Commissioned Report 252 - Scottish Natural Heritage

BEAULY FIRTH
Lentran.
This is the largest roost in the Beauly Firth on a large area of saltmarsh. The main
roost lies between NH57327 46053 and NH57454 45921 (site A on Fig 24). It is
bounded on either side by deep channels. Birds also roost in the area between
NH56659 46861 and NH566840 468526 (site B on Fig 24). Note as a result of
accretion the saltmarsh has increased in size since Figure 24 was produced.
Figure 24. Lentran Roosts.
Based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of
the controller of HMSO © Crown copyright (1996) Licence no. 100017908
Access to this area is not easy. There are no obvious tracks and the railway forms a
boundary on the southern side. As a result of this roosting birds are relatively
undisturbed.
Table 38. Changes in wildfowl and wader numbers at Lentran.
WN T. MA PT OC RP L. KN DN BA CU RK
Pre 1995 6 2 4 3 4 1 3 3 6 4 4 1
Post 1994 6 4 4 4 4 1 4 3 5 3 4 4
Common teal, northern pintail, northern lapwing and common redshank have
increased in numbers in recent years (Table 38) whereas dunlin and bar-tailed
godwit have declined.
Bunchrew
This bay lying between Bunchrew caravan park and Phopachy contains two roost
sites. During periods of westerly winds the birds tend to roost on the small saltmarsh
point on the west side of the bay at NH61131 45882 often spreading out to the north
west (site A on Fig 25). During periods of southerly or easterly winds the birds prefer
the stony beach at NH61589 45965 (B on Fig. 25).
Figure 25. Bunchrew roosts.
A
B
B
A
Based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of
the controller of HMSO © Crown copyright (1996) Licence no. 100017908
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