Winter Wildlife in Orkney

When most people think of Orkney, their minds drift to windswept cliffs, Neolithic stone circles, and summer seas shimmering with puffins and seals. But winter here is just as rich in natural spectacle, if not more so. As the days shorten and the air grows sharper, the islands transform into a sanctuary for thousands of birds and a wild stage where nature feels both raw and intimate.

Unlike summer, watching winter wildlife in Orkney demands patience and resilience. Bitter winds can cut across the open landscape and the days may be short, yet the low golden light and the backdrop of sea and stone lend every encounter a rare intensity. There’s a sense that you’re sharing the islands not just with people, but with creatures driven here by instinct and survival.

A Haven for Migratory Birds

Winter in Orkney is dominated by birdlife. As northern Europe freezes, Orkney’s comparatively mild climate (thanks to the North Atlantic Drift) draws in vast flocks of migrants. Whooper Swans glide onto lochs from Iceland, whilst waders like Golden Plovers and Sanderlings pepper the coastlines, their movements shimmering like waves as they take flight in unison. The sight of a murmuration of Starlings, thousands moving as one in twisting, swirling clouds, is a highlight of any winter dusk. Scapa Flow is an important wintering ground for divers and grebes, with internationally significant numbers of some species, including the Slavonian Grebe and Great Northern Divers.

The Return of the Geese

One of the defining sights (and sounds) of an Orkney winter is the arrival of thousands of geese. From October onwards, the islands host great skeins of Greylag Geese, Pink-footed Geese, and the occasional rarer species, such as Barnacle Geese. Their calls echo across the wide skies and open fields, a reminder of ancient migratory rhythms that have long tied Orkney to the Arctic north.

Sea Cliffs and Shorelines

The dramatic coastline is never empty. Seals haul themselves onto rocky shores, their mournful calls echoing across bays. Grey seals in particular choose Orkney as one of their key pupping grounds, in October and November, with locations like Windwick and Burwick on South Ronaldsay offering prime viewing from cliffs. Beaches can be crowded with mothers and their white-furred pups. Offshore, winter storms churn up rich feeding grounds, drawing Gannets, Fulmars, and Great Northern Divers close to land.

Birds of Prey

Orkney’s wide skies also belong to raptors in winter. Hen Harriers drift low over the moorland, their pale forms ghostlike against the heather as they hunt for mice, shrews and Orkney voles. Short-eared Owls hunt during daylight hours, a bonus for watchers hoping to catch a glimpse. Merlin populations in Orkney significantly increase in winter as birds from Iceland and northern Europe migrate to the islands for milder conditions and abundant food sources. You can find them in coastal marshy areas, dunes, and farmland, where they hunt for their prey. 

Mountain Hares on the island of Hoy

In winter, the hares on Hoy turn a soft, silvery white, blending almost perfectly with the frost-dusted heather and patches of lingering snow. These mountain hares, a remnant of Scotland’s wild uplands, are well adapted to the island’s harsh weather, their thick fur and keen senses helping them survive in the cold winds that sweep across the moorland. Against the stark beauty of Hoy’s cliffs and heath, a sudden flicker of movement, white against grey, is often the only sign of their quiet, resilient presence.

The Quiet Beauty of the Lochs

Inland waters, often still and silvered by frost, come alive with wintering wildfowl. Loch of Stenness, Loch of Harray, and other freshwater havens host Pochard, Tufted Ducks, Long-tailed Ducks, Teal, and Wigeon, their plumage striking against the subdued palette of winter skies. For those willing to wrap up warm and linger quietly, these lochs reveal scenes of calm abundance.

The Experience of Winter Watching

Unlike summer, watching winter wildlife in Orkney demands patience and resilience. Bitter winds can cut across the open landscape and the days may be short, yet the low golden light and the backdrop of sea and stone lend every encounter a rare intensity. There’s a sense that you’re sharing the islands not just with people, but with creatures driven here by instinct and survival.

For the keen naturalist, photographer, or simply anyone who loves wild places, Orkney in winter is a revelation.

Tips for Winter Wildlife Watching in Orkney:

• Bring binoculars, many of the best sights are at a distance.
• Dress in layers: the wind chill can be fierce, even on clear days.
• Respect pupping seals by keeping a safe distance, watch from cliffs or designated viewpoints.
• Visit RSPB reserves like the Loons or the Brodgar wetlands for excellent winter birding.

By Victoria Dixon
Orkney and Shetland fanatic, likes to capture life through a lens, loves creating, eclectic taste in music, enjoys being a Mum; would secretly love to be a star of the West End!

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