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WILDLIFE & GEOLOGY
The wildlife at Strontian is prolific. We frequently have red deer coming into the garden and a heron regularly stalks our pond. Black grouse lec less than a mile from the house and we can hear them clearly on a still evening. Wildcats breed in the area. There are otters and seals on the shore of Loch Sunart and the pine marten is a common but elusive neighbour. Golden eagles may occasionally be seen and sea eagles fly further west on the peninsula and on nearby Mull.
There are whale, porpoise and dolphin watching boat trips. Basking sharks can be seen at the right time of year.
At Ariundle and towards Salen are the ancient Atlantic fringe oak woodlands with an abundance of flora and lichens. The higher ground supports typical wetland acid plants such as bog asphodel, butterwort and sundew.
Above Strontian are the remains of the old lead mines where the element strontium was first discovered and named after the village. At the western end of the peninsula can be found the Ardnamurchan Ring which is a huge volcanic crater formed when the Atlantic Ocean was opened up – the remains of probably two volcanoes which have been weathered down.
Common Sightings at Heatherbank : Red Deer; buzzard; siskin; other finches; meadow pipits; heron; wheatear; stonechat; house martin; swallow, the cuckoos are still calling; but we have lost the lost homing pigeon! On the plant side we have milkwort; lesser butterfly orchid; northern marsh orchid; heath spotted orchid; yellow and red rattle; yellow flag iris; butterwort.
Occaisional Sightings at Heatherbank : barn owl; black grouse; wildcat; sparrowhawk; whinchat.
Nearby sightings: Golden plover; ringed ouzel; pine martin; otter; common seal; grey seal; golden eagle; sea eagle; roe deer.
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