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WESTERN ISLES OTTERS
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These beautiful creatures really do look magnificent against the backdrop of the beautiful hebridean scenery. Inquisitive, playful semi aquatic mammals. They can be seen playing around the shorelines of The Isle of Harris and The Isle of Lewis.
They are semi-aquatic mammals who live in holts around water edges. They can swim very fast and the bubbles of air trapped in their fur give them a silvery appearance underwater. |
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HEBRIDEAN SEALS
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The Western isles are a great place to watch the seals. Common seals and grey seals can be seen around the coastline of both The Isle of Lewis and The Isle of Harris.
Grey seals are the largest breeding seals found in the UK. Half of the world's population of grey seals is found around British coasts many of these around The Hebrides |
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WESTERN ISLES BIRD SIGHTINGS
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The Western Isles - a great place to watch the birds. There are a wide variety of bird species to be seen around the Hebrides from birds which are resident to the Islands to the birds which pass through on migration.
There are many wading birds, like the charismatic curlews, oyster catchers, redshank's and greenshanks and also of course the masterful birds of prey the golden and sea eagles and many more...
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WESTERN ISLES BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
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The Hebrides or Western isles are a great place to watch butterflies and moths. You can get observe the butterflies behaviour on both The Isle of Harris and The isle of Lewis.
I am a novice with my insect and butterfly knowledge - and will appreciate any comments or addition information. The butterfly pictured opposite is the tortoiseshell butterfly.
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WESTERN ISLES DEER
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Western Isles Wild Deer - These beautiful creatures really do look magnificent against the backdrop of the beautiful hebridean scenery.
The stags with their huge antlers - look so proud. It is the Red Deer - the largest of Scotland's two native deer that are often to be seen throughout the Western Isles. In the winter especially they come down from the higher ground to nearer the towns in search of food
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BUMBLEBEES
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Bumblebees - large hairy bees - not to be confused with honey bees. There are five species of bumblebee that frequent The Western Isles or Outer Hebrides
The garden bumblebee, the Great Yellow Bumblebee, The white -tailed bumblebee, the Heath bumblebees and the Moss Carder Bumblebee.
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DRAGONFLIES
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There are 8 dragonflies species seen in The Western Isles. The Large Red Damselfly, Four Spotted Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Hawker, Common Darter, Black Darter and The Highland Darter
The Golden-ringed Dragonfly and the Emerald Damselfly have also recently but been said to have been spotted bur really are most rare.
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INSECTS ( MISCELLANEOUS) - SEEN IN THE HEBRIDES
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The Hebrides are a great place to watch and study the various insects and creepy crawlies you will come across. Watch their behaviour
There is everything from burying beetles (like the one pictured opposite) - sand hoppers - caterpillars, flies and many different creatures
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RABBITS
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Rabbits can be easily spotted jumping and playing about on many of the cliff tops and moorland throughout The Western Isles particularly on The Isle of Lewis and The Isle of Harris.
The Hebrides is a great place to observe their behaviour. Hebridean Wildlife - a pleasure to observe
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CRABS
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Crabs belong to a group of animals known as the Crustacea. The soft body is protected by a hard outside shell known. Unfortunately, this hard shell does not grow.
You can see many species of crabs here in THe Western Isles - including the Green Crab (pictured opposite) masked crabs and many more
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JELLYFISH
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Jellyfish, also know as jellies or sea jellies. Jellyfish are found in every ocean - from the surface to the deep sea - invertebrates that live in the sea. On the Isle of Harris and The isle of Lewis - you can see many different types of jellyfish.
There are 200 species of jellyfish known in the world and 70 of these are known to sting .There are actually about 2000 different types of jellyfish belonging to the 200 species.
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SEA ANEMONES - WESTERN ISLES
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Western Isles - Hebrides Sea Anemones - These beautiful creatures look very much like flowers - however they are actually predatory animals.
They come in all manner of shapes, sizes and colours and can be seen in many rocky pools on the Hebridean beaches - especially as the tides goes out and the pools are left for you to view.
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SEA CREATURES - DOG WHELKS - WESTERN ISLES
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Western Isles - Hebrides - Dog Whelks aren't just pretty shells - there are sea creatures inside - they are sea snails. Many can be seen in the Western Isles - Scotland. The shells come in many different sizes and colours from red to green, yellow, orange.
The Dog-whelk is a predatory mollusc found on rocky shores, breakwaters & pier piles. The dog whelk can be separated from other seashore snails by the distinct groove along the shell lip.
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SEA CREATURES - MARINE ANIMALS - SEA SLATER - WESTERN ISLES
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This sea creature - the sea slater looks much like an insect but is actually a sea creature - a species that is related to the woodlice family. They can be seen along the shore and can be seen running across the rocks. They are actually crustaceans - Isopoda (iso meaning "same" and pod meaning "foot")
There are up to 10,000 species of isopod around the world. Half of the isopods live in the sea, the other half live on the land or in fresh water like ponds, lakes and rivers.
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