Loch of Skene

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 57.1578, -2.3576

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Aberdeenshire County

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (3) Unfavourable Declining (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Common gull (Larus canus), non-breeding Favourable — 2005-03-31
F2 Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), non-breeding Favourable — 2018-02-05
F3 Greylag goose (Anser anser), non-breeding Unfavourable Declining — 2018-02-05
F4 Pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus), non-breeding Favourable — 2013-03-26

Habitats

Carr, Reedbed

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
common gull Wintering
goldeneye Wintering
greylag goose Wintering
pink-footed goose Wintering

Description

Loch of Skene The Loch of Skene, located about 10 km west of Aberdeen, is a large, shallow loch fringed by reedbed and birch-willow carr. The loch supports important concentrations of wildfowl in autumn and winter. In particular, numbers of greylag goose and pink-footed goose are regularly of international importance. In addition, numbers of common gull are regularly of national or international importance. Numbers of goldeneye in winter, about 1% of the British population, are also of national importance.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
goldeneye Bucephala clangula VU (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
greylag goose Anser anser LC (NonBreeding) bird-goose anatidae
pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus LC (NonBreeding) bird-goose anatidae
common gull Larus canus LC (NonBreeding) bird-gull laridae

Plant communities

S4 — Lowland fen, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Reedbed

Phragmites australis swamp and reed-beds

Salix cinerea, Atriplex portulacoides, Solanum dulcamara, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Carex acuta, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex otrubae, Carex panicea, Carex pseudocyperus, Carex riparia, Carex rostrata, Cladium mariscus, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus effusus, Juncus gerardii, Juncus maritimus, Juncus subnodulosus, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Leptodictyum riparium, Sphagnum fallax, Suaeda maritima, Angelica sylvestris, Apium graveolens, Berula erecta, Cicuta virosa, Oenanthe crocata, Oenanthe fistulosa, Oenanthe lachenalii, Sium latifolium, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Myosotis laxa, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Atriplex hastata, Atriplex littoralis, Salicornia dolichostachya, Calystegia sepium, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Iris pseudacorus, Triglochin maritimum, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lemna minor, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Lythrum salicaria, Menyanthes trifoliata, Nymphaea alba, Epilobium hirsutum, Callitriche stagnalis, Hippuris vulgaris, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Rumex crispus, Rumex hydrolapathum, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Glaux maritima, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus lingua, Ranunculus sceleratus, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia atherica, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria maxima, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Puccinellia maritima, Typha angustifolia, Typha latifolia, Chara subspinosa

S25 — Lowland fen, Reedbed

Phragmites australis-Eupatorium cannabinum tall-herb fen

Salix cinerea, Alnus glutinosa, Myrica gale, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acuta, Carex elata, Carex paniculata, Carex riparia, Cladium mariscus, Juncus subnodulosus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Angelica sylvestris, Berula erecta, Oenanthe lachenalii, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Myosotis scorpioides, Valeriana dioica, Valeriana officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Calystegia sepium, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Vicia cracca, Iris pseudacorus, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lythrum salicaria, Menyanthes trifoliata, Epilobium hirsutum, Pedicularis palustris, Rumex crispus, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Scrophularia auriculata, Scutellaria galericulata, Urtica dioica, Arrhenatherum elatius, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Thelypteris palustris, Athyrium filix-femina, Typha angustifolia

S26 — Lowland fen, Reedbed

Phragmites australis-Urtica dioica tall-herb fen

Solanum dulcamara, Carex acuta, Carex otrubae, Carex riparia, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Sparganium erectum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Apium nodiflorum, Heracleum sphondylium, Oenanthe crocata, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Sonchus arvensis, Myosotis scorpioides, Valeriana officinalis, Silene dioica, Silene flos-cuculi, Calystegia sepium, Dipsacus fullonum, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Vicia cracca, Iris pseudacorus, Glechoma hederacea, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Stachys palustris, Lythrum salicaria, Epilobium hirsutum, Rumex crispus, Rumex hydrolapathum, Lysimachia vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Scutellaria galericulata, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Glyceria maxima, Holcus lanatus, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Typha latifolia