Wildlife safaris in the Scottish Highlands

The following is a selection of some of the mammals, birds, insects and flora that we encounter on a Wild West safari. The list is by no means exhaustive and many other species can be found in the area

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Red Deer

Britain's largest mammal, the red deer flourishes in the highlands of Scotland. Whilst they are here all year round, winter is the best time to see them as they come to lower ground in search of food and from late October until May we often find them grazing by the road in the more remote glens, unperturbed by the proximity of vehicles. The stags shed their antlers in the spring which then re-grow in time for the rutting season in late September/October

All year.

Stags shed antlers in June, re-grow by end of August

Rutting season is October. Young are born around may

Otter

A shy and elusive creature, otter numbers reduced considerably in the early part of the 20th century due to persecution. Now protected, numbers have recovered and there is a healthy population around the west coast, inland rivers and lochs. Keep you eyes peeled and you may be lucky enough to spot one basking on a rock or fishing in the shallows close to shore

Common seals

A permanent resident, common seals are widespread around the west coast of Britain, particularly around the highlands and islands. Again, seals suffered from persecution due to their competing for fish stocks and seal culls are still legal. We regularly see seals on our trips along Kinloch Hourn as they use the same "hauling out" sites to bask in the sun

All year round

Breeding season normally June or July

Pine marten

A shy animal but a voracious hunter, the pine marten is a nocturnal creature. It has a sweet tooth and despite being a carnivore, can be tempted to bird tables by peanut butter, jams etc.

All year round. Most active at dawn or dusk

Young are normally born in March or April

Highland cow

OK, I know they don't really count as wildlife but they're soooo cute and photogenic and everyone loves them! The highland is a hardy breed, well suited to the harsh climate of the highlands which explains their popularity locally. A number of herds are maintained for habitat management rather than beef as their grazing keeps down invasive species such as birch and gorse, leaving a better environment for flowers and insect life to flourish.

A very docile breed but keep an eye on those horns, especially if they have youngsters around!

All year round. Young are born March/April

Birds

Golden Eagle

Scotland's most iconic bird, the golden eagle is doing reasonably well with around 400 pairs currently nesting throughout the country. The remotest glens and highest crags are eagle territory and the species is very shy of humans. The nest or Eyrie is usually high up on a rocky crag and nest sites may be used for generations

Osprey

The osprey is one of the great conservation success stories, having been absent from the UK between 1916 and 1959 when a pair returned to Loch Garten in Speyside. Around 150 pairs now breed in the UK. They are a migrant, spending the winter months in West Africa. The osprey is one of very few raptors that feed exclusively on fish

Buzzard

Now Britain's commonest bird of prey after many years of persecution. They feed on small mammals, birds and Carrion. Often found resting on top of lampposts or telegraph poles, even in urban areas

Black Grouse

The black Grouse is an endangered species, given a red status by the RSPB. The best time to see these birds is in March or April when the males are "Lekking" or displaying to attract females. They normally lek early in the morning, just after sunrise

All year round.

Male birds are lekking around March/April

Common Scoter

Despite it's name, this bird is anything but common in the summer with only around 50 breeding pairs in the UK. Loch Garry is one of their summer breeding grounds. In winter, they can be found in large numbers in coastal areas

All year round in coastal locations.

In summer they are found at a few locations in the NW of Scotland. Most active in June/July

Black Throated diver

Like the scoter another bird with a very small UK breeding population. Best seen in the summer months when the males display their trademark black throat and stunning black and white checked plumage. They have a very distinctive, haunting call

In Winter can be found in sheltered coastal locations.

In Summer a small number breed on large lochs in the North West of scotland

Tufted duck

This diving duck can be easily identified by it's "tuft". Whilst it can be found in the UK all year round, the population increases considerably in winter when birds move in from Iceland and Northern Europe

Goldeneye

This duck takes it's name from it's distinctive yellow eyes. Another distinguishing mark is the white patch between the eye and bil of the male. Very common in winter with a very small breeding population in the central highlands.

Greylag goose

The Greylag goose is common throughout the year in lowland areas. A breeding population are regularly seen on Loch Garry in the summer

Oystercatcher

The oystercatcher is a familiar sight around Britain's coastline all year round, where they eat mussels and cockles. They can be found inland in the summer.

Grey Heron

Another very familiar sight around coasts and riverbanks as it stands motionless waiting for it's unsuspecting prey to swim into range. A beautifully graceful bird in flight

Great Spotted woodpecker

A distinctive woodland bird, the great spotted woodpecker can often be heard giving it's "drumming " display in spring. Woodpeckers will come to garden bird feeders for peanuts

Insects

Chequered Skipper

The chequered skipper became extinct in England in 1976 and since then has been found in suitable haitats within 30 miles of Fort William and nowhere else in the UK where purple moor grass, the maincaterpillar food pland thrives.

A very active butterfly in warm weather, the adult can be found feeding on it's favourite food plants, particularly bugle and blubells

Dark green fritillary

This butterfly takes it's name from the greenish undersides of it's wings. it is found in flowery, grassy places and it's main food source is violets.

Common Blue

A common butterfly as the name suggests. Food plants include birds foot trefoil, a member of the broom family common in this area.

Speckled wood

Another common butterfly, the speckled wood likes shady areas. Favoured food plants include soft grasses

Scotch Argus

Whilst widespread in Scotland, this butterfly is only found at two isolated sites in the NW of england. A favourite food plant is purple moor grass. In good weather, males fly almost ceaselessly

Red Admiral

One of our most familiar species the red admiral is a migrant, arriving from North Africa in the spring and spreading northwards. Larval food plant is common nettle

Emperor moth

This is the night flying female of the species. The males have bright orange hindwings and fly during the day. The eyespots deceive would be predators into thinking they are taking on something much larger than it is

Buff tip

At rest, this moth is almost indistinguishable from a piece of broken birch twig. The adults moths frequent mixed woodland and they fly at night, The caterpillars are yellow and black

Golden ringed dragonfly

A common and very conspicuous large dragonfly of around 3 in in length, can be seen from May to September. Commonly found close to it's breeding grounds of fast flowing, well oxygenated streams and rivers

Common blue damselfly

One of the most common of the British damselfly species, the male is very distinctive with it's electric blue colouring. It can be confused with the rarer northern damselfly in upland areas

Highland darter

Very similar to the common darter there is some disagreement as to whether this is a distinct species or just a variation of the common darter

Green tiger beetle

Pound for pound, or more accurately gram for gram, the green tiger beetle is possibly the UK's most voracious predator, regularly tackling prey much larger than itself

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Sundew

Our very own venus fly trap, the sundew traps small insects with a sticky secretion on it's leaves. They are then dissolved by the pants digestive juices. A very distinctive plant, it is found in boggy areas. 3 varieties can be found. The round leaved sundew is shown here

Butterwort

Another carnivorous plant, found in similar habitat to the sundew

Heath spotted orchid

A common orchid locally, it is usually found on damp, acid soils on heath and moorland

Greater Butterfly orchid

Can be found in woodland, open scrub and grassland