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12 Mar 2021

Wildlife spotter’s guide: Rockcliffe

A small bird faces the camera, standing on small green plants by some rocks. It has a black and white head and neck, with a brown back and white tummy. It also has orange legs.
Ringed plover | Laurie Campbell
​This attractive stretch of coastline is a National Scenic Area and includes a mosaic of different habitats​. An island bird sanctuary, wildflower meadows, rocky seashore and woodland create a home for a wide variety of wildlife.

Click on the pictures below to find out a little more about some of the wildlife species you might spot on your next visit.

A small, pale brown willow warbler sits on the end of a pine twig. Its beak is slightly open, as if in song. A close-up of an adder, coiled up with its head poking out at the top. It has brown and gold markings on its skin. A cormorant sits on an old wooden post sticking out of water. It has a long, powerful bill, with a distinctive hook curled at the end. A small brown bird perches on a blossom sprig, with little pink rose hips. The bird's beak is wide open in song. Great spotted woodpecker clinging to the side of a white-barked tree with knobbly bits. It is facing up the tree. It has a red cap. A green woodpecker clings to a narrow tree trunk, with brown leaves in the background. It has a bright green back, red cap and yellow flash on its tail. A grey seal pokes its head up out of foamy waves A small brown butterfly rests on a leaf with its wings spread wide. It has orange markings around the outside of its wings. A group of oystercatchers fly over the sea, with cliffs seen in the background. Two porpoises, possibly a mother and her calf, swim in a blue, rippling sea. Their backs are above the surface to reveal their small dorsal fins. A medium-sized bird wades through the shallow water edge, with reeds poking up. It has bright orange legs and an orange beak. A small bird faces the camera, standing on small green plants by some rocks. It has a black and white head and neck, with a brown back and white tummy. It also has orange legs. A dark brown, almost furry butterfly rests on a bright green leaf. Its wings have a white outline, and there are some darker rings towards the outside of the wings. A duck swims across glossy water with ripples. It has a very dark green head, a bright yellow eye and a black and white body. A swallow in flight, with its wings stretched wide, seen against a clear blue sky. The distinctive wide prongs of its tail are clearly visible. A colourful and striking looking duck swims on gently rippling water. It has a brown-red head, and a black and white pattern on its back. It also has a pink throat.

To prevent disturbance to breeding birds, please avoid visiting Rough Island from the beginning of May until mid-July. Please remember that this island is tidal and access is via a causeway; leave adequate time for your return walk to the mainland.

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The sea at Rockcliffe seen at dusk, with the moon in the sky. Rocks run into the still, almost purple-blue water.
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See nature in all its glory along the trails of one of Scotland’s prettiest stretches of coastline

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