Castle Semple and Barr Lochs

Also within

Ayrshire and Arran CountyRenfrewshire County

Condition (NatureScot)

Habitats

Carr

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

CASTLE SEMPLE AND BARR LOCHS Barr Loch and Castle Semple Loch lie immediately adjacent to Lochwinnoch -to the south and east of the village respectively. These water bodies form one of only two semi-natural eutrophic loch systems in west central Scotland and together with their surrounding habitats they support an important wetland breeding bird assemblage. The eutrophic lochs support extensive aquatic and semi-aquatic plant communities dominated by water sedge Carex aquatilis, reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea, water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile and tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa. Wetland communities also extend into Aird Meadow where a number of uncommon plant species occur including the Nationally Scarce tufted loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora and the threatened lesser butterfly orchid Platanthera bifolia. The Nationally Scarce eight-stamened waterwort Elatine hydropiper occurs in both lochs. The lochs are separated by the marshland vegetation of Aird Meadow and are surrounded by a number of fringing woodland and willow carr areas – all of which provide nesting habitat for a wide range of breeding bird species including great-crested grebe, teal, shoveler, tufted duck and water rail.

Species mentioned