Saxa Vord
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), breeding | Favourable | — | 2016-10-06 |
| F2 | Guillemot (Uria aalge), breeding | Unfavourable Declining | — | 2017-10-19 |
| F3 | Seabird colony, breeding | Favourable | — | 2017-10-19 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| fulmar | Breeding |
| guillemot | Breeding |
Description
Saxa Vord Saxa Vord Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located in the northern most part of Shetland on the island of Unst. The site is located on the coastline to the east of Saxa Vord hill overlooking Burra Firth and extends from Grisa Lee in the south to The Noup in the north. At The Noup the site boundary includes both sides of the headland and extends down the east coast to Ura. The site also contains several skerries which along with the sea cliffs support a wide range of seabirds. The site is notified for its nationally and internationally important breeding fulmar and guillemot populations and for the seabird colony as a whole. The site supports a breeding colony of fulmar and guillemot contributing to 1.2% and 0.4% of the British population respectively.
Species mentioned
Show the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| guillemot | Uria aalge | LC (Breeding) | bird-auk | alcidae |
| fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis | CR (Breeding) | bird-fulmar | procellariidae |