Wildlife Watching

Wildlife watching in Scotland

Almost anywhere around the northern coasts of Scotland there is a chance to see dolphins and occasionally porpoises, seals and whales. The most popular place to see dolphins is in the Moray Firth area which has a resident population of about 150, most frequently seen in the summer months. Other good places to catch glimpses of the creatures are at the entrance to the Caledonian Canal at Inverness, Nairn beach, Arderseir, Fort George, Fortrose and Cromarty. Seals can be seen in abundance. They can often be observed lolling about on sandbanks when the tide is out, and there are plenty of seal-spotting boat trips on offer from spring to autumn.

Otters are more elusive. They tend to live on undisturbed remote stretches of the seashore or quiet areas of a river. If you are determined to spot the creatures, for further information contact Skye Environmental Centre (home to the International Otter Survival Fund), Tel. 01471-822487. Whales, Minke and Orcas, inhabit the Atlantic, Pentland Firth and the Moray Firth. Contact the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board, Tel. 0870-5143070, Higlands of Scotland Tourist Board for details of boat trips.

Birdwatching

Scotland is great for birdwatching. Over 450 species have been recorded, including vast colonies of seabirds, birds of prey and many rare species. Among the best places in Scotland to see birds are Handa Island off the coast of Sutherland, and the Treshnish Islands, off Mull, where you'll see colonies of shags, razorbills, guillemots and puffins. Details of how to get there are given in the relevant sections.

Other excellent places for birdwatching include Caerlaverock near Dumfries, the Isle of May off the coast of Fife, the Bass Rock off North Berwick, Fowlsheugh near Stonehaven, and Loch Garten by Boat of Garten, where you can see ospreys. Many of the Hebridean islands, such as Islay and Mull, are home to a rich variety of seabirds and you can also see golden eagles.

Orkney and Shetland are famous for their rich variety of birdlife and are home to large colonies of seabirds and migratory birds. There are puffins, kittiwakes, fulmars, shags, razorbills, guillemots and even auks.

Useful organizations

Further information can be obtained from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 17 Regent Terr, Edinburgh EH7 5BT, Tel. 0131-5573136; the Scottish Ornithologists Club, 21 Regent Terr, Edinburgh EH7 5BT, Tel. 0131-5566042; and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Cramond House, Cramond Glebe Road, Edinburgh EH4 6NS, Tel. 0131-3127765, which owns and runs over 100 nature reserves.

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