Scotland in Summertime

Beginning in July the number of whales, dolphins and porpoises in Scottish waters begins to swell. Hebridean waters in particular play host to a wide range of species. Britain's largest fish, the basking shark, is one of the more impressive sights around Scotland's coast. Sightings of this shark, which can grow up to 12 metres in length, have increased by 65% in Scotland since 2001.

Any boat trip through the Hebrides, Shetland, the Minches and the Clyde is almost guaranteed a sighting of this elegant five to seven tonne, giant filter feeder as it glides near the surface. Little is known about the life of the basking shark, but it does have a voracious appetite. It can filter some 1,000 to 2,000 cubic metres of seawater every hour in its search for the tiny animal plankton it feeds upon.

Smaller certaceans are also easy to spot at this time. 'Risso's and white beaked dolphin are common in the north around Lewis,' says Juliet Shrimpton Marine Ranger for the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust (HWDT), a charity set up 1994 to help protect cetaceans around the Hebrides. 'While common dolphins are more often seen in southern reaches.' The smallest balleen whale the Minke whale and the striking black and white Killer whale, or Orca, are also regular visitors to hebridean waters.

For a good chance of seeing these giants of the deep Shrimpton recommends you travel with a reputable operator, 'Obviously it is important that people go out with a responsible operator, someone who is experienced and knows how and when to approach whales and dolphins.' But you don¿t necessarily have to go out to sea to observe whales. According to HWDT Minke whales are often sighted from the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse.

Back on dryland, the longer days of summer and early autumn bring out badgers, the largest members of the weasel family. This powerful, short legged animal with a distinctive black and white striped head is common, but very difficult to see because it is almost entirely nocturnal and spends a great deal of time in underground setts. As a true omnivore, they will eat almost anything and a few tempting morsels left in the garden can bring some of these elusive town, city and countryside dwellers out to play.

The short summer nights mean badgers can be seen more often at this time of year. The Falls of Clyde Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) reserve in New Lanark has a number of 'Badger watch' evenings starting at 7pm. Visitors are taken to a viewing platform that overlooks a sett for a virtually guaranteed bit of badger action.

The reserve also operates evening 'Bat walks'. Of the five species in the reserve, Pipistrell and Daubenton's bats are the most commonly seen. Also, badgers, owls, woodcock and roe deer are often spotted on the guided two-hour evening walk which kicks off at 8 pm through July, August and September. You should book early if you want a good chance of seeing these attractive creatures of the night as both these events are popular and visitor numbers are limited.

The Falls of Clyde reserve also runs 'Operation Peregrine'. This 24 hour-a-day watch first started in 1998 to help ensure the survival of one of the countries most well known peregrine falcon nesting sites. Peregrines are the fastest animals on earth having been recorded at speeds in excess of 200 miles an hour when stooping to attack. The slate blue upper parts and cream-coloured under parts with black bars, and a prominent "moustache" mark on the side of the face distinguish this bird. They are still rare although numbers have increased dramatically since the 1970's when DDT poisoning wiped out populations around Scotland and elsewhere. The Falls of Clyde and the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) Nature Reserve at the Grey Mare¿s Tail near Moffat both have CCTV cameras offering some of the best chances of seeing these magnificent birds.

'The chicks will fledge in early July and from then will quite quickly leave the nest site and hunt over a much wider area,¿ says Ian Cornforth, Falls of Clyde Reserve Manager. 'Visitors from late July onwards will not be guaranteed views of either adult or young birds but may see them 10 days in a row depending on weather and other whims of nature.'

Upwards of 60 000 visitors a year head to the Falls of Clyde reserve for virtually guaranteed sightings. At the stunning 200 foot high Grey Mare's Tail waterfall in Dumfriesshire, it's a similar story, 'If all goes to plan, the birds should fledge in late June - early July. After this, they are easy to see around the gorge for a few weeks as they learn to hunt for themselves. We have video highlights to show visitors too, so you won't miss a thing,' says the NTS's Dan Watson.

The corncrake is one of Britain's most vocal, yet elusive birds. Its repetitive, rasping calls were once heard all over the Scottish countryside, but changes in farming methods and the destruction of much needed cover means the din of calling male corncrakes has become a rare event in the countryside. However, the situation is starting to look up for this dry land dwelling relative of the moorhen.

In Scotland the Isle of Tiree is home to the UK's largest single population of corncrakes. 'Corncrakes on Tiree have gone from strength to strength this year,' says Tiree RSPB warden, John Bowler. 'The total for 2005 on the island is a whopping 308 calling males. That's up from 262 in 2004 and 184 in 2003.' This is the highest number since surveys began in 1977.

Tiree offers ideal habitat for corncrakes. The rocks, irises and reeds provide cover even when agriculture was more intensive. Crofters on the island, and elsewhere in Scotland, are encouraged to join the Scottish Crofting Foundation sponsored `Corncrake Initiative'. Participation in the scheme means crofters have to cut their crop later than usual and in a 'corncrake-friendly' manner - from the inside out - which reduces the risk of trapping and harming young during harvest time. This allows the birds to continue brooding their young. The crofters' silage suffers from this late cutting, but they are compensated for this with payments from the scheme. 'The crofters are happy to do it and help out,' says Bowler. 'The older crofters can remember large numbers of corncrakes when they were young and are happy to hear them beginning to return in numbers. This years' increase in numbers is vindication of the various schemes in place on the island and elsewhere to encourage crofters/farmers to cut their grass later and in a "corncrake-friendly" way.' If modern farming methods have conspired against the corncrake, the bird's own lifecycle doesn't do it any favours either. The reason being - corncrakes live for just over a year. This may also explain why they breed so aggressively in the summer. They can have up to three broods in one season laying between 8-10 eggs of which 5-10 will hatch successfully.

The corncrake is the most threatened bird in the world to nest in Britain. 'They arrive as early as late April from sub-Saharan Africa. In May the vegetation is still quite low and the males are more prone to show themselves as they call for a mate. They stop calling at the end of July and leave in August and September,' adds Bowler.

With luck, corncrakes can be seen, but bear in mind that they are notoriously secretive and difficult to spot as they are well camouflaged and you are far more likely to hear them. Tiree might boast the biggest numbers, but corncrakes are also on the increase on the islands of Iona, Coll, Benbecula, Lewis, Skye and there are a few on Islay too.

The Scottish Marine Wildlife Operators Association

For more information on corncrakes including sound and video files, visit the RSPB website

Click here for details of the Corncrake Initiative

Scottish Wildlife Trust

The European Basking Shark Identification Project

Falls of Clyde Badger watch and Batwatch
Tel: 01555 665262 to make a reservation

The Isle of Tiree