Cliffs at Marwick Head

Exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, the clifftops are home to the largest cliff nesting seabird colony on the Orkney mainland.

Some of the star species you are likely to encounter in this seabird city include; Fulmars, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Guillemots and Puffins.

You may also be lucky enough to see Hen harriers, Artic skuas and Red-throated divers.  In a good season, over 25,ooo nesting birds use the sandstone cliff ledges of Mariwck Head.

The beach of Marwick Bay attracts a wide range of wading birds and ducks, the reserve also extends to some of the wet meadows immediately behind the footpath where Short eared owls (Catty faces) are often seen sitting on fence posts in the afternoon sun.

Early summer in May and June is the best time to see these birds and the carpets of pink Thrift.

The Marwick Head circular walk along the cliff path, will lead to the Kitchener Memorial and gives stunning views over to the island of Hoy.

More information

RSPB – Marwick Head

Welcome to Scotland – Marwick Head

Kitchener Memorial – Spirit of OrkneySimilar Posts:

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Seals are locally known as Selkies and legends which originated in the Orkney Isles will tell of seals which can transform themselves to humans.

Orkney Seal Rescue
Seals face many dangers, often as a result of human activities. Many suffer injury due to discarded fishing nets & rubbish,  illness due to polluted seas

Seal trapped in fishing net, from the Orkney Seal Rescue gallery

and starvation due to over-fishing.

Orkney Seal Rescue is based on the Island of South Ronaldsay.  They provide a valuable service protecting  seals, rescuing and caring for sick, injured and abandoned animals.

They are a registered charity which were founded in 1988 to cope with a virus which killed over 18,000 common seals.Fighting to save seals and raise awareness to their plight, Orkney Seal Rescue rely on public support and business sponsorship.

About Seals
Seals are intelligent, warm-blooded creatures that spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to bask, breed and moult. Seals may look slow and clumsy on land but in the vast ocean, they are swift and graceful swimmers. Their streamlined bodies slice through the water with ease as they catch fish, whilst a thick layer of fat (blubber) and a covering of dense fur ensures they keep warm in the cold sea.

Seals are well adapted to life at sea and their flippers are perfectly shaped to propel and steer. When you see a seal ‘flying’ through the water, it becomes clear why the group of animals to which the seal belongs are known as ‘pinnipeds’, which means winged feet.

Grey seal with pup from the Orkney Seal Rescue Gallery

Seals breathe air, but can dive for up to an hour, reaching depths of up to 500m. They carry three times as much oxygen in their blood as a similarly sized land mammal.

As formidable hunters, their large eyes ensure superb vision under water, even in poor light. Acute hearing allows them to pinpoint prey and their ears have adapted to allow them to hear well under water.

Sensitive whiskers detect vibrations of moving prey in the water, so that even blind seals have been known to survive in the wild. When diving, a seal shuts its nostrils, and strong throat muscles prevent water from entering their wind pipe, this allows them to feed underwater.

Among seals’ favourite foods are sand eels, cod and smiths. Both grey and common seals eat a variety of prey including shellfish, squid and octopus. Their diet is determined by the availability of prey species in any given area. During mating and pepping seasons, grey seal bulls and cows do not feed, losing up to 25% of their body weight.

What to do if you think you find a Seal in trouble
Keep a safe distance and don’t touch. Seals have sharp teeth and may bite if they feel threatened.

Try to ensure the seal is safe.

• Is it thin?
• Is it alert?
• Is its mother in the sea nearby?

Try & place a marker to help rescuers locate the seal, then ring Orkney Seal Rescue (number below) and report your encounter. They will treat each call as a matter of urgency.

Orkney Seal Rescue
Dyke End, South Ronaldsay, Orkney
KW17 2TJ
Tel: 01856 831463

Support Orkney Seal Rescue.
Orkney Seal Rescue rely heavily on charity donations and support from local businesses.

Visit the Orkney Seal Rescue website to find out how your donation could make a real difference and to download the brochure or donation form.

Every supporter of Orkney Seal Rescue receives a seal window sticker and a copy of Orkney Seal Rescue News.Similar Posts:

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Delicate ice crystals cling to winter seed heads

The Orkney Isles can have warmer winters than on the mainland but 2009/2010 must be an exception.

For all Orcadians reading this article, your ex-natives would love to know what orkney looks like this winter.

Please send us your pictures, stories and even video which we can feature on this site.

If you are a professional photographer on the island, why not send us some images and promote your business at the same time.

Have any of you been lucky enough to see the Aurora Borealis this winter?

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A fine example of Aeolianite

One of the finest examples of Aeolianite can be found in a farm field on the Orkney mainland.

In areas where the sea is rich in shellfish, tiny particles of crushed shell combine with the sand, eroded from the local sandstone to combine Shell sand.

Aeolianite was formed around 10,ooo years ago, probably about the same time that Skara Brae became inhabited.

This lime rich sand was used by local farmers to improve their agricultural land.

Although the soil has low fertility, it drains well and regular grazing by rabbits allows smaller plant species to thrive which would otherwise be crowed out by the grasses.

Plants found in this area include; Eyebright, Lady’s Bedstraw, Wild Thyme, Fairy Flax and Stiff Sand Grass.

Eyebright

The site is on private land at Aikerness Farm but access is kindly granted by the owners.

Great care is advised as the rocks and plants in this reserve area are very fragile and easily damaged.

Find out more:

Scottish Geology - Find out more about the geology of Scotland.
The Geological Society

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Fuchsia Magellanica Riccartonii is a naturalised alien, thought to be  introduced from South America, where it’s native home is Chile.  It is one of the hardiest Fuchsias, forming patches of dense scrub along paths, tracks and waterways. It is fast growing and can often be found reaching 3 metres or more in some areas.

This Fuchsia generally dies back with the first sign of frost, but as the Orkney Isles are warmed by the Gulf Stream, it is obvious that it can thrive unhindered for mots of the year, especially in the Western regions.

Leaves are dark green, serrated and are arranged opposite each other on the stem.

The four red sepals which form the outer part of the flower, turn hedgerows crimson in the summer and autumn but the inner deep purple petals are quite short, unlike their showy commercial cousins. Eight long red protruding stamens bear purple anthers allowing easy pollination by local bees and insects.

It is widely used as a hedging plant, because of its vigorous and dense growth and can be found bounding many of  the gardens in Kirkwall and Stromness.

Related topics;
BBC Gardening – How to grow hardy Fuchsia
The British Fuchsia Society – Everything you need to know about Fuchsia.

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Only plants tolerant of sea spray can live on the cliff edge.  They often bear thick fleshy leaves and form a ground hugging habit which helps them cope with the salty conditions. Early summer sees the clifftops carpeted in the blue and pink of Spring Squill and Thrift (Armeria Maritima).

Heath & grassland
Much of Mull head has never been ploughed and heathland plants such as ling and Bell Heather dominate.  Sedges and herbs appear as the ground becomes wetter and cotton grass and sphagnum moss are to be found in the most waterlogged areas.

Heathland is bathed in pink and purple heathers

The grassland areas of the reserve are the result of 19th century agricultural improvements, but they have not been subjected to modern day agricultural practices.  This has allowed a variety of wild flowers to flourish, including Grass of Parnassus.

Voles
Orkney Voles are common on Mull head. Their runs can be seen crisscrossing the coastal grassland.  They are an important food source for short eared owls which are often seen hunting over the reserve.

Heathland Birds
The heathland is home to a variety of colonies, some fish feeding birds, but also pirates and scavengers.

Arctic Terns, common gulls and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls are all dependent on the sea for food but prefer to nest away from the cliff edge where the long heather provides ground cover for concealing eggs and chicks.

Great Black-Backed Gulls and Herring Gulls are scavengers, taking refuse from the sea and stealing eggs and chicks.

Great Arctic Skuas are the pirates of the skies preferring to rob other birds that fish for themselves.

silhouetted in the evening sun

Cliff nesting birds
The sandstone cliffs of Mull Head teem with bird life in the summer months (May-July).  Fish feeding birds of the open ocean return to the cliffs each summer to breed and raise their chicks.  This Seabird City has it’s own distinct communities.  Fulmars build their nests near the top of the cliff, while Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Razorbills nest in the middle, perching on sharp, narrow ledges.  Shags occupy the lower levels and can be seen in large groups on the rocks, sitting with their wings spread to the evening setting sun.

Cetaceans
Dolphins, Porpoises and even whales can be spotted offshore with the Harbour Porpoise one of the most common species to be seen.

Common Seal

Seals
Grey and Common Seals are frequently seen along the coast of the reserve, Their inquisitive nature often leading them to follow visitors progress along the cliff.
Greys have the horselike head whilst the Common Seals have little dog-like faces.

Seals are locally known as Selkies and legends which originated in the Orkney Isles will tell of seals which can transform themselves to humans.

May also be of interest

Wildlife Scotland – The official guide to Scotland’s wildlife
Walking Scotland – Details of the Mull Head Circular route.Similar Posts:

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Short Eared Owl

Locally known as “Catty Faces”, these charming owls are often seen in the early evening around the agricultural areas of Orkney.

With mottled brown bodies, Short Eared owls are a medium size bird.  The distinctive yellow eyes with the outer rim of wite feathers make this owl easy to spot.

Often found hunting during the day, it has a steady supply of rhodents including the common Orkney Vole.

They are on the amber list of endangered species.

The Orkney islands are a regular haunt for bird watchers and this owl is top of many peoples’ list.

Visit the RSPB website to discover more about this striking bird.

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