Capercaillie numbers at leks down 9% amid extinction fears

The number of male Capercaillie at leks was down nine percent amid extinction fears for the species, The Scottish Gamekeepers Association has warned.  Only 153 male birds were recorded at leks in key forests this year, 15 less than this time last year, according to the group. They warned should the decline continue, it would…

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Five seabird species added to the UK red list

Five seabird species have been added to the UK red list of birds most in need of conservation, the RSPB has announced. The Arctic Tern, Leach’s Storm-petrel, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Great Skua are now at risk because of severe population declines. It means of the 23 seabirds that make their home and…

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Rum named as Scotland’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary

The Isle of Rum has been designated as Scotland’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary – just the second place in Europe to hold the accreditation. While Scotland has five designated International Dark Sky Places, the Inner Hebridean island, which has a population of just 40 people, is the first area to be designated as a…

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Great White Egrets successfully fledge in Scotland for the first time

Great White Egrets have successfully fledged in Scotland for the first time.  Three chicks left their nest near the Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve near Crimond earlier this week, after what is thought to be the first ever breeding attempt in Scotland. Conservationists said the successful fledging of the chicks is a significant milestone for…

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Scotland’s Flow Country secures Unesco World Heritage status

It’s a vast and unspoiled blanket bog that carpets the far north of Scotland. But now The Flow Country has been made a world heritage site by Unesco, after a 40-year campaign by environmentalists. The planet’s largest blanket bog, the Flow Country covers around 1,500 sq miles of Caithness and Sutherland, and stores approximately 400…

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Two rare humpback whales spotted off Scottish coast

Two humpback whales, including one never seen before in Scottish waters, were filmed during a rare encounter with a tour boat. On a cruise which was sailing up Gunna Sound guests aboard a Hebrides Cruises vessel experienced the once-in-a-lifetime double discovery with the majestic beasts. The two whales, including Sinclair – a whale who has…

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Scotland’s whales: Two orcas spotted off coast of Ardnamurchan

A rare sighting of two killer whales off the coast of Ardnamurchan has been captured on video.  The orcas John Coe and Aquarius belong to Scotland’s only known resident pod of killer whales. The duo was spotted by Rob Barlow, Owner of Hebrides Cruises who was skippering one of the company’s three vessels, Elizabeth G…

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