Wild About: Scotland’s Big Five
You might well have heard of Africa’s Big Five but have you ever heard of Scotland’s Big Five?
In 2013 as part of the Year of Natural Scotland, Visit Scotland and NatureScot (then Scottish Natural Heritage) joined forces to come up with Scotland’s Big Five to celebrate five superbly charismatic species and encourage people to get out and look for them.
Golden Eagle, Eurasian Otter, Common Seal, Red Squirrel and Red Deer were the species chosen as the Big Five.
Here we take a look at each species, look at how best to see them, highlight a few sites where you stand a good chance of encountering them, and focus on the few areas where seeing all five is a real possibility.
Like all wildlife watching the key to success lies in the following:
Research: Do your homework before going anywhere, make sure you head to the right places, research what you’ll be looking for, how to identify it and also read a little about its ecology. Knowing where a species might forage, when it might be active, what it might eat or how it might hunt, will all aid your chances in see it.
Timing: Make sure you look during the right time of day and at the right time of year. Some species are far more obvious at dawn or dusk or are dependent on tides and seasons.
Patience: In general, the longer you watch the more likely you are to see what you are looking for! Have patience.
Luck: A little luck always helps but it pays to stay vigilant all day as you never know what might appear and where!
Find Scotland’s Big Five this year
Golden Eagle
Scotland is home to approximately 500 pairs of Golden Eagles and is the only place in the UK where they occur. They are synonymous with wild, open landscapes and are generally found in remote and often mountainous regions but also occur along the coast. They are exceptionally adept predators hunting hares, grouse and foxes, and will even attack herds of deer in a bid to panic them into a potential harmful situation. Golden Eagles are resident year-round in Scotland with adults remaining on territory whilst immatures will often wander widely across Scotland.
Top Tip: Golden Eagles love ridgelines and prominent hill tops so scan these first for any perched or soaring birds. They will also use updrafts to gain height so take note of the wind direction and look along hillsides and cliffs facing into the wind.
Where to See
Islay, Argyll – Islay is an excellent area to see Golden Eagles and they can be found across the island however RSPB The Oa is a particularly reliable place for them. Here watch along the seacliffs and highest points on the coast.
Mull – The hills around Ben More are excellent for Golden Eagles and a great place to start is the Mull Eagle Watch centre (established to view White-tailed Eagles). There is the possibility of seeing Golden Eagle from the Eagle Watch Centre and you may also be able to get the most up to date information on where else to start looking.
Wester Ross – The Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve south of Gairloch and the hills above Gruinard Bay are excellent places to look for Golden Eagles.
Skye – Skye’s rugged mountains and coast are perfect for eagles and you stand an excellent chance of seeing both species. The Aros centre just south of Portree is a great place to scan from and they can also be seen around the Old Man of Storr.
Harris, Western Isles – Like Skye, Harris is a real eagle hotspot and a great place to start is the North Harris Eagle Observatory . Keep your eyes peeled across the entire breadth of Harris though as Eagles can be seen anywhere.
A sighting of a Golden Eagle such as this immature will make your day if not year!
Eurasian Otter
Having been reduced to a tiny population threatened with extinction in 1950s, Otters have thankfully rebounded and Scotland is now home to a very healthy population. They occur in both marine and freshwater habitats. Along the coast they prefer the more sheltered and tidal waters where they can hunt. Here they also tend to be easier to see than those in freshwater and there are a number of areas where, with patience, you stand a good chance of enjoying a daytime Otter encounter.
Top Tip: Otters can be very unobtrusive but not necessarily elusive! Along the coast their brown pelage (coat) blends in amazingly well with the seaweed even when sleeping in full view. The best times to look for Otters tend to be towards the beginning and end of the day and, if you can, pick a calm day then foraging Otters will be easier to spot as they surface and dive. When they make a catch they will often swim to shore to eat it. If you do need to move then ideally do so when the animal is underwater or looking away. Move very slowly, keep low and stay silent. Patience is the key here and ideally let the Otter come to you.
Where to See
Argyll coast – The entire Argyll coast is excellent for Otters. The shores at Ballachuan Hazelwood and Taynish Reserve both offer a great chance of an encounter.
Jura, Argyll – This wild island is home to a dense population of Otters. Try the coast close to the ferry terminal at Feolin as well as the coast running north from Craighouse. On both these sections the road runs immediately next to the coast and allows you to use a car as a hide.
Mull – Much like Jura, Mull is a haven for Otters and you have a chance of encountering them anywhere along the coast even in the harbour at Tobermory.
Shetland – Otters are common and widespread throughout all the islands, in fact Shetland has the highest densities of Otters anywhere in Europe. They can be seen in any sheltered bay (voe) and along most coasts. The northern islands of Unst and Fetlar are great places to search. Here any sheltered bay offers a great chance of an encounter and in summer you may also see Orca too!
Inland - Finding Otters inland is much more difficult. They tend to be more elusive as they have greater possibilities for foraging out of sight along ditches and in reeds, however two sites in particular offer a reasonable chance of an encounter; Loch of the Lowes SWT near Dunkeld and RSPB Insh Marshes in Strathspey.
With patience you can get some incredible views of Otters around Scotland
Common Seal
With an estimated 20,000 around the Scottish coast you stand a very good chance of encountering a Common Seal (also known as Harbour Seal). Together with Grey Seal (whose population is estimated at 140,000 around Scotland) they can be seen hauled out at many coastal sites. In general, Common Seals prefer slightly more sheltered waters whilst Greys can be found on more open coasts however both will haul out together in some areas.
Top Tip: Check the tide times. Common and Grey Seals can often be found hauled out at low-tide so time your search to coincide with this.
Where to See
Islay, Argyll – The southern coast of Islay from Port Ellen east to Ardbeg is peppered with rocky islets and shoals and it makes a perfect place for seals to haul out. The minor road comes close to the coast at a number of points from which you can scan for Common Seals. It is also an excellent area for Otters.
Cromarty Firth, Sutherland – The deep natural harbour of Cromarty Firth is a favoured feeding area for Common Seals and they frequently haul out close to the road. Immediately as you cross north over the Cromarty Bridge on the A9 check the exposed rocks at low tide for Common Seals (some of which teeter on their boulders!). There is a large lay-by in which you can park and observe from the roadside (see here).
Moray Firth – Around 600 Common Seals occur in the Moray Firth and can be seen anywhere within it. Try Chanonry Point close to Inverness on a rising tide where they hunt fish, often alongside Bottlenose Dolphins. Findhorn Bay and beach are also excellent places to see them hauled out.
Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire – Common Seals can be observed fishing and hauled out in the Ythan Estuary. Here they also join up to 300 Grey Seals on the sand bars at the mouth of the river. The beach vantage point is pinned here and if you zoom in on google you can see several hundred seals hauled out on the opposite shore.
Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, Sutherland – Another sheltered tidal site in which large numbers of Common and a few Greys tend to haul out and forage. They can be viewed very well from the minor lane that runs along the south side of the loch here.
Common Seals can be very obliging when hauled out
Red Squirrel
The charming Red Squirrel is our only native British Squirrel which has sadly suffered, both from the introduction of the North American Grey Squirrel but also direct persecution by humans, especially in northwest Scotland. Thankfully the population is doing well in some of their strongholds around the Highlands and even in Southern Scotland. An encounter with a Red Squirrel is sure to make anyone’s day and their readiness to often approach closely, especially when food is involved, will make it even more memorable.
Top tip: Red Squirrels can be very unobtrusive so stay quiet and listen for the sound of them gnawing on cones, as well as the sound of their claws on the tree trunks as they move around.
Where to See
Strathspey – the Caledonian forests of Strathspey are an excellent place to enjoy Red Squirrels. The woods around Grantown-on-Spey Golf course are superb as is the forest at Boat of Garten. You can find out more about the wildlife around Boat of Garten here.
Deeside – Like Strathspey, Deeside is still a haven for Red Squirrels and they can be seen in the woodland around Mar Lodge as well as in the woodland on the outskirts of Ballater.
Inchree, Lochaber – There is a Red Squirrel viewing hide at Inchree south of Fort William. They can be seen right around the car park here and it’s a great place to stop at if you happen to be passing.
Knapdale Forest, Argyll – The Forest is an excellent area for Red Squirrels. The best bet is to pop into the Argyll Beaver Centre who will be able to point you to the current best areas and may also be able to help show you a Beaver or a Pine Marten!
Galloway Forest Park – an extensive area of forest in southwest Scotland gives you an excellent chance of encountering Red Squirrels as well as a number of other species. Find out more here.
Scotland is a refuge for Red Squirrels in the UK with a number of sites where they are easy to see
Red Deer
These regal deer are probably one of the most instantly recognisable symbols of Scotland alongside the thistle and Golden Eagle. Red Deer appear on many a coat of arms and shed antlers are a popular adornment on walls. Their population in Scotland is large and they are widespread across the exposed hillsides and mountain tops, especially during the summer, and often dropping lower in winter. Their colouration means they blend in superbly well with the landscape and even large herds can be difficult to spot at times.
From mid- to late-September through to November the stags start their bellowing, proclaiming territory and intentions to the hinds. The rut commences and along with the bellowing, the clashing of antlers can be heard over a great distance.
Top tip: For the most impressive experience head out in Autumn to try and witness the rut. In June look out for the newly born fawns with their very spotty coat.
Where to See
Jura – The island of Jura is home to an estimated 5,000 Red Deer and just 200 people! It is a wild and rugged island with just a single road running along its southern and eastern flank. You can access Jura from Islay or from Tayvallich. The Red Deer graze the hillsides and even down to the coast in large herds.
Mar Lodge, Deeside – This stunning National Trust estate in the Cairngorms has a healthy population of Red Deer. They can be seen right from the fringes of Braemar village and west up the lane into the estate.
A9, Drumochter – The main arterial road running north through Scotland, the A9, bisects large swathes of superb Red Deer habitat and herds can be frequently seen from the roadside. In fact, you need to be vigilant for animals close to, and on, the road. There are several laybys close to the Pass of Drumochter and these can be a good place to stop and scan for deer.
Gairloch – The hillsides and mountains around Gairloch are excellent for Red Deer and they can be spotted along the edges of Loch Ewe and Loch Gruinard as well as inland along Loch Maree.
Red Deer are widespread in Scotland but come Autumn you stand a chance of witnessing the incredible rut
Areas to visit to see all five!
Whilst all five species are widely distributed across and around Scotland there are only a few places where they can all be found almost side by side or at least within relatively close proximity.
Ardnamurchan
This huge peninsula on the western fringes of Scotland is home, not only to all five species but also the UKs largest extinct volcano and some stunning landscapes. Sheltered sealochs turn to rugged headlands which in turn shelter sandy bays and sand dunes, all of which are excellent for Otters and Common Seals. Open hillsides are grazed by Red Deer and patrolled by Golden Eagles and remnants of Atlantic Rainforest are home to Red Squirrels. You can see up to 20 species of mammal in just a few days here making it one of the best places in the UK for mammal watching.
Join us in June or September as we go in search of Scotland’s Big Five as well as Basking Sharks, Puffins, White-tailed Eagles and Pine Martens.
Moray and Strathspey
In order to see the Big Five in this area you will need to move between sites and rely on a little luck. Strathspey is a particularly good area for several species including Red Squirrels (which can be found in Abernethy and Rothiemurcus Forests). Red Squirrels also occur in Culbin Forest on the Moray Firth coast. Red Deer can be seen grazing on the hillsides of the Findhorn Valley which is also excellent for Golden (and White-tailed) Eagle. Heading north to the firths and Common Seals haul themselves out close to the Cromarty Bridge and can also be watched fishing off Chanonry Point in the Moray Firth. Seeing an Otter requires luck. They occur along the coast of both firths and can also be seen inland at sites like RSPB Insh Marsh.
Aberdeenshire
Like Strathspey and Moray you will need to visit several sites and have a little luck.
The stunning Royal Deeside in the Cairngorms is a great place to start with Red Squirrels, Red Deer and Golden Eagles all likely. Add to this White-tailed Eagles and Pine Martens and you are already off to a flying start. The Dee itself is home to Otters though they are more elusive. Moving downstream to the coast and the huge seal haul-out on the Ythan is something to see and you also stand a chance of Otter here as well as Bottlenose Dolphin and an incredible variety of birds.
Join us throughout the summer and autumn as we look for the Big Five as well as a plethora of other species from Kentish Glory moths to Mountain Hares, Black Grouse to Beavers!
Deeside and the coast:
Pine Martens to Puffins - Summer Wildlife in Deeside (June & July)
Cairngorms and Coast - August in Deeside (August)
Golden Deeside - Autumn in the Cairngorms (September & October)
The Mar Estate and Deeside - home to Red Squirrels, Golden Eagles, Red Deer and Otters
Wester Ross
The remote region of Wester Ross in Sutherland is a haven for wildlife and especially the area around Gairloch, Loch Ewe and Loch Gruinard. Whilst Red Squirrels have sadly been lost from much of the region they have successfully be reintroduced from other populations in the Highlands and are now once again present in a few woodlands such as at Inverewe Gardens. The sheltered sea lochs are a haven for Common and Grey Seals and Otters whilst both Golden and White-tailed Eagles can be found over the hills, where Red Deer graze. These lochs are also excellent for Great Northern and Red-throated Divers as well as Harbour Porpoises.
Argyll
The western coasts of Argyll are a superb area to search for the Big Five. Otters are widespread especially in the sheltered sealochs (for instance Taynish) where Common Seals can also be found. Red Squirrels may be seen at Dunollie Museum Castle and Grounds, Oban as well as around Ford, north of Lochgilphead, and in Knapdale Forest (where you stand a chance of glimpsing a Beaver too). Check any of the hills and ridgelines for Golden Eagles and the open hillsides are home to herds of Red Deer.
Join us as we head to Argyll in Spring to search for a huge variety of wildlife including the Big Five on our Best of the West Tour.
The coast of Islay, Argyll, home to Golden Eagles, Otters and Common Seals
We hope you have found this article useful. Good luck searching for Scotland’s Big Five whether on your own mini-adventure or with us later this year.