Cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. We won't set optional cookies unless you enable them or accept our recommended settings. Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences.

Options
Necessary cookies enable core functionality on our website. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.
We use marketing cookies to personalise your visit to our website and show you tailored advertising based on your likes and interests.
We use analytics cookies to monitor visitor behaviour patterns and improve our website performance.

Your preferences have been set. If you wish to change your preferences, you may do so on our cookies page.

Search My Trust
Join now
Join
Close

Looking for places? Use our place search to find them by name, town or postcode.

See all stories
1 Dec 2020

Wildlife spotter’s guide: St Abb’s Head

A fulmar soars through the air, a green cliff in the background. Its grey wings are spread out wide, its tail is fanned out, and its white head is slightly turned to look at the camera!
Northern fulmar
Famed for its seabird colonies, there is a wealth of wildlife to discover at this coastal National Nature Reserve.

Click on the pictures below to find out more about some of the birds and animals you may encounter on your visit.

A small round chiffchaff perches on a mossy branch, with its longer tail held out straight behind it. It is olive green in colour with a yellow stripe by its eye, and has dark legs. A pod of bottle-nosed dolphins in the sea. Three can be seen at the surface, with the one furthest away blowing out water with its head above the surface. The dorsal fins of the two closer dolphins are clear. A grey seal pokes its head up out of foamy waves A tall guillemot stands on a guano-covered rock, looking out to the blue sea. It has smooth black feathers on its head and back, with a white tummy. A kittiwake soars through the air in front of a rocky ledge on a cliff. Its wide grey wings are full extended, showing the black tips. It has a white head and slightly indented tail. A mute swan swims across a smooth loch. It is all white apart from its orange and black bill. Its neck makes an S shape, and it holds its wings slightly out from its body, making it appear even larger. A small brown butterfly rests on a leaf with its wings spread wide. It has orange markings around the outside of its wings. A fulmar soars through the air, a green cliff in the background. Its grey wings are spread out wide, its tail is fanned out, and its white head is slightly turned to look at the camera! A company of northern gannets in the air. Their white wings are spread wide, revealing the black tips. Two porpoises, possibly a mother and her calf, swim in a blue, rippling sea. Their backs are above the surface to reveal their small dorsal fins. Two razorbills perched on a lichen-covered cliff edge. Both face the camera and turn their heads to the right. They have white bellies and smooth black heads. Their beaks are chunky, black and have a white line running down the middle. A close-up of a pair of shags, one adult and one juvenile. Both are extending their long necks up. The younger, brown and fluffy shag is reaching towards the beak of the adult. The adult is black with a bright green eye. A small, pale brown willow warbler sits on the end of a pine twig. Its beak is slightly open, as if in song.

Explore St Abb’s Head

Visit now

Featured Places

The coastline at St Abb’s Head, where steep rocky cliffs plunge towards the sea. The clifftops are covered in grass.
Place

St Abb’s Head

Breathtaking coastal headland with dramatic cliffs, famed for its seabird colonies

Scottish Borders

Read next

A white gannet comes in to land. Its wings are arched and its black webbed feet are stretched out in front.

St Abb’s Head through the seasons: summer

Enjoy a stunning gallery of summer wildlife, captured by award-winning nature photographer Laurie Campbell, at St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve.

A flock of turnstone birds coming into land at the sea shore with their red feet outstretched.

St Abb's Head through the seasons: winter

Enjoy a stunning gallery of winter wildlife, captured by award-winning nature photographer Laurie Campbell at St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve.

A grey seal lying on rocks with a flipper over its face.

St Abb’s Head through the seasons: autumn

Enjoy a stunning gallery of autumn wildlife, captured by award-winning nature photographer Laurie Campbell at St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve.

A brown hare sitting among green grass. The black tips of its long ears can be seen. It’s chewing an ear of grass.

St Abb’s Head through the seasons: spring

Enjoy a stunning gallery of spring wildlife, captured by award-winning nature photographer Laurie Campbell, at St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve.

Read more stories on

Back to top