Seals take the stage on the Isle of May

There will be telescopes set up, with staff from the Sea Mammal Research Unit based at St Andrews on hand to answer questions about the studies carried out on seals on the Isle of May. Visitors will hopefully be able to view the first pups of the season, and there will be some craft activities for children.

David Steel, SNH reserve manager, said, "Visitors are usually drawn to the May to see the puffins, razorbills and all the other seabirds but at this time of the year, it’s the seals which take centre stage. They’re such curious and fascinating creatures – it’s certainly worth the trip out to see them. We’ll also have experts on hand to tell people more about the seals and all the seal research that happens on the May.”

Up to 100 grey seals can be seen around the island at any time of year, but their numbers increase in autumn and winter when up to 4,000 seals haul themselves onto the rocky shores of the island to have their pups and mate. This makes the Isle of May the fifth largest breeding colony of grey seals in the UK and the largest on the east coast of Scotland. Around 2,000 pups are born on the May every year.

Atlantic grey seals are the third rarest seal in the world; Britain holds almost 40% of their world population, and 90% of these breed in Scotland.

The seal weekend is free, but you must take a boat trip to reach the island. Sailings are on the privately-run May Princess or Osprey of Anstruther from the Anstruther Harbour or through the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick.

• Anstruther - for tickets and details, see www.isleofmayferry.com (May Princess) or www.isleofmayboattrips.co.uk (RIB Osprey).
  
  
• North Berwick - For tickets and details, book online on the Scottish Seabird Centre website at www.seabird.org or call 01620 890 202.

Known locally as 'The May', this small island sits on the edge of the Firth of Forth. The island's importance for seabirds has drawn scientists to its shores for many years and the May is home to the oldest continuously running bird observatory in the UK. The May is also a regular haunt for grey seals, often seen lounging on the shoreline rocks. This island is a historical gem and it's been a place of pilgrimage for centuries with an early island monastery. The May was also the site of Scotland's very first lighthouse, built in 1636, while the current, castle-like lighthouse was designed by the engineer Robert Stevenson.

ENDS

Media queries - For more information, contact SNH press & public relations officer, Vicki Mowat, on 0131 316 2659 or vicki.mowat@snh.gov.uk or the main SNH press office on 01463 725 022.