How to Photograph Native Scottish Wildlife

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Scotland is a diverse and wild place with rolling hills, open vistas, rugged cliffs, turbulent oceans, and incredible Scottish wildlife to photograph.

There is magic in every corner and something for every photographer to capture. Of course, the natural landscape of Scotland is changing, and environmental and human pressures are making it harder and harder to find and photograph some of the more ‘wild’ parts.

This guide aims to give you the best opportunity to both see and photograph some of our most wondrous native species without disturbing them. It is a privilege to be in nature, and photography can enhance our experience in a wild and wonderful world.

National Parks in Scotland

Scotland boasts two national parks: The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and the Cairngorms National Park, although most of this country could be considered ‘wild.’

The more remote Scottish islands are a haven for a vast array of seabirds, and certainly, you won’t do much better than Staffa or the Outer Hebrides if coastal birds are your thing!

If you’re after wildlife photography opportunities, then these are great places to start, but Scotland is vast, and you’ll find that even areas outside of these national parks will likely contain most of the wildlife listed below.

Mountain hare

The mountain hares are the UK’s only native hare species and can be found in a number of key locations in the Scottish mountains. They have been persecuted for a number of years, and their habitat is dwindling, so it’s often pretty difficult to track down these elusive mammals.

Where to find mountain hare

Put simply, in the mountains! These animals tend not to be right at the summits but will be feeding on the fresh shoots in the middle regions of the hills.

mountain hare scottish wildlife photography

They don’t like being in the harsh conditions on the mountains, so you will usually find them on the sheltered side of the valley. A great place to start is in the hills surrounding Tomatin or just west of Aviemore.

Photography tips for mountain hares

The hares are most active at dawn and dusk, so if you’re hoping to capture much activity, head into the hills for sunrise or sunset.

Getting low to the ground is the key to capturing the intimate qualities of these mammals and making good use of foreground and background elements to get interesting bokeh.

Read more: How to Photograph Mountain Hares

Red deer

When people think of Scotland, red deer immediately spring to mind. These impressive animals are the UK’s largest land mammals and are found throughout most of Scotland, with over 400,000 thought to be living wild!

Where to find red deer

Start your search for these beasts in the Highlands and Cairngorms around Glenfeshie and Glen Affric.

The best time to see deer is in the morning and evening, as they like to come down to the lower ground when it’s dark to feed.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that snow can force the animals to look for food in the glens rather than the bens, so winter can be a better time to see the deer low down.

The red deer rut occurs from September through early November, and at this time, it’s substantially easier to track down the animals as the males will be roaring loudly and competing over females.

Be warned, though; there are many instances of males attacking walkers and photographers at this time as they’re distracted with mating!

Red deer photography tips

It’s best to get out and capture your images at golden hour for impressive silhouettes and to make the most of the movement and drama of the rutting season.

Shutter speeds are best at about 1/640-1/1000, and you’ll need a telephoto lens of at least 200mm to get anywhere near the animal without disturbance.

Read more: How to Shoot Striking Silhouettes

Eurasian otter

The UK only has one otter species: the Eurasian otter. Although these otters are typically spotted in rivers, some of the best places in Scotland to see these animals are at the coasts.

It’s worth knowing that because they aren’t sea otters, they need to wash the salt off their fur each time they go out to swim. So if you’re scouring the coast in search of this mustelid, then it’s best practice to look for a freshwater source and radiate out from there.

Where to find otters

Mull is one of my favourite places for otters, where they love to try and steal salmon from the big round fish farms you’ll be able to see from the coastline.

In general, I’ve had the best luck along the southern lochs, but there are lots of locations all around the west coast islands, and if you’re feeling brave, then heading up to Shetland has excellent otter populations.

Eurasian otter photography tips

They move quickly, so use a faster shutter speed (over 1/1000) to freeze the movement of the water and to capture what could be a very fleeting sighting. You’ll definitely need a 200-400mm lens as they’re likely to see you from a long way off.

Patience is key, and avoiding movement will potentially encourage a closer encounter, but this species is really prone to disturbance, so it’s best practice to wait for otters to come in close rather than following them from the shore.

Top Tip: Hang out at the water’s edge! The best encounters I’ve had are when I’ve seen an otter in the water and waited for it to catch a fish before bringing it to land to eat. Learning about their diets and feeding habits will give you the best opportunity for an encounter.

Red squirrel

A family favourite, the red squirrel is the UK’s native squirrel species and is found only in small pockets of the country. The strongest population is in Scotland, where they currently occupy much of the native pine forests.

Where to find red squirrels

Red squirrels dislike open ground so you can find them in the denser forests. However, they are very well-habituated to humans, and there are some great feeding sites at RSPB Loch Lomond, RSPB Boat of Garten, and RSPB Loch Spynie.

You can also find red squirrels in just about any forest north of Perthshire.

Red squirrel photography tips

These squirrels are generally most active first thing in the morning as they forage for food. Make sure you learn what a squirrel-nibbled pinecone looks like so you can recognise when they might be about!

When feeding, squirrels are pretty chilled out, and you can probably settle at a shutter speed of 1/800, but when they’re zooming around the forest, you’ll need to be shooting at 1/1250 or higher.

Top Tip: If you have a handful of hazelnuts, then you may be able to entice the more willing squirrels over for a tasty snack!

Puffin

The clowns of the ocean, puffins can be seen all over the UK, but some of the most impressive locations are in Scotland. These animals are only on land during the spring and summer, between about April and August, as they raise their young.

Where to find puffins

The best locations for puffins in Scotland are the islands of Lunga and May; or, if you’re happy to travel further afield, Orkney and Shetland.

However, one of my all-time favorite locations in Scotland for all seabirds is Bullers of Buchan on the east coast, just north of Aberdeen.

If you’re doing the NC500, then there are many good spots on the north coast of Scotland, one conveniently called Puffin Cove!

Puffin photography tips

These birds will only need a 200-400mm lens as they can usually be seen quite easily, and it’ll allow you to use a faster shutter speed of around 1/2000 to capture them in flight.

They’re generally quite relaxed around humans, which can allow for unique up-close encounters. Watch out for ‘beak tapping’ as they fight for territory or rekindle bonds with one another.

Top Tip: To capture exciting images of puffins, get low to the ground and, ideally, have the sunlight bouncing off the water behind them to create lovely bokeh. You’ll need a lot of things to align, but the results will be worth it!

Other Scottish birdlife

Scotland boasts some impressive birdlife, and much of it can be found without much difficulty. My top tip for finding species like crested tits and crossbills is to learn the calls beforehand (or at least have an app installed that can help).

These species are found throughout the forests of the Cairngorms but are much more active low down during the winter months.

Searching for gannets? Head to RSPB Troup Head for some of the most incredible views of gannets up close alongside fulmars, kittiwakes, and guillemots.

If you want to try and spot sea eagles and golden eagles, then the west coast and its islands are the places to be. You’ll often see these monsters of the air heading out to fish in the mornings on the loch and coastal regions.

Scottish birdlife photography tips

Long lenses are essential, and you’ll need to make sure you either shoot fully manual and bump up your ISO or use exposure compensation to avoid silhouetting your subjects in the sky.

Researching your subject beforehand can lead to much better results. Some bird species are mild-mannered while others are flighty; a great example is the ptarmigan, which is so reliant on its plumage for camouflage that it will often let you get quite close.

In contrast, crested tits are so fast and agile that trying to get close to them is nearly impossible, and it’s much better to sit by a feeder and wait for them!

Scottish marine life

Did you know that more than twenty species of whales and dolphins can be seen around the Scottish coast? A firm favorite is the bottlenose dolphin.

Where to see dolphins

Growing up to four meters in length and weighing up to 400 kg, these intelligent and inquisitive animals can often be seen along the Moray coastline near Inverness, where they like to feed at the mouth of many of the rivers, including Findhorn Bay, Spey Bay, and Invergordon.

The best place to see dolphins breaching and feeding is at Chanonry Point, an hour either side of high tide, as the dolphins tend to move past the lighthouse here when the tide is high enough for them.

Depending on where you’re photographing them, you’ll probably need a 400-600mm lens and a nice fast shutter speed of 1/2000 minimum to capture them mid-jump. It’s also a good idea to adjust your drive mode to high so that you don’t miss a shot once they breach.

Read more: How to Photograph Ocean Giants

Grey and common seals

Seals are pretty common all around the UK, but there are some real strong points for their haul-outs around the coasts.

Findhorn Bay boasts an impressive mixed species colony that can be easily seen. The Outer Hebrides also have a very healthy seal population that can be seen all around the islands.

It’s important to remember that these animals, while curious and agile in the water, can be nervous and dangerous on land, and it’s an offense to disturb them, particularly during the breeding season in the autumn.

Read more: How to Photograph Seals in the UK

Basking sharks and other whales

Cetaceans and sharks can be seen all around the coast in Scotland.

In 2023, 55 basking sharks came to Nairn to feed in June and July. Earlier in 2024, orcas were seen from Burghead to Wick and onward to Shetland and Orkney. There have even been sightings of thresher sharks, humpback whales, minke whales, pilot whales, and fin whales.

Each of these species comes to the coasts at different times of the year, but generally, the warmer months of spring and summer are the best time to try your luck at a bit of cetacean spotting.

Photographing whales and sharks

As you might expect, a long lens will be essential for this kind of photography as cetaceans rarely come close to shore (with the possible exception of basking sharks). Your best bet is to find a high point on the coast that gives good visibility and allows you to look down onto your subject.

I occasionally use a drone with a zoom feature to photograph my subjects from above, but it’s important to keep your distance to avoid distressing the animals.

Remember that when whales and dolphins come to the surface, it’s to breathe, so anything that might cause them to panic can actually cause quite a lot of damage if they can’t surface.

Endangered scottish wildlife

There are a number of endangered species here in Scotland, including the red squirrel, pine marten, bottlenose dolphin, golden eagle, and Scottish wildcat, all of which can be photographed if you find yourself in the right place at the right time.

As a naturalist and ‘adventurist,’ I know this country well and I’m hoping to make some of the more elusive species more accessible. But, of course, we must remember that the welfare of the subjects is always at the forefront of our minds, even more so with these endangered species.

Scotland is the only place in the UK where you have even a chance of seeing a wildcat. These rare and elusive animals are currently only found in the Cairngorms National Park, though their exact locations are not known and sightings are not shared to keep them protected.

However, pine forests with blaeberry and gorse undergrowth are the perfect habitat, and if you’re out walking in the remote woodlands, then you have a chance.

They are nocturnal, so prepare for low-light conditions. They are protected by law, so it’s important to keep your distance if you do see one.

If you’re looking for golden eagles, Findhorn, or Strathdearn is known as ‘Raptor Valley,’ so if you’re heading towards Inverness, this is a great stop. It usually has views of goshawks, golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, and more.

Golden eagles like using thermals to soar high over the ridges of mountains, moorlands, and cliffs in search of prey.

I’ve found that best practice is to scan the tops of the mountains and watch out for the grouse taking flight from the predator; you can also keep an eye out for ravens which will follow and harass larger raptors in search of an easy meal.

Pine martens have been seeing a gradual resurgence across the Highlands and Cairngorms. They are arboreal, which means they are usually seen in woodland or edge habitat.

Tracking them down can be made easier if you keep an eye out for their black, sweet-smelling scat, which marks their territory. They are extremely elusive, though, so keep that in mind.

However, if you are lucky enough to spot one, you’ll have to be quick with the camera because they’re fast and agile. You’ll often see them in the evenings as they come out to hunt, and they’re much more active in the spring and summer as they have young to feed too.

In conclusion

Scotland has so much to offer wildlife photographers! Remember that patience is key to coming home with great wildlife images, and the more you know about your subject, the easier it’ll be to capture the images you want.

The most important thing is that we, as photographers, are safe and put the welfare of our unwitting subjects as the highest priority.

Wildlife photography is a fantastic way to enjoy our native flora and fauna and Scotland’s nature demonstrates that you don’t need to go on safari to see majestic and beautiful wildlife.

How to Photograph Native Scottish Wildlife

National Parks in Scotland