|
This article is incomplete. This article is missing one or more sections. You can help the BirdForum Opus by expanding it. |
|
Overview
The largest seabird colonies in the Orkney Islands are found here on cliffs of Old Red Sandstone almost 100m that stretch for 1.6km along the west coast of Mainland.
The reserve includes these cliffs with their many ledges, the northern part of the rocky Marwick Bay and some adjacent wet meadows
Birds
Notable Species
The most numerous breeding seabirds are Common Guillemot and Kittiwake with smaller numbers of Razorbill and Northern Fulmar. Also nesting on these cliffs are Shag and Atlantic Puffin, Rock Dove, Rock Pipit, Northern Wheatear and Northern Raven, and Peregrine Falcon is sometimes seen.
The shores of Marwick Bay and the wet meadows inland have breeding Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew and Common Redshank
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Northern Fulmar, European Shag, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Black-legged Kittiwake, Rock Dove, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin, Rock Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Northern Raven
Other Wildlife
Both Grey Seal and Common Seal can be seen offshore and Thrift, Sea Campion and Spring Squill grow on the cliffs.
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
The reserve is reached on a minor road to Marwick Bay off the B9056 then on foot from the bay, parking is at HY228244.
Alternatively, there is a car-park at Cumlaquoy also reached by a minor road from the B9056, 1km north of the Marwick Bay turn-off at HY232250. From here the cliffs can be reached on foot.
Part of the cliffs can be seen well from good viewpoints on the cliff-top but great care is needed when near the cliff edge.
Grid reference: HY223248
Contact Details
Tel: 01856 850176
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
Content and images originally posted by Steve
Reviews
glasgowbirder's review
Nothing to add to description. Brilliant up close views of all the birds. Fab Pros
- Birds exactly as described
Cons
- Clifftop terrain probably not suited to youngsters or oldsters
Gramayr's review
Great location, good place for a picnic + other comments previously expressed. Pros
- Picturesque
- good view of birds.
Cons
- Cliff edge could be dangerous
