Wildlife in Wester Ross

WESTER ROSS BED AND BREAKFAST

Wildlife around Wester Ross
home / contact us \| Wester Ross Wildlife \| Gruinard Bay Beach \| Inverewe Gardens \| Ullapool \| An Teallach \| Scoraig \| map directions Here is some interesting background information about some of the forms of wildlife you may see near to (or even from) our bed and breakfast accommodation in Wester Ross.
	GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos) The golden eagle is a very large bird of prey with a wingspan of more than 2 metres. Almost all breeding golden eagles in Britain are in Scotland, where there are open, treeless areas down to sea level. In recent years, the Forestry Commission has helped to re-establish the golden eagle in Ireland. Lifestyle Habitat. The golden eagle prefers open, treeless areas to lowland woods. Because of the climate in western Scotland, these upland conditions are present down to sea level and golden eagles are found there at lower altitudes than in central Scotland. Golden eagles are sensitive to human disturbance and build their nests in remote, inaccessible places. Their territories range in size from 5 - 150 km². In some areas of Scotland, the breeding density is among the highest in the world and territories are very small. Golden eagles in Scotland do not migrate and will remain in their breeding territories throughout the year. Young and non-breeding birds avoid occupied territories in their search for suitable breeding areas.
	RED DEER *(Cervus elaphus)* The largest species of deer to be found in the wild in Great Britain, the red deer is also the largest British land mammal. Most common in the Highlands of Scotland but in England can be seen in the Lake District and in Exmoor. The coat, which in summer is a deep reddish-brown, in winter becomes very shaggy and much thicker and darkens in colour. The antlers, which are cast and regrown each year, give the stag a majestic appearance. During the rut or mating season in October the stag bellows to warn off his rivals as he busily keeps his hinds together. In June, eight months after the rut, the calf is born and is left in sparse cover where its coat blends perfectly with the surroundings, very vulnerable at this time as its mother returns only to feed it. The dappled coat and complete absence of scent to betray it to predators are the calf's only protection during very early life;
	Highland cow The highland breed of cattle has a long and distinguished ancestry, not only in its homeland of western Scotland, but also in many far-flung parts of the world. One of Britain's oldest, most distinctive, and best known breeds, with a long, thick, flowing coat of rich hair and majestic sweeping horns, the Highlander has remained largely unchanged over the centuries. In the British Isles folds are found from the furthest south to the extreme north on many different types of ground varying from the slopes of the Sussex Downs, the fenlands of East Anglia, to the windswept machars of the Outer Hebrides.But it is on the vast areas of poor mountain land with high annual rainfall and bitter winds that Highland Cattle thrive and breed where no other cattle could exist Making the most of poor forage, calving outside and seldom, if ever, housed they make a real economic contribution to hill and upland areas.The breed is exceptionally hardy with a natural and unique ability to convert poor grazing efficiently. They are remarkable for their longevity: many Highland cows continue to breed to ages in excess of eighteen years having borne fifteen calves. They are great mothers. Highland Cattle can be found foraging 10,000 feet up in the Andes.
	Harbour porpoise, common porpoise Phocoena phocoena The harbour porpoise is the most commonly seen porpoise , and is the most widely distributed of all cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in northern Europe. It is easily recognised as it has a low triangular dorsal fin and lacks a beak. It is small in comparison to other porpoises, has a plump body with a dark grey to bluish coloured back, a pale belly and a rounded head. At birth, young harbour porpoises are dull in colour and typically have 'birth lines', which look like folds in the skin, and persist for the first few hours after birthA good place to see porpoise is at Gairloch

Wildlife around Wester Ross