Laughenghie and Airie Hills
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Breeding bird assemblage | Favourable | — | 2011-04-28 |
| F2 | Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), non-breeding | Favourable | — | 2018-05-02 |
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Karst
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| curlew | Breeding |
| curlew | Wintering |
| golden plover | Breeding |
| golden plover | Wintering |
| goldeneye | Breeding |
| goldeneye | Wintering |
| goosander | Breeding |
| goosander | Wintering |
| greylag goose | Breeding |
| greylag goose | Wintering |
| hen harrier | Breeding |
| hen harrier | Wintering |
| osprey | Breeding |
| osprey | Wintering |
| teal | Breeding |
| teal | Wintering |
Description
LAUGHENGHIE AND AIRIE HILLS Laughenghie and Airie Hills Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) lies approximately 5km due north of Gatehouse of Fleet on an extensive open upland area rising to over 300m. This site is the best remaining area of unplanted moorland in Stewartry District for breeding bird species. Together, several birds of prey species including osprey, waterfowl such as teal, goosander, goldeneye and non-feral greylag goose, golden plover and curlew and a wide range of other moorland species including raven, form part of the breeding bird assemblage feature. It is also an important wintering site for hen harrier in south Scotland. The vegetation consists of a mosaic of wet heathland and acidic grassland communities dominated by heather and purple moor grass. Two oligotrophic lochs and a stretch of the River Dee are included in the site for their ornithological interest. They support breeding teal and goosander and are also used during the winter months by white-fronted geese. The islands in Loch Skerrow support deciduous woodland dominated by birch and rowan. Additionally the site has a diverse butterfly fauna.
Species mentioned
Show the 9 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 |
| teal | Anas crecca | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | VU (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| goosander | Mergus merganser | LC (NonBreeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| greylag goose | Anser anser | LC (NonBreeding) | bird-goose | anatidae |
| hen harrier | Circus cyaneus | VU (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| osprey | Pandion haliaetus | NT (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| curlew | Numenius arquata | EN (Breeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| golden plover | Pluvialis apricaria | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-wader | charadriidae |
Plant communities
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea
M22 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture
Juncus subnodulosus-Cirsium palustre fen-meadow
Show 115 indicator speciesSalix cinerea, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acutiformis, Carex disticha, Carex elata, Carex flacca, Carex hirta, Carex lepidocarpa, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex rostrata, Cladium mariscus, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eleocharis palustris, Eleocharis uniglumis, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula multiflora, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium rostratum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Cratoneuron filicinum, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Lophocolea bidentata, Angelica sylvestris, Berula erecta, Oenanthe lachenalii, Thyselium palustre, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium dissectum, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Myosotis laxa, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Valeriana officinalis, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Stellaria palustris, Calystegia sepium, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Hypericum tetrapterum, Iris pseudacorus, Triglochin palustre, Ajuga reptans, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lemna minor, Lythrum salicaria, Menyanthes trifoliata, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium palustre, Epilobium parviflorum, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza praetermissa, Epipactis palustris, Pedicularis palustris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex sanguineus, Lysimachia vulgaris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Scrophularia auriculata, Scutellaria galericulata, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Calamagrostis canescens, Cynosurus cristatus, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phalaris arundinacea, Phleum pratense, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Thelypteris palustris
M23 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland rush pasture
Juncus effusus/acutiflorus-Galium palustre rush-pasture
Show 81 indicator speciesCarex demissa, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Brachythecium rivulare, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergon cordifolium, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Calypogeia fissa, Lophocolea bidentata, Pellia epiphylla, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis laxa, Myosotis secunda, Cardamine flexuosa, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Stellaria alsine, Stellaria graminea, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium repens, Iris pseudacorus, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Lythrum salicaria, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium obscurum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica scutellata, Polygonum hydropiper, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Cynosurus cristatus, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Dryopteris expansa, Athyrium filix-femina
M24 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture
Molinia caerulea-Cirsium dissectum fen-meadow
Show 89 indicator speciesSalix cinerea, Salix repens, Alnus glutinosa, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Carex hostiana, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Cladium mariscus, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum subnitens, Angelica sylvestris, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium dissectum, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Leontodon saxatilis, Pulicaria dysenterica, Senecio aquaticus, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Drosera rotundifolia, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Vicia cracca, Hypericum tetrapterum, Hypericum undulatum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Linum catharticum, Lythrum salicaria, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza maculata, Epipactis palustris, Gymnadenia conopsea, Pedicularis sylvatica, Plantago lanceolata, Polygala vulgaris, Rumex acetosa, Anagallis tenella, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Galium verum, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Briza media, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phragmites australis
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
M26 — Limestone pavement, Purple moor grass and rush pasture
Molinia caerulea-Crepis paludosa mire
Show 63 indicator speciesCarex appropinquata, Carex disticha, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex hostiana, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus conglomeratus, Aulacomnium palustre, Plagiomnium undulatum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Campylium elodes, Climacium dendroides, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Serratula tinctoria, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium repens, Menyanthes trifoliata, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex acetosa, Primula farinosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus auricomus, Trollius europaeus, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla erecta, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Briza media, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phragmites australis