East Sanday Coast Explained

East Sanday Coast
Location:Orkney, Scotland
Coordinates:59.2667°N -2.5167°W
Area Km2:15.15
Area Ref:[1]
Established:1997
Governing Body:Joint Nature Conservation Committee

The East Sanday Coast is a protected wetland area on and around the island of Sanday, the third-largest of the Orkney islands off the north coast of Scotland. With a total protected area of 1,515 hectares, the 55 kilometre stretch of coast includes rocky and sandy sections, sand dunes, machair habitats, intertidal flats, and saltmarsh. It has been protected as a Ramsar Site since 1997.[1]

The area supports a large number of over-wintering waders and waterbirds, including internationally important populations of purple sandpiper and ruddy turnstone. It is also important for breeding populations of great black-backed gulls and common seals.[2]

As well as the East Sanday Coast being recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,[1] the whole of the island of Sanday has been designated a Special Area of Conservation.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: East Sanday Coast. Ramsar Sites Information Service. 18 February 2019.
  2. Web site: East Sanday Coast 13013 RIS 2005. Ramsar Sites Information Service. 18 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Sanday - Special Area of Conservation - SAC - Habitats Directive. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 18 February 2019.