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Contents

  • Redbanks — page 4
  • Reed Meadow, Loch of Harray — page 6
  • Rendall Moss — page 7
  • Rennibister — page 9
  • Rerwick Head — page 10
  • Resting Hill — page 12
  • Roos Loch — page 13
  • Rose Ness — page 15
  • Rossmyre — page 16
  • Rothiesholm — page 18
  • Row Head — page 20
  • Rysa Little — page 21
  • Sanday School — page 23
  • Sandwick — page 24
  • Saviskaill Head — page 25
  • Scabra Head — page 27
  • Scar Erratic — page 29
  • Sealskerry — page 30
  • Setter — page 31
  • Shingly Hill — page 33
  • Skaill — page 34
  • South East Coast — page 36
  • South-east Stronsay Coast — page 38
  • South Links — page 39
  • South Westray Coast — page 41
  • St Peter’s Pool — page 42
  • Stennie Hill — page 44
  • Stews — page 46
  • Stones of Via — page 47
  • Sutherland Links — page 48
  • Swandale — page 49
  • Swart Howe — page 51
  • Taftend — page 53
  • Taracliff – Point of Ayre — page 54
  • The Altar — page 55
  • The Fidge — page 56
  • The Galt — page 58
  • The Loons — page 59
  • The Ouse, Aikerness — page 61
  • The Ouse — page 62
  • The Shunan — page 63
  • The Taing — page 65
  • Tofts Ness — page 67
  • Tronston — page 69
  • Tui Fea — page 70
  • Unigarth — page 71
  • Vasa Loch — page 73
  • Ve Ness — page 75
  • Veddertownmail — page 77
  • Vias Moss — page 78
  • Vinquoy Wood — page 79
  • Ward Hill and Chapel Hill — page 80
  • Ward Hill East — page 82
  • Ward Hill North — page 83
  • Ward Hill — page 85
  • Warebeth — page 87
  • Warsetter — page 88
  • Wellpark — page 89
  • West Aikerness — page 90
  • Westbrough — page 92
  • Western Moors, Flotta — page 93
  • Whaness Burn — page 95
  • Whitaloo Point — page 96
  • Whitemill — page 97
  • Wideford Burn — page 99
  • Wideford Hill — page 101
  • Witter, Braebuster Burn and Hoy Lodge Marsh — page 103
  • Yinstay Loch — page 105

Redbanks

Location: Tankerness

Area: c. 18 hectares

Site Reference Number: 181

Site Description

The site is centred on a former basin of deep peat, now worked out, with shallower peat to east and west also with traces of peat workings and/or drainage ditches. The central part, comprising flooded, worked-out peat banks is marsh and swamp, intersected by remnant banks of drier peat. Around the northern fringe of the centre is thinner and drier peat, mainly heather-covered. The rest, and largest part, of the site comprises a mixture of habitats, grazed and not grazed, including marshy grassland with abundant meadowsweet, acid grassland with rushes, short heather/grass mosaics and small pools and swamps. Some parts are rich in plant species, other less so.

The site supports breeding waders, notably curlew and redshank. Shelduck and mallard also nest here, along with small birds such as meadow pipit, reed bunting and linnet.

Special Habitats

  • Upland heath*
  • Blanket bog*
  • Basin bog

Special Wildlife

  • Curlew*
  • Redshank
  • Linnet*
  • Reed bunting*
  • Shelduck
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Redbanks, Tankerness, site reference number 181, showing the site boundary and mapped habitat areas.

Reed Meadow, Loch of Harray

Location: Sandwick

Area: c. 8 hectares

Site Reference Number: 182

Site Description

The site comprises an extensive reedbed fringing the loch of Harray, with adjacent marsh and marshy grassland dominated by meadowsweet and rushes. There are very wet places in this marsh with plants such as bogbean and bog cotton.

The reedbed provides habitat for many nesting sedge warblers and reed buntings. A variety of waders breed on the site, including oystercatcher, lapwing, snipe, curlew and redshank.

Special Habitats

  • Reedbeds*
  • Lowland meadows*

Special Wildlife

  • Lapwing*
  • Curlew*
  • Redshank
  • Snipe
  • Sedge warbler
  • Reed bunting*
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Reed Meadow, Loch of Harray, Sandwick, site reference number 182, showing the reedbed and adjacent wetland site boundary.

Rendall Moss

Location: Rendall/Firth

Area: c. 233 hectares

Site Reference Number: 183

Site Description

This site comprises a large area of lowland peat bog, with the burns of Bluebrae and Blubbersdale running through it. Much of the peat has been cut-over but the vegetation has recovered: abundant plants of this blanket bog are heather and bog cotton, with bog asphodel, purple moor grass and sphagnum moss. More elevated, drier parts are more heather-dominated. Worked-out peat cuttings and burn sides have marshy vegetation, mainly dominated by meadowsweet, with rushes and patches of yellow iris and reed canary-grass. Pools in the peat bog and the marsh have some locally and nationally uncommon water plants and harbour dragonflies and damselflies. There are many patches of native willows, these forming dense thickets in places.

The site is important for breeding waders, in particular for the extraordinarily large number of curlew. Other waders nesting on the site include oystercatcher, lapwing, snipe and redshank. There is a large colony of common gulls. Smaller birds nesting here include skylark, meadow pipit, wren, sedge warbler, reed bunting, songthrush, dunnock and willow warbler. Hen harrier and short-eared owl hunt over the area.

Special Habitats

  • Wet woodlands
  • Upland heath*
  • Blanket bog*
  • Basin bog
  • Lowland fens*
  • Burns and canalised burns

Special Wildlife

  • Lapwing*
  • Curlew*
  • Snipe
  • Redshank
  • Common gull
  • Skylark*
  • Sedge warbler
  • Reed bunting*
  • Dunnock
  • Willow warbler
  • Songthrush*
  • Otter*
  • Large heath butterfly*
  • Black darter dragonfly
  • Large red damselfly
  • Blue-tailed damselfly
  • Moss carder bee*
  • Tea-leaved willow
  • Grey willow
  • Slender-leaved pondweed*
  • Least bur-reed
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Rendall Moss, Rendall/Firth, site reference number 183, showing several separate site areas, mapped habitats, nearby burns and lochs, and surrounding settlements.

Rennibister

Location: Firth

Area: c. 9 hectares

Site Reference Number: 184

Site Description

This site mainly comprises marsh, the dominant plants being rushes, horsetails and coarse grasses. The northern part of the site is more varied: meadowsweet covers much of it, with some patches of heather and native willow bushes. Gorse grows on drier ground along one side of the site, and a substantial area next to it has been planted with mainly native trees.

The site supports breeding waders in good numbers, including oystercatcher, lapwing, snipe, curlew and redshank. Smaller birds nesting here include meadow pipit, linnet, sedge warbler, greenfinch and dunnock.

Special Habitats

Special Wildlife

  • Lapwing*
  • Curlew*
  • Snipe
  • Redshank
  • Linnet*
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Rennibister, Firth, site reference number 184, showing the site boundary and mapped habitat areas.

Rerwick Head

Location: Tankerness

Area: c. 34 hectares

Site Reference Number: 185

Site Description

Much of the Rerwick headland is boulders and rock above normal high water mark. There is semi-natural grassland on the site of a wartime camp: this has a variety of species, including abundant red clover, yellow rattle, silverweed and buttercups. Butterflies and bumblebees, including rare species, abound in this grassland. Short maritime grassland, with sea plantain and spring squill, is confined to the extreme coastal edge on the east side of the point. Along the coastline south of Rerwick Head is a narrow band, sometimes widening out, of short maritime grassland along with heathland dominated by heather and crowberry. Flowers occurring here include grass of Parnassus, spring squill and eyebrights. The cliff slopes themselves have sea pinks and abundant Scots lovage.

The area has not been surveyed for nesting birds, but the habitats can be expected to attract nesting waders like curlew, redshank, snipe and lapwing, also skylark and meadow pipit.

Special Habitats

  • Crowberry heath
  • Maritime cliff and slope*
  • Maritime grassland

Special Wildlife

  • Breeding waders and grassland birds*
  • Great yellow bumblebee*
  • Moss carder bee*
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Rerwick Head, Tankerness, site reference number 185, marking the coastal site boundary along the headland and coastline.

Resting Hill

Location: Eday

Area: c. 35 hectares

Site Reference Number: 186

Site Description

The site comprises the summit of Resting Hill and its eastern slopes descending to the Mill Loch. Much of the broad summit of the hill has a cover of fragmented thin peat, with a cover of heather, and much eroded bare ground. Lower slopes of the hill have deeper peat, especially the lowest part, north of the Mill Loch, where the deeper, wet peat, has been less cut over and has blanket bog vegetation with plants such as bog cotton and sphagnum moss along with the heather.

A variety of waders nest on the site, including oystercatcher, lapwing, snipe, curlew and redshank. There is a colony of common gulls and the one or two pairs of arctic skuas. Smaller birds breeding here include skylark, meadow pipit and twite.

Special Habitats

  • Upland heath*
  • Blanket bog*

Special Wildlife

  • Arctic skua*
  • Curlew*
  • Lapwing*
  • Snipe
  • Skylark*
  • Twite*
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Resting Hill, Eday, site reference number 186, showing the hill site boundary, habitat areas and nearby Braehead and Mill Loch.

Roos Loch

Location: Sanday

Area: c. 20 hectares

Site Reference Number: 187

Site Description

This site comprises Roos Loch, a narrow fringe of marshy grassland and the ayre — a natural barrier of shingle and boulders — that separates it from the sea. Several species of pondweed and other water plants grow in the loch, including a nationally scarce stonewort.

There are a small number of breeding birds on the site, including a pair of mute swans.

Special Habitats

  • Eutrophic standing waters*
  • Vegetated shingle*

Special Wildlife

  • Skylark*
  • Lesser bearded stonewort*
  • Otter*
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Roos Loch, Sanday, site reference number 187, showing the loch, its surrounding marshy grassland and the shingle barrier separating it from the sea.

Rose Ness

Location: Holm

Area: c. 51 hectares

Site Reference Number: 188

Site Description

The Rose Ness headland is mostly moorland, with very short heather and crowberry. On the eastern side are steep cliffs; on the western side a low rocky shore and a short shingle spit. Edging the exposed cliff-top on the eastern side is short maritime grassland with plants including spring squill, sea plantain and sea pink.

A variety of waders breed on the site, including oystercatcher, lapwing, curlew and redshank. Great skua breed and there is a colony of common gulls. Arctic terns have nested on the shingle spit. Smaller birds nesting include skylark and meadow pipit.

Special Habitats

  • Upland heath*
  • Crowberry heath
  • Maritime cliff and slope*
  • Maritime grassland

Special Wildlife

  • Arctic tern*
  • Great skua
  • Lapwing*
  • Curlew*
  • Redshank
  • Skylark*
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Rose Ness, Holm, site reference number 188, showing the headland, coastal cliffs, shingle spit and mapped habitat areas.

Rossmyre

Location: Firth

Area: c. 13 hectares

Site Reference Number: 189

Site Description

An area of marsh on deep peat, with dense scrub covering a large part of it. 95% of the scrub comprises native Orkney willow species, the remainder being the alien shrub salmonberry. Open areas between the willow bushes are dominated by purple moor grass growing in large tussocks. A small burn threads through the site, in places becoming lost in swamps. Fringes of the site have peat bog with heather and bog cotton, and marshy grassland with abundant meadowsweet.

Many curlew nest on the site, and a few oystercatcher and snipe. Smaller birds breeding here include skylark, meadow pipit, sedge warbler, willow warbler, linnet and reed bunting. Hen harrier, short-eared owl and merlin hunt over the area.

Special Habitats

  • Lowland fens*
  • Wet woodlands*
  • Basin bog
  • Burns and canalised burns

Special Wildlife

  • Curlew*
  • Snipe
  • Skylark*
  • Sedge warbler
  • Willow warbler
  • Linnet*
  • Reed bunting*
  • Hunting birds of prey
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Rossmyre, Firth, site reference number 189, showing the marsh, willow scrub, peatland and other mapped habitat areas within the site boundary.

Rothiesholm

Location: Stronsay

Area: c. 299 hectares

Site Reference Number: 190

Site Description

Rothiesholm Head has the largest area of heather moorland in Stronsay. Most is dry and covered in heather with few other accompanying plants, but there are a variety of other important habitats as well. Deeper peat accumulated in hollows on the hill and more especially the basin at Millfield, supports bog vegetation with abundant bog cotton along with heather and crowberry. Very locally it is wet enough for sphagnum mosses. Locally there are marshes, especially at Millfield, with rushes, sedges, and flowers such as ragged robin. Patches of grassland on the acidic soil are generally rather poor in plant species, except on high, steep slopes on the west coast where they become much more flowery, with plants including violets, bird’s-foot trefoil and wild thyme. The site includes Straenia water, a large loch impounded by a long ayre of boulders.

The site supports many breeding waders, including oystercatcher, lapwing, snipe, curlew and redshank. It is also important for nesting arctic and great skuas. There are colonies of common and great black-backed gulls. Skylark, twite and meadow pipit are abundant nesting species. The loch attracts red-throated divers. Breeding birds of prey have been recorded here.

The coastal features at Straenia Water have also been recognised for their geomorphological (the shape and evolution of landforms) interest and importance.

Special Habitats

  • Upland heath*
  • Crowberry heath
  • Upland flushes, fens and swamps*
  • Oligotrophic and dystrophic lochs*
  • Maritime cliff and slope*
  • Basin bog

Special Wildlife

  • Red-throated diver*
  • Breeding birds of prey*
  • Arctic skua*
  • Great skua
  • Arctic tern*
  • Common gull
  • Great black-backed gull
  • Snipe
  • Lapwing*
  • Curlew*
  • Redshank
  • Skylark*
  • Twite*
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Rothiesholm, Stronsay, site reference number 190, showing the extensive site boundary, mapped moorland and wetland habitats, and Straenia Water.

Row Head

Location: Sandwick

Area: c. 70 hectares

Site Reference Number: 191

Site Description

An area of exposed cliff-top coastal grassland and heath. Typical coastal grassland plants grow nearest the cliffs, especially thrift, sea plantain, eyebright and spring squill. Further inland, short, wind-clipped heather and crowberry predominate, interwoven with small herbs such as thyme and bird’s-foot trefoil.

A large number of oystercatchers nest on the site, and smaller numbers of lapwing and ringed plover. There is a colony of common gulls and a few arctic skuas. Small birds nesting include pied wagtail, rock pipit, meadow pipit and wheatear. The cliffs hold large numbers of nesting seabirds.

Special Habitats

  • Maritime cliff and slope*
  • Maritime heath
  • Maritime grassland

Special Wildlife

  • Lapwing*
  • Arctic skua*
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Row Head, Sandwick, site reference number 191, showing the exposed coastal site and adjacent Loch of Skaill.

Rysa Little

Location: Scapa Flow

Area: c. 38 hectares

Site Reference Number: 192

Site Description

The island is almost entirely peat-covered. Much of the deeper peat has been cut over and has become quite dry, and heather completely dominates the vegetation. The only area without peat is some marshy grassland around springs in two places. All this vegetation is grazed hard by sheep and there is little variety, except for the frequent occurrence of wood sorrel, a rare plant in Orkney. The rare and inconspicuous small adder’s-tongue (a fern) was recorded many years ago and may still be present.

Most of the shoreline is of boulders and coarse shingle, at the foot of steeply sloping banks, except along part of the western side and more obviously at the north, where it is formed of vertical cliff up to 8 metres in height. The ledges are inaccessible to sheep and support more varied vegetation than elsewhere on the island, with plants such as common polypody (a fern), and goldenrod.

The site supports a variety of breeding birds. Waders such as oystercatcher, curlew and snipe breed in good numbers. There are colonies of great black-backed and lesser black-backed gulls, and breeding eider. A variety of small birds also nest, including skylark, meadow pipit and pied wagtail.

Special Habitats

  • Maritime cliff and slope*
  • Upland heath*
  • Blanket bog*
  • Lowland fens*

Special Wildlife

  • Curlew*
  • Snipe
  • Skylark*
  • Lesser black-backed gull
  • Wood sorrel
  • Small adder’s-tongue*
  • Nationally important habitats and species.

IMAGE: A map of Rysa Little, site reference number 192, showing the island boundary and the adjacent Hoy and North Walls SSSI moorland fringes.