Skip navigation
Print page

Star species

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

Great skua

Great skuas chase other seabirds and make them drop their fish! Be careful you don't get too close to their nests as they have little hesitation in divebombing potential threats.

Great skua (illustration)

Hen harrier

Hen harriers breed on the moorland at Trumland. You may see the ghostly grey males or rich brown females quartering the hillsides in search of prey.

Hen harrier (artwork)

Merlin

Keep your eyes peeled for a dashing merlin on a high-speed hunt.

Merlin (illustration)

Red-throated diver

Red-throated divers are adapted for life on the water - they are very clumsy indeed on land as their feet are so far back on their bodies. Look for them as they go fishing.

Red-throated diver in summer plumage (illustration)

Short-eared owl

Short-eared owls can be seen hunting over the moorland here in spring and summer. The afternoons are a good time to spot them banking and gliding just above the ground; their piercing yellow eyes scanning for voles moving in the grass below.

Short-eared owl (illustration)

Contact us

Where is it?

  • Lat/lng: 59.13055,-3.00287
  • Grid reference: HY427275
  • Nearest town: Kirkwall, Mainland, Orkney
  • County: Orkney
  • Country: Scotland

Get directions

Note: Some reserves are not served directly by public transport and, in these cases, a nearby destination (from which you may need to walk or take a taxi or ferry) may be offered.

Collections