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The James MacIntyre Memorial Hide
At Loch of Mey
The hide and footpath were established by the Scottish Ornitholigists Club
- Caithness.
 The hide was erected for the comfort and enjoyment of birdwatchers.
A huge range of birds can be seen during the year. Visitors are
encouraged to put any sightings in the log book and to forward any
information regarding rarities to Mary Legg Highland Council Ranger
Service) Telephone 01847 821531
 Anyone can make a donation towards the upkeep of the hide at the Natural
History Display at Dunnet Beach. Please Close The Door and all
windows when you leave the hide.
Caithness Lochs Ramsar Site
Ramsar Designation
Wetlands are important for their intrinsical biological value and because
they play a vital part in maintaining the ecological systems upon which
all human beings depend. They are, however, under threat throughout
the world. The importance of wetlands was recognised at The Convention on
Wetlands of International Importance (especially as Waterfowl Habitat) at
Ramsar, Iran in 1971. The Ramsar Convention, which provides for the
creation of protected areas of wetland known as Ramsar Sites, is now
supported by over 80 countries world-wide. One of the criteria for
designation of Ramsar Sites is that they contain a significant number of
waders and wildfowl.
Unlike other Natura 2000 (European) sites, the protection of Ramsar Sites
is not specifically covered by national legislation. However, as a
matter of policy, the Government has chosen to apply the same
considerations to the protection of Ramsar sites as are given to other
Natura designations.
Site Description
The Caithness Lochs Ramsar site consists of a suite of lochs and a mire (Broubster
Leans) in Caithness. The lochs support a wide diversity of aquatic
and wetland vegetation. The boundaries of the site are coincident
with those of Broubster Leans site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI),
Loch of Mey SSSI, Loch Calder SSSI, Loch Heilen SSSI, Loch Scarmclate SSSI,
Loch Watten SSSI, and Loch of Wester SSSI. Part of the site (Broubster
Leans & Loch of Mey) was previously classified on 2 February 1998 as
Caithness Lochs Ramsar Site for Greenland white-fronted geese only.
Qualifying Interest
The Caithness Lochs Ramsar Site regularly supports, in winter,
internationally important wintering populations of whooper swan Cygnus cygnus (4% of GB and 1% of Greenlandic population) and greylag goose
Anser
anser (7% of the GB and Icelandic populations).
Location
The hide is about half a mile along a straight track from the old
croft house near to the turn off to Harrow Harbour.
Map |
Birds At Loch Of Mey
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Red Throated Diver
Fulmar
Cormorant
Heron
Mute Swan
Whooper Swan
Pink-Footed Goose
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Gadwall
Garganey
Teal
Mallard
Pintail
Shoveller
Pochard
Tufted Ducj
Scaup
Long Tailed Duck
Common Scoter
Goldeneye
Smew
Red Breasted Merganser
Gooseander
Hen Harrier
March Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Osprey
Kestrel
Pergrine
Red Grouse
Pheasant
Water Rail
Corncrake
Moorhen
Coot
Collared Pratincole
Oyster Catcher
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Little Stint
Temmincks Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Snipe
Blacktailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Curlew
Spotted Redshank
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Turnstone
Wilson's Phalarope
Arctic Skua
Black Headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black Backed Gull
Kittiwake
Sandwich Tern
Arctic Tern
Common Tern
Black Tern
White winged Black Tern
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Cuckoo
Short Eared Owl
Swift
Skylark
Sand Martin
House Martin
Meado Pipit
Rock Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Redstart
Whinchat
Stonechat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Willow Warbler
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow/Hoodie
Raven
Starling
House sparrow
Chaffinch
Brambling
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Twite
Snow bunting
Yellowhammer
Reed bunting |