Spring
in Scotland  |
Situated off the west coast of Scotland, Skye is the largest of the Inner
Hebrides. It's been described as 'Scotland in miniature' because
of its diverse range of scenery ranging from mountains and woods to lochs, moorland
and coastline. | Skye
- stunning wildlife wherever you turn. |
The Cuillin
Hills dominate the Skye skyline, and are a great spot to see two species of eagle,
the Golden Eagle and the Sea Eagle. Sea Eagles  The
Sea Eagle, also known as the white tailed eagle, has a wingspan of two and a half
metres.
It's Britain's largest bird of prey. The eagles nest around
coasts and are often spotted around shorelines. Historically the bird was
virtually hunted to extinction, but is now making a comeback. Britain's
last pair nested on Skye in 1916. In the 70's and 80's Norwegian birds
were introduced to the nearby island of Rum. From there the birds have
begun to return to their original breeding sites and have naturally re-colonised
Skye. Late May and early June are an ideal time to see these birds. They
will snatch fish thrown to them from the surface of the water, which is a good
way to see them. The Golden Eagle  After
the Sea Eagle, the Golden Eagle is the second largest eagle species in the UK.
This
bird of prey prefers to live in wild moorlands and mountain regions, and favours
islands and quiet glens.
Adults soar high with their wings raised in a
shallow 'V' shape and the tips of their wings spread out like fingers of an outstretched
hand. There are about 30 pairs of these impressive birds on Skye. As
is common with birds of prey, the females are generally larger than the males.
Eagles are highly territorial and their nesting places may be used by generations
of birds.
Stars of the sea Skye
is also rich in marine life in the waters surrounding the island. Amongst
the many creatures is the Jellyfish which thrives in the late spring when it is
reaching its full size, Amongst the species around Skye are the Lion's Mane
Jellyfish, Britain's largest, and the Moon Jellyfish. Around 95 per cent
of its body is made up of water which gives it a pulsating appearance underwater. Also
look out for the Starfish which has the ability to push its stomach out of its
mouth in order to digest prey that is otherwise too large to swallow. If
it loses an arm, it can grow back a limb. Otters  Skye
is one of the best places to see Otters.
There are 350 individuals around
the coast and there are many bays where you can get close to them when they are
hunting in the sea. As recently as the 1950's they occurred quite commonly
around the United Kingdom. However numbers have dwindles due to the former
use of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides and the loss of habitat. If you
are lucky you may spot them on or near the wreck of the HMS Port Napier, a Second
World War wreck. Photo credits Photograph
of Golden Eagle courtesy and copyright of PA Images.
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