rivers. In the event you scan the waves within the Moray Firth, you could catch sight of bottlenose dolphins leaping via the water.
Finest Scottish islands for wildlife
Most of the Scottish islands are residence to an abundance of wildlife, although it varies by habitat. Round Shetland and Orkney, orcas often patrol the shoreline. Minke whales go via deeper waters, and puffins crowd the cliffs in noisy colonies. The Hebrides have sea eagles and basking sharks offshore. Mull, Jura, and Arran are nice for recognizing otters, purple deer, and golden eagles. Sail to distant islands and also you’ll be nostril to beak with hundreds of gannets and guillemots in full screeching refrain.
When to see wildlife in Scotland
Spring kicks off the Scottish wildlife season, when migrating birds return and the clifftops are alive with exercise. Might and June are finest for seeing puffins and different nesting seabirds. In summer season, guests usually sight basking sharks off the west coast. Autumn is the season to hear for the roar of purple deer through the rut and marvel at Atlantic salmon as they hurl themselves upriver throughout their annual migration. Winter is quieter, however gray seals come ashore to moult from December via April, and ptarmigan and mountain hares don their snowy coats to mix into the panorama.
The way to spot wildlife in Scotland
The nation has many nature reserves and Scottish Wildlife Belief or RSPB websites, a lot of which have hides, marked trails, and species guides that will help you establish what’s round. Binoculars are a should, and it is best to put on muted clothes and keep away from sturdy scents which may put animals off. Preserve your distance, particularly close to nesting websites or younger. By no means name out, chase, or attempt to get too shut. Our skilled expedition workers can advise you on when and the place to look, providing recommendations on tips on how to watch wildlife responsibly with out inflicting disturbance, in addition to tips on how to {photograph} wildlife efficiently.
What wild animals are in Scotland?
Scotland is residence to a shocking mixture of land, sea, and sky dwellers. This is a take a look at a few of the most iconic species you may spot in your travels.
Observe orcas across the Orkney coast
These hanging black and white predators are literally the most important members of the dolphin household. Orcas are extremely smart, social, and significantly good hunters, feeding on seals, fish, and porpoises. In Scotland, they’re uncommon however thrilling summer season guests, principally noticed gliding via the waves in small teams as you sail across the Orkney and Shetland coastlines. Might to September is the very best time of 12 months to see orcas.
Watch minke whales feed round Eigg
Minke whales are most steadily seen within the waters across the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, and Muck in summer season. Their curious nature means they often cruise near boats. In the event you see a flock of seabirds circling above the waves, there’s a superb likelihood that minke whales are under. They use a intelligent lunge-feeding method for looking, scooping up a mouthful of fish and seawater, after which straining it via their baleen like their very own built-in colander.
Stare upon mild basking sharks close to Iona
Don’t be fooled by the dimensions; this 8m-long (26 ft) large is a plankton-slurping softie. Basking sharks glide via the ocean with their mouths broad open, filtering seawater like a slow-moving sieve. Regardless of their measurement, they’re innocent and interesting to observe. Though they stay in Scottish waters year-round, your finest likelihood of recognizing them is between June and September, particularly round Iona and the Inside Hebrides, the place they floor in calm waters the place meals is plentiful.
Be part of a pod celebration with bottlenose dolphins
The Moray Firth is residence to about 200 resident bottlenose dolphins, the world’s most northerly resident pod. These energetic acrobats are sometimes seen frolicking and flipping between April and August, and so they thrive on this sheltered stretch of water. Watching these curious and sociable animals leap round is sufficient to deliver a smile to your face, even in the event you encounter the worst of the Scottish climate.
Splash out with frequent dolphins
Quick, flashy, and filled with character, frequent dolphins are normally seen within the Hebridean waters from Might to September. These glossy swimmers can journey in pods of as much as 50 dolphins, usually surfacing in unison to the delight of these fortunate sufficient to see them. These smaller cousins of the bottlenose can attain speeds of as much as practically 50km/h (32 mph) when chasing prey, and their distinctive hourglass markings make them straightforward to establish. Preserve your eyes on the waves close to Iona as a result of they’re identified to sometimes race alongside passing boats.
Hang around with gray seals in Shetland
The gray seal is the UK’s largest seal, and it is simple to identify with its lengthy head and hooked nostril. In Shetland, search for them lounging on rocky shores or bobbing within the bays round Lerwick or Hermaness Nationwide Nature Reserve. Hop on a Zodiac for the very best views. In the event you’re visiting between September and December, maintain an eye fixed out for the fluffy white pups. Born on land, they triple in measurement in simply three weeks earlier than heading out to sea on their very own.
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Go frequent seal recognizing at Mousa
Smaller and rounder than the gray seal, frequent seals favour sandy shores and sheltered estuaries. Not like their fluffier cousins, pups are born able to swim, usually taking to the water inside hours. They’re steadily noticed round Mousa in Shetland, particularly in autumn, when an abundance of fish brings them near shore. Look out for them lounging on sandbanks or popping up in quiet coastal inlets.
Watch gannets dive at St. Kilda
With a wingspan of as much as 2m (6.5 ft) and a knack for high-speed dives, the northern gannet is Britain’s largest seabird and a spectacular sight. St. Kilda’s Stac Lee is residence to one of many world’s largest gannet colonies, and from spring to summer season, hundreds soar overhead or plunge into the ocean at speeds of as much as 100 km/h (62 mph). Watch as they fly out from the cliffs of this large sea stack to feed across the Hebridean Isles, usually alongside dolphins.
Scan the Highland skies for ospreys
The magnificent osprey is a talented fish hunter present in reserves throughout the Highlands and Cairngorms. As soon as dealing with extinction within the UK, the inhabitants has slowly recovered because of many years of conservation work. With razor-sharp imaginative and prescient, it spots prey from above after which hovers earlier than plunging ft first into the water. You stand a greater likelihood of recognizing them between April and August after their winter in West Africa. They’re famously elusive, so endurance is required in the event you hope to see them in motion.
Clown round in puffin territory
With black and white feathers, brilliant orange ft, and clown-like beaks, puffins are as photogenic as they’re entertaining. If you wish to know the place to see puffins in Scotland, Lunga within the Treshnish Isles is among the finest locations. Through the breeding season from April to July, hundreds nest in burrows on the grassy cliffs, diving for fish and utilizing their wings like flippers underwater.
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Lookup for the majestic golden eagle
With a wingspan of greater than 2m (6.5 ft), the golden eagle thrives in upland habitats, such because the Cairngorms Nationwide Park, the place it hunts rabbits, grouse, and mountain hares. As you stroll via the park, scan the ridgelines, and you could spot a golden eagle gliding excessive on thermal currents, looking the land under for its subsequent meal.
Go to Scotland’s west coast for sea eagles
The ocean eagle, additionally referred to as the white-tailed eagle, is the UK’s largest fowl of prey, with a wingspan of as much as 2.4m (7.8 ft). Hunted to extinction by 1918 however reintroduced in 1975, these giants now patrol the skies over distant coasts and inland lochs, significantly alongside the west coast of Scotland. Preserve your eyes on the skies to see them gliding over the water as they hunt for fish or perch on clifftops surveying their kingdom.
Watch and watch for shy otters
Curious and playful however frustratingly shy, otters stay alongside Scotland’s coasts, lochs, and rivers, however recognizing one takes endurance. You’ll usually hear their high-pitched squeaks earlier than you ever see one. They’re sturdy swimmers with webbed ft and muscular tails, and might shut their ears, eyes, and nostrils underwater. Coastal otters must eat greater than 1kg (2.2 lbs) of fish and crustaceans every day, and so they frequently rinse in freshwater to maintain their dense insulating fur in prime situation.
Observe purple deer at Glencoe
Massive, daring, and proud, purple deer are the most important land mammals within the UK and an icon of Scotland. You possibly can see them gracing the label of a well known whisky bottle or round Glencoe and the remainder of the Highlands. Hear them bellow throughout the glens from September to November through the dramatic rutting season, or watch the superior sight of stags clashing antlers as they combat to defend the females. With no pure predators remaining, purple deer thrive within the open mountains and moorlands. Head out early or simply earlier than nightfall in your finest likelihood of seeing them.
See them for your self on: Expedition By the Scottish Isles: The place Land Meets Legend
Search the pine forests for purple squirrels
With their distinctive russet coats and bushy tails, purple squirrels are the unique nut hoarders of Scotland’s forests and woodlands. As soon as underneath stress from habitat loss and illness unfold by invasive gray squirrels, their numbers are actually steady in components of Scotland because of conservation work. Energetic year-round, they stash hazelnuts and pine seeds to see them via the winter.
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Observe mountain hares within the Highlands
Masters of disguise, mountain hares change color with the seasons. Their coats flip from grey-brown in summer season to white in winter. Native to the Highlands, they’re best to identify in spring when the snow has gone, however their white fur stays. Search for them zigzagging throughout heather moorland on highly effective hind legs. They feed on grasses and bark, and shelter in shallow scrapes within the floor referred to as kinds.
What’s it like on a Scottish wildlife tour?
Count on to take advantage of each second on a G Adventures Scottish wildlife tour. Hike historic glens, be part of expert-led walks, and sail round dramatic coastlines in a Zodiac whereas scanning the waves for whales, puffins, seals, and basking sharks. Sip whisky at native distilleries, hear legends from guides who know their seabirds from their selkies, and discover Viking ruins and standing stones. Each day brings altering landscapes, wealthy historical past, and shut encounters with a few of Scotland’s most iconic wildlife.
Do you want a information to identify wildlife?
Having a information is a large profit when recognizing wildlife in Scotland. G Adventures’ wildlife excursions are led by skilled expedition workers who know in regards to the habits and hiding spots of Scotland’s wildlife. Their experience makes the excursions extra satisfying and informative, and helps you take advantage of your environment. With their insights, you could even spot some endangered Scottish wildlife, reminiscent of ptarmigan, capercaillie, and beavers. In the event you go by Loch Ness, maintain your eyes peeled for a sure monster, too!
