"The rich variety of bird life is one of the most noticeable characteristics of the shores of Scotland" Coastwise—Cross-seas, the Tribulations and Triumphs of a Casual Cruiser. Henry Reynolds, J D Potter, London, 1921.
Wild life is really one of the main reasons to sail off the West Coast of Scotland. So much better than Greece or the Caribbean or the Whitsundays, and for variety better than anywhere else around the British Isles. Make the most of it. So what do you want to see?
Birds:
Corncrakes, you will hear them not see them around Ardalanish, South Mull; Canna, North of Ardnamurchan; Eilean Mòr, Kintyre; Iona, West Mull; and Coll and Tiree
Seabird nesting cliffs: Canna, North of Ardnamurchan and Lunga, West Mull are the best.
Ground nesting birds: Eilean Dubh, Lower Loch Linnhe; Lunga, West Mull; Soa Island, West Mull.
Puffins: Lunga, West Mull
Bonxies (Great Skuas): Canna, North of Ardnamurchan
Ospreys: Fairy Isles, Loch Sween
Waders: Muck, North of Ardnamurchan
Sea Eagles: keep an eye open anywhere around the Sound of Mull.
Deer:
Bagh Gleann nam Muc, Jura
Seals:
More or less everywhere, but in particular: Ardmore Islands, Islay; Carsaig Bay, South Mull; Creag Islands, Lower Loch Linnhe; Eilean Dubh, Firth of Lorne; Loch Cuan, West Mull; Loch Scavaig, Skye, North of Ardnamurchan; Lunga, West Mull for Atlantic seal pups in late September, and Muck north anchorage, North of Ardnamurchan.
Porpoises:
More or less everywhere, usually singly.
Dolphins:
West of Mull, Coll and Tiree, and North of Ardnamurchan around the Small Isles, but could be anywhere.
Whales:
West of Mull mostly (although Orcas were seen in the Firth of Lorne in 2026, not hopefully ready to attack the rudders of yachts as they do off Portugal). For cetacean sightings, and basking sharks too, at least around the Mull area, have a look at the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust website. And report any sittings that you may have made.
Basking sharks:
Mostly around Coll, Tiree and west of Mull — numbers were increasing but now decreasing again, but they must be difficult to count.
Sunfish: never seen one hereabouts, only in Loch Hourne — once
For more have a look at Nature Scotland