Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve

Montrose, on the North East coast of Scotland, is notable for its tidal basin. The area around Montrose, the Montrose Basin, is a bird watchers' utopia, packed with the some of the best views of wading birds you'll find in Scotland during the winter months. The Basin is a site of international importance for visiting and resident birds. As well as being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the reserve is a designated Local Nature Reserve (LNR) giving greater recognition and protection to its wildlife.

The Montrose Basin nature reserve, which is run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, is the enclosed estuary of the South Esk. The Basin covers 750 hectares and is a mixture of reed bed and salt marsh. .The reason that birds are attracted to this habitat is its thick, glutinous mud which is rich in food and nutrients. Birds are attracted to this habitat for its glorious, glutinous mud which is rich in food and nutrients.

Winter is a particularly good time to see the birds on the mud flats, especially Pink Footed Geese from Iceland and Greenland. The birds arrive in October and November and, if you're lucky, you'll see up to 35,000 of them roosting out on the mud flats and then flying in to feed on the surrounding fields.

Winter is also the best time to see the wintering wildfowl that use the reserve including the Eider Duck, one of the fastest flyers on the planet. It's common for there to be about 1,700-2,000 Eiders including 400-500 breeding pairs.

Also look out for other birds feeding in the mud including Black Tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, and Redshanks. Despite its name the Oystercatcher is mainly looking for cockles at Montrose Basin - this bird can consume one every 72 seconds, that's about 500 a day. The birds winkle the cockles out of the mud after locating them with their highly sensitive beaks. Nearly 200 species have been recorded on the reserve with other birds including Shelduck, Wigeon and Knot. Also watch out for Common Seals, lounging on the land bar, when the tide is out.

Key Attraction

Bird watching, sailing, fishing. Wildlife Centre. Special events - walks, children's activities.

Essentials

Walking boots for mud safaris. Binoculars for bird watching. For bird watchers, there is a regular mud safari via the Wildlife Trust. Arrive early to get the best out of the birding - that's when the birds arrive to feed on the mud.

Wildfowling

As part of the management of the LNR, some wildfowling is allowed on Montrose Basin. Shooting occurs around dawn and dusk from 1st September until 20th February (not Sundays). There is a permit system in place. Rangers are responsible for monitoring the shooting to ensure it is legal and sustainable. The eastern end of the reserve is an area where birds are able to roost undisturbed.

The Nature Reserve

There is a variety of different zones on the Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve ranging from the mud, fresh water, sea water, brackish water, saltmarsh, reedbed, unimproved grassland and arable land. The Reserve is particularly noted for the birds that breed, feed and roost there, but it is also notable for its plant life (both in and out of the water). Being a Local Nature Reserve, it is also important for the leisure activities it supports that co-exist with the wildlife - birdwatching, sailing, fishing, wildfowling and bait digging.

With first class facilities in the Visitor Centre and year-round interest, the Basin is worth a visit anytime.

Children's Activities

There are plenty of activities for children in the Visitor Centre. The woodland and seashore corner contains puzzles and drawing activities together with wildlife costumes. Quizzes that take little ones around the displays in the Centre are available from Reception.

More structured activities, led by the Teacher/Naturalist staff, are available on the events programme as well as privately booked groups which can be outside normal opening times.