Study sites
This page illustrates the variety of habitats upon which grey seals breed
and provides a virtual tour of my three study sites: North Rona, The Isle
of May and the Monach Isles. In addition there are links to more
general descriptions of these islands, including their history, mythology
and wildlife.
Map of Scotland showing the locations of my three study
sites; North Rona, The
Isle of May and the Monach Isles
North Rona
This is our view of Rona as we approach in the helicopter from the South-south-east
looking northwards. The low lying peninsula of Fianuis can be seen
jutting out northwards from behind the east-west ridge of Leathad.
Atop the eastern hill, Toa Rona, of this ridge can be seen the lighthouse.
An aerial view of the Study Area on Fianuis, the white spots are pups and
the brown muddy expanses are the main breeding areas.
This is a view of Fianuis from beside our observation hide - this peninsula
forms the main breeding areas for grey seals at North Rona.
The Chapel of North Rona - an ancient extension to the even older, 7th
Century St. Ronan's Cell. This view is looking from the south-west
corner of the chapel, showing the low doorway on the southern wall, and
the unfortunately crumbling west wall, which Frank Fraser-Darling repaired
during his visits to Rona.
A picture of our recently completed new field hut on Rona - still with
some building debris and equipment surrounding the hut. All
this debris was removed to leave a fine research facility which is our
home during the long autumnal field seasons.
The view from my bunk in the new hut - looking south-west over the old
village and our old field hut, over the outlying skerries of Sceapull (a
regular haul-out site for non-breeding seals) and out over the Atlantic.
The old hut has now been removed, leaving the ancient village in peace.
And finally,
this is the view that greets us as we leave our hut in the morning to go
and watch the seals, the sun rising behind Toa Rona and the lighthouse
- well - it's the view on the drier, clearer days that is!!!
The Isle of May
Looking north over the Tarbet inlet to one of our main study areas at the
Isle of May. The terrain is far more broken, rocky and irregular
than at North Rona, although access to the breeding sites for seals is
still restricted to inlets and gullies running in from the sea.
Our other main study area at the Isle of May. On the northern tip
of the island, West Rona Beach forms ones of the prime areas on the island
for breeding seals.
The Monach Isles
The Monach Isles, lying off the west coast of North Uist in the Outer
Hebrides, comprise a chain of three low lying island - each formed from
sand dune systems established over and around rocky skerries.
This view is from the outer most of these five islands, Shillay,
looking eastwards over the remaining four islands, Ceann Iar (West Head),
Shivinish, Ceann Ear (East Head) and Stockay. On the horizon lies
the mountains of North Uist and South Uist. On a clear day, the peaks
of Skye can be seen across the Minch beyond the Uists.
Shillay boasts a truly impressive (but now non-operational) lighthouse,
around which many seals breed during the autumn.
The beaches, not only on the Monachs, but throughout the Uists are stunning.
These beaches form the main breeding areas for grey seals during the autumn
at the Monachs. 
During the summer, the interior of the islands is blanketed with flowers
as the 'machair' comes in to bloom. This picture also shows the old
village on Ceann Ear, with its schoolhouse on the left.
About the seals
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