Wildlife Watching Calendar
Throughout the year, Scotland is a great place to watch wildlife. Below are some of the most popular species and the best times to see them.
Mammals | Birds of Prey | Inland Birds | Seabirds | Wading & Ground-Nesting Birds | Fish | Plants & Habitats
| MAMMALS | Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottlenose dolphin |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Common dolphin |
✔ | |||
| Common seal |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Grey seal |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Harbour porpoise |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Minke whale |
✔ | |||
| Otter |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pine marten |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Red deer |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Red deer rut |
✔ | |||
| Red squirrel |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Wildcat |
| BIRDS OF PREY | Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common buzzard |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Golden eagle |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Osprey |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Peregrine falcon |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Red kite |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| White-tailed eagle |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SEABIRDS | Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gannet |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Great skua |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Guillemot |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Puffin |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Razorbill |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| INLAND BIRDS | Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black grouse |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Capercaillie |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Chough |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Crested tit |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ptarmigan |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Red grouse |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Scottish crossbill |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Snow bunting |
✔ | ✔ |
| WADING & GROUND NESTING BIRDS | Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corncrake |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Dotterel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Greylag goose |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Oystercatcher |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pink-footed goose |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Red-necked phalarope |
✔ | |||
| Red-throated diver |
✔ | ✔ |
| FISH | Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic salmon |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Basking shark | ✔ |
| PLANTS | Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell heather |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Bluebells | ✔ | |||
| Machair |
✔ | ✔ | ||
| Scottish primrose | ✔ |
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