Loch Urigill

Also within

Sutherland County 29. Rhiddoroch - Beinn Dearg - Ben Wyvis Wild Land Area

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

Rock Type: Limestone

Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Loch Urigill Loch Urigill Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located 2km east of Elphin in northwest Sutherland. The loch is nationally important as an example of a nutrient-poor loch which shows some enrichment and for the range of birds that breed here. The site is internationally important for breeding black-throated diver. Oligo-mesotrophic loch: Loch Urigill has properties of both nutrient-poor and slightly enriched lochs, possibly as a result of the influence from both the surrounding limestone geology and the heath and peatland vegetation. It is unusually rich in plant species with eight species of pondweed having been recorded, including the nationally scarce long-stalked pondweed Potamogeton praelongus. The shallow waters around the edge of the loch, together with some of the open water areas, support a particularly diverse range of plant species. Submerged species, including shore-weed Littorella uniflora, alternate water-milfoil Myriophyllum alterniflorum, floating bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium, awlwort Subularia aquatica and three species of bladderwort Utricularia spp are abundant at this site. Black-throated diver: The islands on Loch Urigill are regularly used as nesting sites by up to two pairs of black-throated diver. These two pairs represent more than 1% of the British breeding population. Breeding bird assemblage: The loch, its islands and margins are also important for the birdlife they support. Waterfowl which breed by the loch include wigeon, tufted duck, mallard and teal. Ringed plover and common sandpiper breed around its margins. The surrounding heath and mires also support a wide range of species, particularly waders, including greenshank, dunlin, redshank, curlew and golden plover.

Species mentioned