East Sanday Coast

The East Sanday Coast is a protected wetland area on and around the island of Sanday, the third-largest of the Orkney islands off the north coast of Scotland. With a total protected area of 1,515 hectares, the 55 kilometre stretch of coast includes rocky and sandy sections, sand dunes, machair habitats, intertidal flats, and saltmarsh. It has been protected as a Ramsar Site since 1997.[1]

East Sanday Coast
LocationOrkney, Scotland
Coordinates59.266667°N 2.516667°W / 59.266667; -2.516667
Area15.15 km2 (5.85 sq mi)[1]
Established1997
Governing bodyJoint Nature Conservation Committee

The area supports a large number of over-wintering waders and waterbirds, including internationally important populations of purple sandpiper and ruddy turnstone. It is also important for breeding populations of great black-backed gulls and common seals.[2]

As well as the East Sanday Coast being recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,[1] the whole of the island of Sanday has been designated a Special Area of Conservation.[3]

References
  1. "East Sanday Coast". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  2. "East Sanday Coast 13013 RIS 2005" (PDF). Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  3. "Sanday - Special Area of Conservation - SAC - Habitats Directive". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
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