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14 Jan 2021

Wildlife spotter’s guide: Grey Mare’s Tail

A peregrine falcon stands on a mossy ledge at Grey Mare’s Tail, looking directly at the camera. It has a hooked beak with a sharp point, and large yellow feet with sharp talons.

Grey Mare’s Tail is one of the most spectacular landmarks in southern Scotland. As you venture through this hanging valley, a wealth of wildlife species are revealed.

Click on the pictures below for a little more information on some of the species you may be lucky enough to see on your visit.

A small bird, with brown, grey and orange feathers, stands on a rock in a grassy field.

A dipper stands on a rock, facing the camera. It has a brown body, head and wings, with a bright white chest and neck patch.

An adult wild goat stands with a kid goat on a gorse and scrubby ledge. The goats are a rough grey in colour, and the adult has large, slightly curved horns. Both have darker faces, bellies and tails.

A grey wagtail perches on a neat pile of leaves beside a stream. It has a grey back with a bright yellow underside, and its long tail is held out straight behind it.

A close-up of a kestrel hovering in an upright position mid-air. Her brown wings are fully extended and her long tail fanned out, revealing a black band around the tip. Her yellow feet are tucked against her mottled brown belly.

A dark blue/grey merlin perches on the end of a wooden branch, looking to the right with its back to the camera. Its short black tail has a white tip.

A mountain hare sits in a grassy field, with bright blue sky in the background. Its long ears, with a black tip, are raised straight up from its head. It is looking towards the camera. It sits on its hind legs, but rests its front paws on the ground as well.

An osprey perches at the very end of a bare branch at Grey Mare's Tail. A small fish is held in one of its talons. It has rich brown body feathers, with a white belly and legs.

A peregrine falcon stands on a mossy ledge at Grey Mare’s Tail, looking directly at the camera. It has a hooked beak with a sharp point, and large yellow feet with sharp talons. - copyright Richard Clarkson

Two glossy black ravens perch on a wooden log, both looking to the left. There is woodland in the background.

A red grouse stands alert on a rock, looking towards the distance on the left. It has tan brown feathers and a round tummy, with white legs. The red stripe over the eye can just be seen!

A bird that looks very like a blackbird, but with a white band across his chest, perches on a rock. It has two grubs in its yellow beak.

A sparrowhawk stands on a moss-covered stone, surrounded by fallen autumn leaves. It faces left but has turned its head to look directly at the camera. It has a brown and white striped tummy, with grey wings and back.

A small, robin-shaped, bird perches on a slender stem in a field. It has a bright orange chest, with a dark cap and back.

A small fish is displayed against a plain blue background. It has a dark back, with a silver belly. Its tail appears almost feathered at the end.

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