Tiree Ranger Hayley

Sadly the stork died on the 23rd of Sept. He/she was thin and looked like it had collided with power lines possibly due to chest injuries. He/she was sent to the National Museum of Scotland for their research collection. Sad ending for a beautiful creature that capture the islanders imagination.

If you have any photos of the day please post them below!
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Had a wonderful day at the Tiree Agricultural Society Show on Fri where I was asked to judge the dogs. This lovely 4yr Border Collie took the Collie class & was also my Best in Show. Well done to everyone who took part & well done to all who helped organise the show, it was a cracking day.

How's this for a whooping find today during a Rock pool Session? A massive Hermit Crab. Usually we find loads of wee ones but this one was a belter. Never seen one so big before & just goes to show that there is always something different to find when exploring in nature! @naturescot.bsky.social

Need to get on the beach!!!

The summer holidays are here and so are the Ranger "Dànachd Bheag" Sessions! For big and wee kids. The Ranger Service also delivers Guided Walks, Otter Watching and more. To find out more email ranger@tireetrust.org.uk or phone 07391239502
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Also Terns have very sharp beaks and won't hesitate to use them so move away calmly and quietly if a flock take off and start calling and circling.
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In the past folk haven't realised nests where on the beaches and this has lead to eggs and chicks being squashed. So please be aware not to cause any disturbance when exploring, not all sites are signposted like the one in the photos (taken with a 60x zoom)

If you come across a group of birds calling and swooping at you please move away.
In the last week I've seen folk standing in the middle of tern colonies using binoculars or have had folk pick up eggs to look at.

Our beaches are beautiful but they are also home to loads of wildlife. Some of our birds use the beaches for nesting, creating a little hollow in the sand & laying their eggs. This is particularly true for our tern species like the Arctic Terns who have taken up residence on a no of small beaches.

Mornings like these make the early lambing starts worth it (as do all the lambs and ewes being fine)!
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Why not grab one and have a talking point & help spread the word about one of Tiree's special inhabitants.
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This is over a 100% increase in the highest count from last year of 21. They may not be cute and fluffy but they are pretty special. So much so they are the star of the 2025 Tiree Ranger stickers which are now available to buy from the Trust office, Farmhouse Cafe, the Bùth & direct from myself!

It's that time of year that the SNOB's start emerging!. Short-necked Oil Beetles are a rare beetle 1st found in Tiree in 2023. They are closely associated with the Northern Colletes Bee. I went out to check on the site where they were first discovered by the Ranger Service today & found 57!

Just back in from a survey and got 57 today!

Happy Easter folks. Did you know the Easter bunny is actually based on Brown Hares? We have plenty on Tiree & the breeding season is still on for them. I counted 8 in a group this am boxing away. It can be hard to get a pic though but this one sat for me the other evening. @naturescot.bsky.social

Hiya. 21 on the 1st of May last year was highest count and 15 was highest count in 2023 :)

Be aware when driving around Tiree this Easter holidays. The lambs are out & about and haven't got any road sense atm. They love lying on the tarmac as it's nice and warm and have a habit of being on the opposite side of the road from their Mums when a car is going along.
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We have had over 20 but last year i think it was 11. Need to dig out the notebooks. Sorry for late reply. Lambing atm

Only had 2 so far here. Hoping for more as the weeks go on

Funny looking lamb on the croft this am! Spotted some movement on the pebbles & went to investigate.Turned out to be a wee seal having a good rest.Photos taken from a distance so as not disturb. Sleep is as important for young seals as for lambs.
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Beautiful start to the morning with lots of inversion around the island at sunrise. Made counting the sheep & the lambs a bit difficult but this run of fab weather is helping the lambs thrive! Two new lambs on the crofts this am. Halfway through lambing now!
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Luckily she had no injuries & was fine after a few minutes & more than happy later on when checking on her whilst moving other sheep. If you see a sheep in a similar situation don't hesitate to help & if you can't let the crofter/farmer know as soon as possible.

We spotted this one today from a distance & luckily she was still alive as your heart is always in your mouth when you see them like this and not moving. I rolled her back onto her front and held her for a bit until she got feeling back in her legs.

Do you know what to do if you see a sheep on its back?

With ewes heavily in lamb at the moment they can become stuck on their backs. Being on their backs is incredibly dangerous and if not sorted can be fatal, as well as leaving her prone to attack from birds.

We have had a lovely run of weather with some cracking evening light. Fingers crossed it continues as it's not long until lambing gets into full swing around Tiree.
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I missed it.

Never get fed up of this view to start the day. Cold and clear this morning & a good day to get some of the repair tasks done!
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An alert seal is a sign you are too close.

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