Cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. We won't set optional cookies unless you enable them or accept our recommended settings. Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences.

Options
Necessary cookies enable core functionality on our website. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.
We use marketing cookies to personalise your visit to our website and show you tailored advertising based on your likes and interests.
We use analytics cookies to monitor visitor behaviour patterns and improve our website performance.

Your preferences have been set. If you wish to change your preferences, you may do so on our cookies page.

Search My Trust
Join now
Join
Close

Looking for places? Use our place search to find them by name, town or postcode.

See all stories
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.

Explore Rockcliffe

Visit now

Featured Places

The sea at Rockcliffe seen at dusk, with the moon in the sky. Rocks run into the still, almost purple-blue water.
Place

Rockcliffe

See nature in all its glory along the trails of one of Scotland’s prettiest stretches of coastline

Dumfries & Galloway

Read next

A red squirrel stands on a tree stump in a wood. Its long bushy tail hangs over the side of the stump. Its long whiskers and little claws on each paw can be clearly seen.

Wildlife spotter’s guide: Threave Garden & Estate

Threave’s wonderful garden and wider estate are a haven for wildlife all year round. The nature reserve is one of Scotland’s most biodiverse and includes a Special Protection Area for breeding waders and wintering wildfowl.

Castle Fraser on a sunny winter's day with a dusting of snow.

Christmas at Castle Fraser

The decorations at Castle Fraser are made with plants grown in the castle garden, then cut and dried in time for Christmas. Enjoy this festive celebration of the garden inside the castle.

Three glass tumblers are displayed in a line on a desk. The middle one has coloured counters in it. The tumbler on the left has a sign in front that says Local; the tumbler on the right has a sign in front that says International.

Visitor statistics for the Hill House

The Hill House Visitor Services team were curious to learn whether the language guides currently on offer at the site represented the languages spoken most by our visitors.

A puffin flying in the air, coming in to land.

Where do our seabirds spend Christmas?

While you are tucking into your Christmas pudding, have you ever wondered where our seabirds are spending the festive period?

Read more stories on

Back to top