Birsay Moors Orkney, Scotland
In the north of the Mainland of Orkney, this is a large and undulating heather moorland reserve with areas of dry heath, blanket bog, marshy areas and streams. The Dee of Durkadale is a calcareous valley mire with willow scrub and some reeds. There are also small lochans on some of the hilltops.
This site is unusual in its high density of breeding Hen Harrier, in addition there are Merlin, ground-nesting Common Kestrel and Short-eared Owl. Gulls of four species also breed on these moors as well as small numbers of Great and Arctic Skuas. Nesting waders include Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Dunlin and Eurasian Curlew and there are breeding Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal and Red-breasted Merganser. The hilltop lochans are home to Red-throated Diver. Passerines include the most numerous birds of the moors, Eurasian Skylark and Meadow Pipit, as well as Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Common Wren and Twite. The Dee of Durkadale has Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler. The best time to visit is spring and summer although autumn can be productive with migrant waders and possible rarities. Birds are few in winter but Greenland White-fronts are present. The predatory birds feed to a great extent on the Orkney Vole, a distinct subspecies the Common Vole, widespread in Europe but absent from Britain except on Orkney and Guernsey. Otters are occasionally seen in the streams. The Dee of Durkadale is a botanically rich area with many species of sedge and orchids including Heath Spotted, Northern Marsh and Early Marsh Orchid. The Birsay Moors can be viewed from the B9057 Dounby to Georth road and Cottascarth is reached on a track off the A966 Finstown-Evie road, 5km north of Finstown. This leads to a hide with good views of the moorland and usually, Hen Harriers. Burgar Hill has a hide overlooking Lowrie's Pool and breeding Red-throated Divers, leave the A966 at Evie north of the B9057. The Dee of Durkadale can be found by turning right on the track at the southern end of Loch Hundland which leads to the abandoned farm.Ferries run daily from Scrabster in Caithness to Stromness on Mainland Orkney, a two-hour trip.
Birds
Birds you can see here include:
Red-throated Diver, Greater White-fronted Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, Hen Harrier, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Short-eared Owl, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Common Wren, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Sedge Warbler, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, Twite, Reed Bunting
Content and images originally posted by Steve
Reviews
glasgowbirder's review
Okay so I saw a male Hen Harrier at about 20 feet. But that was in the car park after 3 hours in the hide.
In marked contrast with the other reserves there was almost no wildlife save for some sheep and a few pipits.
Go if you want a good chance of seeing Hen Harriers.
Pros
- Hen Harrier site!
Cons
- Location poorly signposted.
Gramayr's review
The location is a bit out of the way, and parking is limited if several cars turn up at once. The guided walk was very informative, including local area information on plants and wildlife. Saw male and female hen harriers folowing the line of the fences, also short eared owls were another highlight. Well worth a visit if in the area.
warning: if you don't like walking amongst cattle then give it a miss.
Pros
- Informative talks/walks by RSPB
Cons
- can be a bit muddy as cows are roaming about.
