Wildlife to spot in autumn

As the days get shorter and the leaves turn golden, the cooler temperatures bring lots of wildlife to our sites. There's loads to explore at this time of year, from soaring bats to leaping dolphins. Read on to find out what you could discover on a day out!

Linlithgow Palace is best known for its connection with Mary, Queen of Scots, but on an evening stroll around the surrounding loch and parkland you could discover the world’s only true flying mammal: the bat.

It’s a big time of year for bats in the area, as males start to look for mates. Most commonly spotted as the nights draw in is a ‘swarm’ of Daubentons bats. Often drawn to water to find food, at this time of year they also come to the Loch to attract females.

Huntingtower Castle is also is home to a large colony of pipistrelle bats, while long-eared and natterer’s bats can be seen in the area. 

Visit Linlithgow Palace

Visit Huntingtower Castle

Rooks also become more active around Linlithgow Peel in autumn. Rookeries (the breeding colonies of the birds) swell in numbers and becoming noticeably noisier in Autumn before the year’s juveniles leave. Rooks are active around the west end of the loch near the field known as Lady’s Acre.

If you fancy a bit of dolphin-spotting, the ramparts at Fort George are a favourite spot for wildlife-watchers. The fort lies on a spit of land reaching out into a narrow stretch of the Moray Firth that boasts the largest pod of bottlenose dolphins in the UK, and early autumn is a great time to spot them. 

Look south-west from the ramparts to see bottlenose dolphins at Chanonry Point. If you’re really lucky you might even catch a glimpse of Minke whale too!

Visit Fort George

The Moray Firth is also home to gannets. On a visit to Fort George, look out for young gannets that have recently fledged.

While most animals give birth to their young in spring, grey seals give birth right in the middle of autumn - around October/November time. 40% of the international grey seal population can be found in Scotland during autumn and winter, and Inchcolm Island is a great place to start!

If you catch a boat out before the Abbey closes for the season, you may be fortunate enough to see these cute, fluffy seals. Although, the view is best enjoyed from a distance so that the new arrivals remain undisturbed.

Visit Inchcolm Abbey

Keep your eyes peeled when you pay a visit to Dryburgh Abbey or Doune Castle this leafy season! Bushy red tails could be squirreling away as they stockpile for the winter months ahead.

The red squirrel is one of Scotland’s most loved and popular animals, and 75% of the UK’s population are found in Scotland. Autumn is the best time to spot this marvelous species, so don’t forget to look high and low for them on your next visit- they could be racing across the woodland floor or bounding up coniferous trees.

Visit Dryburgh Abbey

Visit Doune Castle