Seals and land mammals

There are an estimated 50,000 seals in Orkney, and no summary of Orcadian wildlife would be complete without describing our seal populations.  Orkney is an exceptionally good place to watch seals, with large populations of both species – Grey or Atlantic seals, and Common or Harbour seals.  They can be seen virtually anywhere around the coasts.  The two species pup at different times of year, the smaller Common seal choosing a solitary pupping style in midsummer, and the gregarious Grey seal electing for large rookeries late in the year in November.  The Grey seal pups remain ashore for a few weeks and have a conspicuous white pelt at first – easy enough for human observers but unfortunately also predators to spot. 
Seals always come near the top of lists of wildlife that visitors want to see, which is beneficial for an island group like Orkney where they may be seen virtually anywhere, and very good news for extending the tourist season with such a late pupping date.

Grey or Atlantic seal

These are the larger of the two species, with the bulls in particular having very prominent ‘Roman’ noses which makes for a distinctive profile.  Females are smaller but always have nostrils that are parallel with each other, unlike the smaller Common seal, which has ‘V’ shaped nostrils.  They are common and easy to see, and regularly haul out onto rocks at low tide, often in mixed groups with Common seals.

Common or Harbour seal

The smaller of the two species, with ‘V’ shaped nostrils.  Don’t be fooled, by the way, into thinking that the colour of the pelage (skin) is any guide with either of these species of seals – both are highly variable – so that pelage colour is a completely unreliable aid to identification!  They are somewhat less common than Grey seals, but still easy to see, and regularly haul out onto rocks at low tide, often in mixed groups with Grey seals.

Bearded seal

At the moment we have a very rare visitor from the Arctic present in Orkney.  This animal, whose sex is currently unknown, frequently hauls out on the old slip in Finstown (between the new slip on the main road and the bridge into the Ouse, OS grid reference HY361141) at low tide.  It is often in the company of Common seals, but much larger, and sports splendidly long and curly whiskers, hence its familiar name of “Beardie”.  Good places to view it from are the main car park by the new slip, or else the lay by opposite Finstown primary school.  Its presence is however somewhat erratic, so you may need to persevere and try several times to view it, but it’s well worth the effort!

Land Mammals

As an island group, many of the land mammals of the nearby Scottish mainland are absent from Orkney.  Even those that are reasonably common, and delightful to watch, such as the brown hares on the Orkney Mainland, or the blue or mountain hare on Hoy, have been introduced.  Ground predators such as badgers, foxes, weasels and stoats are largely absent, although hedgehogs have been introduced, and recently there is a fear that stoats may have been introduced.  Rabbits of course are ubiquitous.

Our most interesting land mammals are otters, which in Orkney are usually thinly spread, quite nocturnal and difficult to see – unless you happen to be visiting the northern isles where they can be somewhat easier to see.  Of special interest is the Orkney vole (Microtus arvalis) which is the staple food of our hen harriers and short-eared owls.  Its closest relative bizarrely is found in eastern Europe, and since it has been shown from archaeological records to have existed in Orkney for at least 4,000 years, it is considered to have been an (accidental?) import.  Their surface runs are easy to spot in the coastal grasslands such as at Mull Head in Deerness.

Places to visit:

Eynhallow Sound – Common seals
Finstown – Common seals and bearded seal
Hoy, North Hoy RSPB reserve, mountain hares
Mull Head Local Nature Reserve, Deerness – Orkney vole and seals
Stronsay – grey seals
West Mainland – brown hares

Reference:

“Sillocks, Skarfies & Selkies (The Vertebrate Fauna of Orkney)” by Chris and Jean Booth, published by The Orcadian Limited, Kirkwall ISBN 1-902957-24-5