Bird watching

The Kinlochbervie area is wild, rich in birds and contains a wide variety of habitats.

Bird life which may be seen in the summer, includes the golden eagle, white tailed sea eagle, peregrine buzzard, merlin, sparrowhawk, long eared owl, tawny owl, raven, hooded crow, black guillemots, puffin, eider, razorbill, shag, arctic skua, fulmar, kittiwake, arctic and common tern and the spectacular great northern diver. Red breasted mergansers and goosanders are also present on the steep cliffs of Loch Inchard are home to nesting herons.

The endangered greenshank breeds on the moors, as do the red shank, dunlin, woodcock and snipe. The rare red necked phalarope has bred here. Ptarmigan, and bunting frequent high tops. Genuine rock doves visit gardens in the village. Twite and meadow-pipit feed on the crofts and large numbers of the willow warbler and chiff chaff visit each year.

Bird watchers are sure to go away with a new ‘tick’, and those who are here at this time of autumn migration could well find the ‘tick’ of a lifetime.

Handa is a famous bird sanctuary and he's only 20 minutes journey from Kinlochbervie. Thousands , of kittiwakes, fulmars, guillemots and puffins nest on the dramatic sandstone cliffs.

A ranger is present on the island in the summer, and must visit for tourists.

Flora

All year round the landscape is clothed in a carpet of grasses, ferns, mosses, lichens and heathers in hues of yellow, green, silver and brown.

Within this rich tapestry, there are many areas of wild flowers.

Coastal cliffs, form a natural rockery hosting primrose, roseroot, thrift and bladder campion.

On the machair you’ll see scabious, bedstraw, genetian and many orchids. In the wet areas the insectivorous sundew is easily found.

Wildlife

Enjoy the feeling of excitement and privilege when you see the otters, seals, dolphins, porpoises, killer whales and basking sharks. On the land there are foxes and badgers and you will witness at close quarters the grace and majesty of the red deer.

Check out this interesting guide from Scottish Natural Heritage (now NatureScot) to wildlife and landscape in Caithness and Sutherland.

Caithness and Sutherland:  Places to Visit for Wildlife and Landscape