Glendoe Lochans

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 57.0945, -4.5939

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Also within

Inverness County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Common scoter (Melanitta nigra), breeding Favourable — 2005-03-31
F2 Slavonian grebe (Podiceps auritus), breeding Favourable — 2005-03-31

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Peatland

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

Lowland wet heath, Upland wet heath

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
Slavonian grebe Breeding

Description

GLENDOE LOCHANS This site consists of a number of small lochans of moderate nutrient status on a plateau at 700m south east of the great Glen and approximately 8 km from Fort Augustus. The lochans vary in size between 2 and 9 hectares. The site supports a nationally important breeding population of Slavonian grebe. The average breeding population over the period 2005 to 2008 within the site was 1.25 pairs which represents 3% of the current British population. The Glendoe Lochans form some of the most successful regular breeding sites in Scotland for Slavonian grebes, even though the site is at the highest altitude in Scotland for these birds. The site currently supports approximately two breeding pairs of common scoter, representing 4% of the British population. It therefore forms a nationally important breeding site for this species. The vegetation surrounding the lochans is a mosaic of wet heath, dry heath, mire and flushes with species-poor wet heath dominant. The lochans support a natural aquatic plant community including extensive sedge beds. These habitats provide nesting and brood-rearing areas for the birds.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
common scoter Melanitta nigra LC (NonBreeding), CR (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus NT (NonBreeding), CR (Breeding) bird-grebe podicipedidae

Plant communities

H3 — Lowland dry heath, Lowland wet heath

Ulex minor-Agrostis curtisii heath

Quercus robur, Calluna vulgaris, Erica ciliaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Ulex europaeus, Ulex minor, Carex pilulifera, Schoenus nigricans, Campylopus brevipilus, Campylopus flexuosus, Leucobryum glaucum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Kurzia spp., Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia crispata, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia uncialis, Cuscuta epithymum, Hypericum pulchrum, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Viola lactea, Agrostis curtisii, Danthonia decumbens, Molinia caerulea, Pteridium aquilinum, Zygogonium ericetorum

H4 — Lowland dry heath, Lowland wet heath, Upland dry heath

Ulex gallii-Agrostis curtisii heath

Salix repens, Calluna vulgaris, Erica ciliaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Erica vagans, Vaccinium myrtillus, Ulex gallii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Carex montana, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus introflexus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum juniperinum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia crispata, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia furcata, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia subcervicornis, Cladonia uncialis, Cuscuta epithymum, Lotus corniculatus, Thymus praecox, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Polygala vulgaris, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola lactea, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Pteridium aquilinum

H5 — Lowland wet heath

Erica vagans-Schoenus nigricans heath

Salix repens, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Erica vagans, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex flacca, Carex hostiana, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus maritimus, Fissidens adianthoides, Kindbergia praelonga, Scorpidium scorpioides, Calypogeia fissa, Riccardia multifida, Angelica sylvestris, Eupatorium cannabinum, Serratula tinctoria, Succisa pratensis, Drosera rotundifolia, Genista anglica, Hypericum pulchrum, Scutellaria minor, Thymus praecox, Pinguicula lusitanica, Linum catharticum, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza maculata, Gymnadenia conopsea, Platanthera bifolia, Pedicularis sylvatica, Plantago maritima, Polygala vulgaris, Anagallis tenella, Potentilla erecta, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis vinealis, Danthonia decumbens, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Phragmites australis, Chara curta

M14 — Lowland dry heath, Upland wet heath

Schoenus nigricans-Narthecium ossifragum mire

Pinus sylvestris, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Ulex gallii, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Rhynchospora alba, Schoenus nigricans, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus bulbosus, Ctenidium molluscum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Kurzia pauciflora, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Aneura pinguis, Riccardia multifida, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Pinguicula lusitanica, Narthecium ossifragum, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Anagallis tenella, Potentilla erecta, Molinia caerulea

M15 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Upland wet heath

Scirpus cespitosus-Erica tetralix wet heath

Empetrum 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