page_title: Flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides
section_title: Flannan Isles
hierarchical_section_title: Flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides / Nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest / Flannan Isles
caption_attribution_description: Morus bassanus, Northern Gannet
context_page_description: The flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides in north west Scotland comprises a unique and diverse ecosystem. A long archipelago, set on the eastern shores of the Atlantic Ocean, it attracts a wide variety of seabirds, and thanks to the Gulf Stream a climate more mild than might be expected at this latitude. Because it is on the Gulf Stream, it also occasionally gets exotic visitors.
context_section_description: The Flannan Isles provide nesting for a population of seabirds, including Atlantic puffins, northern fulmars, European storm-petrels, Leach's petrels, common shag and black-legged kittiwakes. There is a gannetry on Roaireim. From the late Middle Ages on, Lewismen regularly raided these nests for eggs, birds and feathers.
  There is a population of Arctic hares, brought to the islands by the lighthouse keepers, and crofters from Bernera graze sheep on the most fertile islands.
  Minke and pilot whales, as well as Risso's and other species of dolphin are commonly observed in the vicinity.
  The islands became a Site of Special Scientific Interest in December 1983.
caption: Northern gannet (Morus bassanus)
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