Monach Isles

The Monach Isles have been uninhabited since 1948. The largest islands are 2 km in length and total area at high tide 348 hectares. At low tide the 3 main islands are interconnected. In autumn up to 10,000 grey seals come ashore to pup and mate. Basking sharks and cetaceans occasionally pass by. The main vegetation is machair, a mix of grasses and 200 wildflower species growing on fertile calcareous shell sand.

In the absence of cliffs, Fulmar-glacial breed on the sand dunes. Other breeders here are Pilrito-comum, Perna-vermelha-comum, Abibe-comum, Ostraceiro, Laverca, Petinha-dos-prados, Petinha-marítima, Narceja-comum, Andorinha-do-mar-árctica and Borrelho-grande-de-coleira. There are no trees, so the herons breed in abandoned buildings. Rola-do-mar, Pilrito-sanderlingo, falcão-peregrino and coruja-da-igreja / coruja-das-torres are occasional visitors, and a large flock of Ganso-de-faces-brancas spends the winter here.