Go wild and let the Clowns of the Sea put a smile on your face

FROM fluffy red squirrels and proud red deer to elusive wildcats and graceful whitetailed sea eagles, Scotland is home to a wide range of wonderful wild residents.

Whether you explore the Highlands or Lowlands, the sweeping moors, spectacular islands or coastal corners, you are bound to come across some rare and natural beauties.

Tiny but tenacious, puffins are hardy little birds that survive out at sea for a large part of the year, before returning to Scotland’s sea cliffs, isles and coastlines during the summer months.

Did you know that young puffins are called ‘pufflings’? Or that puffins are nicknamed ‘Clowns of the Sea’ because of their brightly coloured beaks?

These cheerful little birds will certainly put a smile on your face. Great places to spot them are the Isle of Staffa and Treshnish Isles in Argyll, as well as the outlying isles of Shetland and Orkney.

Which animal has small, tufty ears, a furry coat and twitchy whiskers? The otter, of course.

These adorable mammals can often be seen near seashores and other waterways.

Look out for them on the west and north coasts, Outer Hebrides and Shetland, in a range of habitats where there is freshwater.

But otters are not the only creatures who love our glistening Scottish waters.

Harbour and grey seals are often seen bobbing on the shorelines and around our islands – often sunning themselves on the beach or nearby rocky outcrops.

You can spot seals throughout the year, so keep an eye out for a glimpse of their heads bobbing above the water.

Many boats trips and wildlife cruises offer the chance to see these playful creatures up close.

Despite spending most of their time in the water, seals give birth on land – look out for a fluffy seal pup or two on the shoreline during the summer months.

Inland, one of Scotland’s favourite forest inhabitants is the red squirrel. Crafty and resourceful, these little critters can be spotted bounding from tree to tree in dense woodland across Scotland – from the Highlands to the forests of the Borders.

Smaller than their grey cousins, they boast stunning reddish-brown furry coats and tufty ears – and reds are the UK’s only native squirrel species.

Another native red to look for are deer, found in upland forests and moorlands throughout Scotland. Early summer is the best time to watch hinds and calves, and red deer are more active during the morning and evening.

The best time to see stags is during the autumn rut and they are more active in cold weather.

Learn more Scottish wildlife and when and where to see it at visit scotland.com/ see-do/ wildlife.