Nature
Nature lovers are drawn to Orkney because of the abundance of birds and
marine wildlife that inhabit the islands throughout the year. Wildlife
is everywhere in Orkney, oystercatcher wading in the wetland meadows, short-eared
owls staring at passers-by from the roadside fence-posts, grey and common
seals basking on the rocky skerries, while whales, dolphins and porpoises
can be spotted in coastal waters in summer, and hundreds of thousands of
breeding seabirds can be seen congregating on vertical cliffs.
Mammals or birds, ocean or land creatures, there is sure to be something to interest
you. Why not try out the professional guiding services that are available, as
there is something to suit everyone whether it is a personalised photography
or wildlife tour or an exhilarating wildlife cruise on a speedboat.
Birdwatching
Orkney's 70 islands are internationally renowned for their excellent bird-watching, but the sheer number of birds which the islands support makes it one of the premier all-season British destinations. The RSPB owns leases or manages over 8,000 hectares of land in Orkney, in the interests of protecting important breeding grounds and conserving habitat.
The variety of habitat and the richness of the farmland, heather moorland, and coastal waters provide ideal breeding territory for a host of species, including corncrake, red-throated divers, hen harrier, merlin, peregrine, whimbrel and pintail. The normally reticent red-throated divers nest on the hill lochans, and the RSPB hide at Burgar Hill is an excellent place from which to observe them. The short-eared owl also breeds in Orkney, a delightful daytime sight on meadows and moorland such as that at Hobbister, which also supports one hundred pairs of curlew. Golden plover and dunlin nest on the Birsay moors and Hoy reserves.
May - July is the best time to see breeding birds in Orkney, outside of that time the RSPB reserves will be almost deserted. The sandstone ledges of the sea-cliff reserves on the islands of Westray, Copinsay and at Marwick Head on the Orkney Mainland are colonised in early summer by thousands of fulmar, guillemots, kittiwakes, and razorbills. Great skuas and Arctic skuas haunt the cliff tops and the moors. Gannets and shags populate the lower ledges and shelves of the islands' ocean margins.
In autumn and winter, great northern divers from Arctic Canada, Iceland and Greenland, and Slavonian grebes, velvet scoters, and hundreds of long-tailed ducks from northern Europe gather alongside resident eider, red-breasted merganser and black guillemot. Over 50,000 waders feed on the Orkney shoreline in winter. Whooper swans, and greylag geese graze Shapinsay's fields, whilst on the marsh at Mill Dam pintail, wigeon, shoveler, redshank and water rail can be observed from the hide provided.
Visitors to Orkney will be rewarded for patience and care at any time of
the year, with spectacular sightings of rare or shy birds, in beautiful
and peaceful surroundings. View our RSPB Monthly Bird Reports to gather
an idea of what has been seen at different times of the year.
Contact information:
Birds & reserves: RSPB Orkney Office, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3AG t. 01856
850176 f. 01856 851311 w. www.rspb.org.uk.
Mammals
Find
yourself watching curious Grey and Common seals, look out for dolphins,
porpoises or whales passing through our waters, wait patiently for a shy
otter, hear the rustle of the unique Orkney vole or see a pair of handsome
hares boxing and gambolling in the Spring.
Orkney's wildlife enjoys the unspoilt environment with the relative lack of disturbance
and ample feeding grounds. With continued care and respect, we hope our wildlife
will continue to flourish.
Stand
on any shore and it is likely that a seal will find you irresistibly interesting
if you whistle or walk it may very well swim along in time with you. Or
see them hauled out on pleasant days wherever rocky skerries provide them
with space to bask lazily.
The Grey seal can be seen at all times of year, but most often during breeding
season. Females come ashore on small islands from late September onwards to have
their pups and mate, before leaving again for sea after the pup is weaned. Baby
grey seals are identifiable as they are born with a lovely silky white coat.
There are about 25,000 Grey seals in Orkney waters, so you have a good chance
of spotting one!
The
common seal is smaller than the Grey seal and have dog-like heads; they
also are more coastal in habitat. You can find them round the shores on
skerries, small islands, and sand banks at low tide. The pups are normally
born in late June and July, in their adult coat unlike the Grey seal. There
are around 7,000 common seals in the Orkney area, and they can sometimes
be spotted hauled out in large groups.
In recent years increasing numbers of dolphins, porpoises and whales are
being spotted in Orkney’s coastal waters. In 2007 alone several species
have been reported including minke whales, humpback whales, orcas, porpoises
and common dolphins. Although you can never guarantee to see species such
as these, it certainly is a special experience when it does happen!
Flora
Orkney’s diverse ranges of habitats are good for plants as well as wildlife, and a wide range of wild flowers bloom each year in the islands. The rare Primula Scotica, Coltsfoot, Marsh Marigold and Celandine which are followed by Primroses, Violets, Speedwell, and Flag Irises.
The
rare Primula scotica (the Scottish Primrose) is Orkney’s most famous
plant. This species only exists in Orkney, North Sutherland and Caithness,
on maritime heath. Orkney sites include Yesnaby, the west coasts of Rousay
and Westray, Papay North Hill and in South Walls. The plant is very small
making them difficult to find, they have between two and eight small flowers
per head, with a purple colour which can vary, the throat is bright yellow.
There are two flowering periods, the first being in May, and the main period
being in July – good luck in finding one!
There are significant areas of maritime heath in Orkney, which support species of plant particularly suited to the salty and exposed conditions, which prevail. Maritime Heath is one of the most interesting of Orkney’s habitats. It occurs particularly on soils overlying Rousay flagstone, on areas with considerable salt gusting exposure. In the summer months it is very colourful, with a carpet of flowers. The hardy sedges and heather, with Grass of Oarnassus, Thrift, Moss Campion, Eyebright, Mountain Everlasting, Sea Plantain, and Spring Squill all add to the display.
Look out for or request a copy of the excellent Environmental Calendar, which is published twice a year by Orkney Community Environmental Awareness Network (OCEAN), whose members include Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the RSPB. Also pick up a copy of the SNH brochures on Orkney’s many species and habitats.
Click on our nature forum below to read
about recent wildlife sighting in Orkney – or add your own entry!
To view our new wildlife forum CLICK HERE
