Highland Birds
Golden Plover
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Upland habitats dominate most of the Highlands with only 15% given over to heather dominated moorland in Scotland. They are either heaths dominated by dwarf shrubs or grasses such as bents, fescues and mat grass.
Red Grouse are found on heather moorland, with smaller numbers of Curlew, Golden Plover, Meadow Pipit, Merlin and the much persecuted Hen Harrier.
Estuary Birds
Grey Heron
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Scotland has some very bird rich estuaries, such as the Firth Of Forth, Firth of Tay, Solway Firth in the borders, Firth of Clyde and the Moray Firth. Smaller firths on the north east coast, like the Cromarty Firth and the Dornoch Firth with loch Fleet.
These Firths are important wintering areas for large numbers of waders and wildfowl. Such as Dunlin, Redshank, Red Knot and Wigeon, with Eiders offshore Long Tailed Ducks, Common Scoter and Red Throated Divers.
Sea Birds
Puffin
Scotland with its rugged coastline and up to 800 islands, support international numbers of breeding sea birds. Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Northern Fulmar, Shag, Black Legged Kittiwake and Northern Gannet.
While more northerly cliffs support Puffins, Black Guillemot, Manx Shearwaters, European Storm Petrels and Leach’s Petrels.