Canna boasts a complex mosaic of habitats – marine, littoral and terrestrial – many of which have national or regional significance. Of the most important are the base-rich grassland and cliff vegetation, the machair and maritime heath. Combining this diversity of habitats with the temperate, oceanic climate, Canna is able to support a maritime flora and fauna of great interest and beauty.
Canna is a superb island for birds, mainly due to the variety of habitats present on such a small island. From the huge cliffs that provide undisturbed sites for seabirds and raptors, the open hill ground with its nesting pipits and wheatears, down to the grazed fields and woodlands around the bay. As the tide goes out, the exposed mud in the bay attracts good numbers of feeding ducks, gulls and waders.
On Sanday, the bogs and maritime heaths are another interesting habitat that provide good feeding and nesting opportunities for a range of species including white-tailed eagles, golden eagles, great skuas, kittiwakes, guillemots ... and the ever-popular puffin.
Transcript
So we’re here on the Isle of Canna with rangers Gillian and Mike.
We just thought that since you guys can’t be out here to see us, we’d bring the dawn chorus to you.
We’ll just go for a wander through Keill Wood and we’ll try and point out some of the birds that you can see and hear.
There’s a nice willow warbler going off.
Nice quad bike in the background, very nice. Thank you, Murdo!
That’s the willow warbler again.
There’s a nice song thrush. You can tell it’s a song thrush as they tend to do sets of 3.
That’s the willow warbler again.
Marine life
Mammalian marine life is also abundant along the shores and further out to sea. The sheltered bay provides a few haul-out sites for grey and harbour seals, especially in the quieter winter months. They can often be seen in a ‘bottling’ position – sleeping partially submerged with just their snouts remaining above the water.
Further out, the rich fertile seas around Canna are home to some larger species: whales, dolphins and porpoise. Minke whales are commonly sighted during boat trips around Canna, though they may be more difficult to spot from the coast. Rarer sightings include elusive basking sharks and the last surviving members of the Scottish West Coast community of orcas: John Coe and Aquarius.
Sea otters are also resident on Canna; they are fast swimmers and naturally secretive, which make them difficult to spot. Look for signs of otter activity, such as tracks and otter droppings, and use binoculars to scan the nearby shoreline.
The best time of day to see wildlife is usually in the early morning and late evening, when there are fewer people around. Be sure to keep your distance and be respectful of anything you encounter.
You can find more guidance on the wildlife pages of the Trust website.
Help us save our seabirds
You can help take part in the research and monitoring of seabirds, as citizen seabird scientists. In May–August this year, we will be collecting images from the public of puffins carrying food to their chicks. Trained volunteers will analyse the photos to try to spot problems emerging in what puffins at Trust sites are finding to feed their chicks.