Tiree Flora & Fauna
Flowers
Many an island in the Hebrides, blessed with machair land, has been called 'The Isle of Flowers', but Tiree with so much machair must surely be the most richly endowed. In high summer the variet, profusion and exuberance of colour is almost unbelievable and I understand that over 500 species of wild flowers have been listed. May is the daisy month when the machair seems dusted with snow, in June it is yellow with buttercups. vetches etc., whilst in July the clover adds a purple ting; in August the air is full of the scent of wild thyme. The use of sprays on the mainland verges has seen many old favourites disappear; so long may the wild orchids. ragged robin, the blue bonnet and the harebell flourish here on Tiree.
A pocket flower book to help with identification is a necessity as the amateur botanist will find such a profusion and richness of specimens that he will be in a seventh heaven of delight on discovering species no longer seen on the mainland.
Trees
Because of the windy climate there are only a few trees on the island; clusters of willows here and there. some stunted sycamores in gardens at Kenovay, but a palm tree flourishes in the Manse garden at Scarinish !
Birds
Wherever you go on Tiree you will be only too aware of bird life. On the beaches an rocky coastal strips vou will see gulls, turnstones, oystercatchers, ringed plovers shellduck, elders. sanderlings. etc., while inland tlie delightful lapwings and lark seem to be everywhere.
Kenavara is home to the fulmars. kittiwakes, razorbills. shags and cormorants. while off shore the gannets dive. Barnacle, grey lag and white-fronted geese and wopper swans winter on Tiree and there are large numbers of snipe. The corncrake with his rasping call still nests on Tiree, the phalarope skulls in lonely places and buzzards glide silently overhead.
So have your bird book and binoculars at the ready and go to Ardmore where waders abound, to Kenavara and wonder at the sea birds on the cliffs, walk along the shell sand beaches and enjoy the oystercatchers while the turns scream overhead and wander inland and thrill to the lonely crv of the curlew and the crazy swoop and dive of the lapwings.
Tiree, an island of machair, rocks, sky and shore, has a marvellous bird populations so with eyes and ears open, enjoy sharing this lovely land with the birds whose natural habitat it is.
Animals
On Tiree you will see many hares which were introduced to the island in 1820. There are no rabbits for although Tiree did have them in 1793, they had all disappeared by 1890. Small mammals, such as short-tailed voles, pygmy shrews, hedgehogs and Hebridean field mice abound, as do rats which are said to burrow in starling dung at Kenavara, in addition to their usual habitats. The otter population is considerable and they are to be seen around thc coast and in the loch at Island House.
Seals
Both
the grey and common seal frequent the waters round Tiree. Grey seals breed
in Gunna between Con and Tiree, whilst common seals can be seen below Kenavara
West Hynish is a splendid viewing point where seals sun themselves on the
offshore rocks. DO try to sing to them. We once had great success on the
rocky spit of land between Vaul and Salem with the 23rd Psalm - 'The Lord's
my Shepherd'!
Wildlife Diary
The Isle of Tiree community website www.IsleofTiree.com contains a month by month diary of flora and fauna to be found on Tiree which is well worth a look.
Photographs © Gavin Shaw