Spectacular year of ‘firsts’ on Scotland’s nature reserves

Black grouse are an endangered species, so their first-time appearance at Beinn Eighe  - Scotland’s oldest national nature reserve  -  this spring was a significant sign of how the species is faring in the area. The male birds put on a flamboyant display to attract female birds, showing off their tail fans, jumping and dancing. The dance can often turn violent, with male grouse pecking and kicking each other.

The year got off to a remarkable start at Muir of Dinnet in early March with the flowering of aspen trees –the first time since 1996 for a large-scale aspen flowering in Scotland. Aspen rarely flower because of their tendency to reproduce asexually sending up shoots from their own roots, and creating ‘clone trees’.

Aspen woods are quite rare in Scotland, and where they’re found, other rare species, such as aspen bristle moss or large poplar longhorn beetle, tend to thrive, making for an incredibly nature-rich habitat. Lying within Cairngorms National Park, the reserve is a mosaic of wetlands, woods and moors.

Another highlight was an impressive 14,000 visitors braving the boat trip across to the Isle of May this year, making 2019 the fifth year in a row that visitor numbers have increased. Anchored on the edge of the Firth of Forth, the Isle of May is a magical mix of seabirds, seals and tales of smugglers past. Nesting seabirds throng the cliffs in late spring and summer – a noisy spectacle from the clifftop path. The island is also home to the much-loved puffin.

Loch Leven saw a whopping 300,000 walkers, cyclists, runners and birdwatchers visiting the nature reserve. The loch is one of the most important sites for waterfowl in Britain, with not only the largest concentration of breeding ducks anywhere in the UK, but many thousands of migratory ducks, geese and swans also making it their home every autumn and winter. It’s popular heritage trail, which encircles the loch, is also a big draw.

The highlights kept coming all year long. At Forvie, the UK’s oldest ever arctic tern was found: first ringed as a chick at Buddon Ness in Angus, the tern was discovered at the SNH nature reserve in Aberdeenshire and found to be 32 years old, almost to the day. An average tern lives for only about 13 years.

Forvie also celebrated the grand achievement of 60 years as a national nature reserve this year. The reserve is one of Scotland’s natural treasures, a place of stark beauty. Covering almost 1,000 hectares, it is part of one of the most extensive sand dune systems in Britain and a haven for wildlife like breeding eider ducks, four species of terns, many waders and wildfowl, as well as grey seals.

There was also good news from the stunning Isle of Noss, where 13,765 pairs of gannets were counted in 2019, a 17 percent increase since the last count in 2014. The towering 180 metre sea cliffs of Noss are filled with gannets, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes in every available nook over the summer. Marauding great skuas – or bonxies, as they’re known locally – nest further inland.

Stuart MacQuarrie, SNH’s Head of Nature Reserves, said:

“Scotland’s national nature reserves are special places for wildlife. But they are also wonderful spots to visit, enjoy a spectacular view and catch sight of an elusive otter or amazing eagle. Making sure our nature is thriving is also part of the solution to the climate emergency. Our nature reserves are key to ensure we have a nature-rich future in Scotland.”

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