Dunbeath Peatlands
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Breeding bird assemblage | Favourable | — | 2009-07-28 |
| F2 | Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii), breeding | Unfavourable Declining | — | 2010-08-16 |
| F3 | Golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), breeding | Favourable | — | 2010-08-16 |
| F4 | Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), breeding | Favourable | — | 2010-08-16 |
| F5 | Blanket bog | Unfavourable Declining | — | 2009-10-22 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| black-throated diver | Breeding |
| buzzard | Breeding |
| common sandpiper | Breeding |
| curlew | Breeding |
| dunlin | Breeding |
| golden eagle | Breeding |
| golden plover | Breeding |
| greenshank | Breeding |
| hen harrier | Breeding |
| merlin | Breeding |
| red-throated diver | Breeding |
| snipe | Breeding |
| teal | Breeding |
| wigeon | Breeding |
Description
DUNBEATH PEATLANDS Dunbeath Peatlands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is an extensive area of blanket bog in central Caithness, 7km west of Dunbeath. The site is nationally important for its peatland habitats and the assemblage of breeding birds. Of the breeding bird species, dunlin, golden plover and greenshank are nationally important in their own right, given the high densities of these species that breed on this site. Blanket bog Blanket bog covers most of the site which lies between 150m and 300m in altitude. The rounded hill tops, gentle gradients and relatively uniform geology support a peatland with a generally uniform structure and species composition. Valleyside mires (which occur on sloping ground) and watershed mires (found on the flat ground above the slopes) merge into one another, forming an extensive tract of peatland. Saddle mires are also found in the depressions between some of the summits. Deer grass Trichophorum cespitosum, heather Calluna vulgaris and hare’s tail cotton grass Eriophorum vaginatum are the dominant species over much of the area, with variable amounts of cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix and common cotton grass Eriophorum angustifolium. There are extensive carpets of bog moss Sphagnum spp., and in several places, but particularly in the vicinity of pool systems, these include species sensitive to disturbance. The most notable species are Sphagnum fuscum and the nationally scarce S. austinii. In some of the drier areas Cladonia lichens are abundant. The peatland to the east of Loch Braigh na h-Aibhne has widely spaced, fairly large, rounded pools, extensive Sphagnum magellanicum carpets and frequent Sphagnum fuscum hummocks. This area also supports the nationally scarce small cranberry Vaccinium microcarpum. On other parts of the site, the peatland has linear pools separated by wide ridges, supporting distinctive tussocks of hare’s tail cotton grass. Somewhat unusually, this site also has erosion features of particular interest. The slopes of Cnoc na Stoirm Mor to the north west of Loch Mhadadh show evidence of ‘bog-bursts’ where a large peat mass has slid downhill and subsequently revegetated. Breeding bird assemblage This extensive area of moorland with its many lochs, streams, bog pools and mosaic of vegetation types supports a wide range of upland bird species. Notable species include red-throated diver, black-throated diver, arctic skua, hen harrier, common scoter, merlin and golden eagle. Other breeding birds include wigeon, red grouse, raven, teal, buzzard, snipe, curlew, common sandpiper and dipper as well as the waders described below. Dunlin, golden plover and greenshank The site provides suitable habitat for wading birds that breed in upland areas. Greenshank, golden plover and dunlin have all been recorded breeding on this site at densities well above average for the peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland.
Species mentioned
Show the 28 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| raven | Corvus corax | LC (Breeding) | bird-corvid | corvidae |
| dipper | Cinclus cinclus | NT (Breeding) | bird-dipper | cinclidae |
| black-throated diver | Gavia arctica | VU (Breeding) | bird-diver | gaviidae |
| red-throated diver | Gavia stellata | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-diver | gaviidae |
| teal | Anas crecca | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| wigeon | Mareca penelope | LC (NonBreeding), NT (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| common scoter | Melanitta nigra | LC (NonBreeding), CR (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| red grouse | Lagopus lagopus | Not listed in GB list | bird-game | phasianidae |
| golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | NT (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| buzzard | Buteo buteo | LC (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| hen harrier | Circus cyaneus | VU (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| merlin | Falco columbarius | EN (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| arctic skua | Stercorarius parasiticus | CR (Breeding) | bird-skua | stercorariidae |
| snipe | Gallinago gallinago | DD (NonBreeding) | bird-snipe | scolopacidae |
| common sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | VU (Breeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| dunlin | Calidris alpina | EN (NonBreeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| curlew | Numenius arquata | EN (Breeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| golden plover | Pluvialis apricaria | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-wader | charadriidae |
| greenshank | Tringa nebularia | LC (Breeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| rusty bog moss | Sphagnum fuscum | LC | moss | sphagnales |
| Magellanic bog moss | Sphagnum magellanicum | Not listed in GB list | moss | sphagnales |
| bog moss | Sphagnum spp. | Not listed in GB list | moss | sphagnales |
| common cottongrass | Eriophorum angustifolium | NT | sedge | cyperaceae |
| hare's-tail cottongrass | Eriophorum vaginatum | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| deergrass, deer sedge | Trichophorum cespitosum | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| small cranberry | Vaccinium microcarpum | LC | shrub | ericaceae |
| bell heather or ling | Calluna vulgaris | NT | shrub dwarf | ericaceae |
| cross leaved heath | Erica tetralix | NT | shrub dwarf | ericaceae |
Plant communities
M1 — Blanket bog, Raised bog
Sphagnum auriculatum bog pool community
Show 30 indicator speciesErica tetralix, Myrica gale, Carex limosa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora fusca, Trichophorum cespitosum, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus bulbosus, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Scheuchzeria palustris, Molinia caerulea
M2 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire
Sphagnum cuspidatum/recurvum bog pool community
Show 37 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Carex canescens, Carex magellanica, Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Aulacomnium palustre, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum tenellum, Cephalozia connivens, Cephalozia lunulifolia, Gymnocolea inflata, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Agrostis canina, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea
M3 — Blanket bog, Raised bog
Eriophorum angustifolium bog pool community
Show 15 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Erica tetralix, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Campylopus brevipilus, Drepanocladus fluitans, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum papillosum, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera rotundifolia, Agrostis canina, Molinia caerulea
M15 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Upland wet heath
Scirpus cespitosus-Erica tetralix wet heath
Show 95 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex dioica, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophozia ventricosa, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Aneura pinguis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Succisa pratensis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Hypericum pulchrum, Triglochin palustre, Pinguicula vulgaris, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza maculata, Euphrasia officinalis, Pedicularis palustris, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum
M17 — Blanket bog
Scirpus cespitosus-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire
Show 78 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex demissa, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus setifolius, Campylopus shawii, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum imbricatum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum strictum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis canina, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta
M18 — Blanket bog, Raised bog
Erica tetralix-Sphagnum papillosum raised and blanket mire
Show 54 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephalozia connivens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Narthecium ossifragum, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea
M19 — Blanket bog, Raised bog
Calluna vulgaris-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire
Show 84 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Betula nana, Arctostaphylos alpinus, Vaccinium microcarpum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex nigra, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Ptilidium ciliare, Hypogymnia physodes, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Cornus suecica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Neottia cordata, Potentilla erecta, Rubus chamaemorus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant
M20 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire
Eriophorum vaginatum blanket and raised mire
Show 43 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Drepanocladus fluitans, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephaloziella hampeana, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia taylorii, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina
M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland
Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire
Show 85 indicator speciesSalix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis