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28 Jan 2021

Wildlife spotter’s guide: Balmacara Estate

A red squirrel perches on a lichen-covered branch, nibbling a nut held between its two front paws.
Red squirrel at Balmacara
The traditional croft land helps to protect locally and nationally important habitats, and provides a haven of ecological diversity at Balmacara. From mixed woodland to an outstanding scenic coastline, the whole estate supports a wide variety of wildlife.

Click on the pictures below for a little more information on some of the species you may be lucky enough to see during your visit.

A small bird perches on top of a wire fence, facing the left. It has a bright yellow face, paler yellow tummy, and stripy brown back feathers, with a long tail. A large adult badger walks along a woodland leafy path, straight towards the camera. A bright blue damselfly with black bands on its body rests on a thin reed, against a bright green background. Its net-like wings are closed together along its body. A small brown bird perches on a blossom sprig, with little pink rose hips. The bird's beak is wide open in song. A large, speckled harbour seal basks on a rock, its flipper resting beside its very round tummy. A close-up of two Highland cows, standing in a field with long grass. The nearest cow faces the camera, showing off its long crimpled fringe and wide horns. The other cow, further away, looks to the right. The sky is a vivid pale blue in the background. A moth that looks very similar to a furry bumble bee hovers beside a bright purple flower. A large-ish dragonfly clings to a twiggy branch, almost dangling beneath it. It has large, bright green eyes. An otter emerges from a stream onto a grassy bank with buttercups. Its brown fur is wet and sleeked back. A pine marten creeps along a woodland floor, its body very close to the ground and its nose smelling the leaves in front. It has a long busy tail, and a white bib. A red squirrel perches on a lichen-covered branch, nibbling a nut held between its two front paws. A bright orange butterfly with brown mosiac markings perches on a yellow flower. The background is bright green. A large eagle soars through the air over the loch. A group of white houses can be seen on the shore, with woodland and hills in the background.

Featured Places

A meadow beside the sea on a sunny day, with the sun twinkling on the blue water. Tall yellow flowers grow in the foreground.
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Balmacara Estate

With Skye on the horizon, explore the rich natural and cultural heritage of Highland crofting amid memorable landscapes and stunning wildlife.

The Highlands

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