Over 250 species of bird have been recorded on and around Arran. Many of these are resident all year, with summer and winter migrants swelling the numbers. The iconic golden eagle can be seen in the mountains whilst the moors are home to an internationally important population of hen harriers. Arran’s many beaches are populated by waders, including curlew and oystercatcher, with eider and red-breasted mergansers on the sea close to shore. Further out to sea gannets patrol the skies pinpointing fish in the sea below and diving headlong into the sea to catch them.