Print pageSeasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Large numbers of kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills, plus smaller numbers of fulmars, herring gulls, shags and puffins return to the cliffs for the breeding season. Many other species can be seen offshore, such as gannets, eiders and skuas. Grey seals can be seen just offshore. Scurvy grass is in flower.
Summer
Fowlsheugh is a spectacular seabird city with 130,000 birds nesting on the cliffs, including kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills, and smaller numbers of fulmars, herring gulls, shags and puffins. Skylarks, meadow and rock pipits, and linnets also breed on the reserve.
Grey and common seals, and bottlenose and common dolphins can be regularly seen offshore. Harbour porpoises, white-beaked dolphins and minke whales are seen occasionally. Thrift and red campion grow in abundance.
Autumn
Most of the nesting seabirds will have left the cliffs, but there are many species that can be seen offshore, such as red-throated divers, common scoters, sandwich and Arctic terns.
Winter
Over the winter the cliffs are almost deserted, but fulmars start to return from February onwards. Grey seals haul out on Craiglethy Island and small numbers pup on the beach at Trelung Ness.