The Top Ten in Hebridean Wildlife!
This top ten is made up of some of the most popular rare and beautiful wildlife that people come to the Hebrides to see. We have not put our top ten in any particular order, as it would be impossible to choose! Each species has its own unique appeal, and most people dream of being able to see every one of them in their lifetime. We are lucky in the Hebrides, as we have them all right here on our doorstep!...
The Golden Eagle
One of the most beautiful and treasured members of the entire bird kingdom, the Golden Eagle is a magnificent bird of prey to see soaring in the Hebridean skies.
Although estimates are widely varied, there are believed to be a fair number of breeding pairs throughout the Hebridean chain. It prevails in the mountainous regions of the northern islands where it feeds on dwindling stocks of Red Grouse, Blue Hare and Wild Salmon, and in hilly areas in the Southern Islands.
It is best to watch these incredible creatures from afar so that your presence is unknown and you can see them behaving naturally. Please do not worry these birds in any way, they are very sensitive to disturbance and even well-intentioned bird lovers might prove to be the last straw in endangering their survival.
You are more than likely to see these creatures unexpectedly while walking or driving around the islands - just remember to keep a look out skywards!
Also keep a look out for Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Buzzards and Harriers. Find out more about birds that can be found in the islands in our Birds of the Hebrides section.
Dolphin, Sharks and Whales
The Minch was given the top four star rating in a whale watching survey by BBC Wildlife Magazine (1994.) You are more than likely to see some cetacean activity in the Hebridean waters if you keep your eyes peeled. The seas around the Hebrides are teeming with marine life and we have some of the most popular feeding and social areas in the UK for cetaceans and fish.
With a richer and more varied marine resource than any other area of Scotland, the Minch is home to the Minke Whale, Bottled Nosed Dolphins, Basking Sharks and many others.
There are some great land viewing spots from which to watch for dolphins and whales. Whale watching from land has the advantage of a high view, but on the other hand, watching from a boat allows you to get closer to these wonderful animals. Many will be as curious about you as you are about them, and will come closer for a better look! Click here to find out more about these beautiful creatures… If you are interested in a boat trip to spot some of our marine life, click on these links in to our Boating and Cruising sections.
The Otter
The Minch has one of the densest otter populations in North West Europe (Green and Green, 1994) and as one of the last otter strongholds, you are more likely to spot one of these agile swimmers in the Hebrides than anywhere else.
Reaching up to four feet in length, they are fast and fluid in and out of water. Although extremely shy, you are quite likely to view these animals if you have patience and are good at keeping quiet. They like rocks, beaches and seaweed-strewn shores; you can also see them around sea lochs on the east coast of the islands where they hunt for fish.
Their fur coat is medium to dark brown with paler fur on the belly area. The tail is used as a rudder in swimming and is long and thick. The face is quite dog-like but with small ears close to the head, while the legs are short and powerful. They are very shy creatures so you will have to be very still and preferably downwind of them if you hope to watch them. They feed on eels and fish, especially salmon which is their favoured meal.
If you want to improve your chances of spotting an otter, and learn lots more about them and where they live along the way, organised otter walks with local countryside rangers and wildlife experts are available.
Puffin
With the biggest colony of puffins in the UK, the Hebrides is a fantastic place to view these charming, comical birds. Thanks partly to the successful publishers of the same name, the puffin is an iconic species that everyone could have a go at describing: with their rainbow beaks, white breasts and faces, black backs and black eye sockets, they are unmistakable.
Breeding on offshore islands, if you want to see puffins up close, your best bet is to take a wildlife cruise around the outer islands. Their numbers will overwhelm you and they are often estimated in 'orders' of abundance as they are impossible to count.
They depart for the open sea in August and return again in February and March. There are large colonies on St Kilda, the Shiants, the Flannan Isles, Mingulay and North Rona, where they live in burrows instead of nests.
Red Deer
Red Deer are actually an introduced species in the islands, but they have adapted well to our rough peat and moor land. They are prevalent in all areas, but prefer higher ground and are more common deeply inland.
The deer are difficult to spot on the heath in autumn, when the moors are gold and brown, but can often be spotted in the hills and moors all over the islands. They are regularly seen from the road around Langass in North Uist, especially at night.
There are just over 4000 Red Deer in Lewis and Harris, around 850 in North Uist and 350 in South Uist.
Corncrake
The Outer Hebrides is the last major stronghold of the elusive corncrake.
With its beautiful and distinctive calling and pretty feather plumage, many keen bird watchers and nature lovers the world over dream of sighting a corncrake.
On mainland UK, the corncrake's natural habitat is fast decreasing in area, with industry and intensive farming methods driving the corncrakes away. The Outer Hebrides has approximately two thirds of the UK corncrake population.
In the Hebrides, however, the corncrake is still fairly common and can be heard from mid April until early August: Scottish Natural Heritage work to protect their preferred environment in the Hebrides as much as possible.
The corncrake can be found throughout the islands but is most populous in the Southern Isles of Uists and Barra. It is difficult to describe its unique song: it is unlike any bird call and is both a spooky and soothing sound, especially when heard at night. Birds are most easily seen during May and early June before the vegetation grows up.
Seals
The Outer Hebrides is home to one of the two major Grey Seal concentrations in Scotland - and over 40% of the world population. They breed on offshore Islands such as Shillay and the Monachs, but can be seen around the coast and in ports looking for food and lazing around. The grey seal can actually be either black, grey or brown in colour, with a dark mottling appearance. You often see them around our coasts, sleeping on rocks or sand or bobbing with their head out of the water, quietly watching the world go by...
As well as Grey Seals, the Outer Hebrides has 10% of the European population of Scottish Common Seals. The most frequently spotted of all our marine friends these animals crowd the harbours and follow fishing boats and sailing crafts greedily hoping for scraps! They have a short muzzle and vary in colour from brown to black with a mottled back.
For many years there was a seal in Stornoway Harbour who was known to local fishermen as 'Sammy the seal:' he was very friendly and inquisitive and fond of the fishermen who shared their catch with him!
Eriskay Pony
The short-legged Eriskay Pony is a local breed of pony of ancient lineage, the only surviving variety of Hebridean pony, but itself in danger of extinction.
The Isle of Eriskay is situated to the south of South Uist and its native pony is a hardy but dainty breed which looks like a smaller version of the Highland Pony.
Eriskay was only linked to South Uist by causeway in 2001, so with the difficulties of access, other breeds were not introduced, leaving a pure breed. By the 1970's, there were only around 20 Eriskay ponies left, but a group of people got together and established breeding groups, and now there are over 300 Eriskay ponies.
Comann Each na Eilean - the Eriskay Pony Society is based on the Isle of Eriskay. The society can help you to visit Eriskay ponies throughout the Islands and also to become a friend to this rare breed. For further information log onto www.eriskaypony.org.uk
Wild Atlantic Salmon
Wild Atlantic Salmon (salmo salar), can be found in most cool, clean rivers with unrestricted access to the sea in the Northern hemisphere. However, although at one time they occupied almost every river in Britain and much of Northern Europe, man's impact on their freshwater environment has meant that far fewer rivers in the UK now contain significant numbers of salmon.
Salmon are treasured by some because of their value as a sporting game fish, by others as excellent eating, but more importantly they are a part of our heritage, a natural national resource for all - not just those who fish for them.
The Hebrides has long been revered among anglers for its wild salmon fishing. In fact the record bag for any one season was in 1925 where the Grimersta estate in Uig on the Isle of Lewis recorded 2,276 salmon, 591 sea trout and 271 brown trout caught. This is quite staggering for a spate river. Amazingly a Mr Naylor caught 57 salmon to his own rod in one day on the same river a few years earlier.
In the islands, nearly all the adult salmon return in the summer months from June through to September. The vast majority are known as grilse, which is an angling term that means they have only spent one winter-feeding at sea. Larger salmon that may have spent two or more winters at sea are uncommon here.
The salmon will remain in shoals roaming around the bays and sea lochs until they enter freshwater. Visitors can often see salmon leaping as they drive along coastal roads so if you do see that splash out of the corner of your eye, best chances are that in June or July it is a salmon finding it's way home.
They require rainfall and the subsequent high river levels in order to ascend the small steep rivers that predominate throughout the Hebrides. In periods of dry weather that frequently coincide with the return of the summer salmon, they cannot enter freshwater. Once it rains, however, large numbers enter nearly all the rivers and streams and ascend until they either find a nice deep pool or a loch to rest in until they spawn in the autumn. Any loch that has an obvious river or stream that flows to the sea will have some salmon in. Some have more prolific runs than others but if you stop for a picnic near such a loch you should see salmon leaping from time to time in the late summer months. Many visitors to the Hebrides come just to watch the salmon leaping falls! The reason why they ascend our rivers is for reproduction purposes, amazingly for the five or six months spent in freshwater until they do spawn they do not eat anything at all!!
Throughout the year they also change their livery so you will see a bright sparkling silver jewel leaping in June but by October a bright red or dark brown is the flash that catches the corner of your eye. Keep coming back to Wildlife Hebrides find out why!!!
The Guga (Solan Goose)
Sula Sgeir, a small rocky island off the Butt of Lewis, has for centuries been the home of the famous Guga, the young gannet.
The Guga is the young of the Solan Goose (Gannet chicks). The birds are considered to be a great delicacy in Ness on the Isle of Lewis. Every year, a team of men from Ness make the dangerous 38-mile sea journey out to Sula Sgeir to harvest the Guga, salt its meat and store it for local consumption. Niseachs (the people of Ness), and their friends who have been lucky enough to be promised a share of the harvest, await their return with their mouths watering!
Sula Sgeir is a National Nature Reserve and the Nature Conservatory Council regulates the harvesting, which has no adverse effect on the population of the gannet colony.
The meat, for which many say you need an acquired taste, is described as 'fishy'!
The island of St Kilda, which lies 64 kilometres west of the Outer Hebrides, is home to the largest colony of gannets in the world. This gannetry, holds some 60,000 breeding pairs and is widely recognised as the most important seabird breeding station in North West Europe with over one million birds.
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