Meikle Loch and Kippet Hills

Also within

Aberdeenshire County

Condition (NatureScot)

Climate exposure

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

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Erratic, Esker · Geological Period: Quaternary

Landscape processes: Coastal, Glacial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Meikle Loch and Kippet Hills Meikle Loch and Kippet Hills are located 7 km to the east of Ellon. Geology Kippet Hills is a site of longstanding interest for studies of Quaternary geomorphology and stratigraphy in north-east Scotland. It demonstrates a representative suite of landforms and deposits of sand and gravel associated with the so-called ‘red drift’ which was laid down by the last ice sheet as it moved northwards along the coast from Strathmore. The fine assemblage of features comprises a 3km long esker ridge and other ice-contact glaciofluvial landforms, including the impressive kettlehole occupied by Meikle Loch. The erratic (exotic) stones and marine shells contained in the deposits indicate that much of the material was derived from offshore. Kippet Hills is therefore a key site demonstrating the onshore direction of movement of the last ice sheet and the pattern of deglaciation in the coastal lowlands north of Aberdeen. Biology Meikle Loch is a small eutrophic loch with little aquatic vegetation. It lies in an area of intensive farming and is one of the major roosts for the large numbers of greylag and pinkfooted geese which occur in the Grampian lowlands from autumn to spring. Between 15 and 20% of the NW European population of pinkfooted geese and up to 10% of the greylag population use the loch regularly and the loch is consequently of European and international importance for these species. Other wildfowl occur in smaller numbers on passage and in winter, including teal, pochard, wigeon and tufted duck. Common tern Sterna hirundo, breeding Little tern Sternula albifrons, breeding Sandwich tern Thalasseus sandvicensis, breeding Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus, non-breeding* Waterfowl assemblage, non-breeding Eider Somateria mollissima, non-breeding Redshank Tringa totanus, non-breeding Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, non-breeding

Species mentioned