Meikle Loch
Encyclopedia
Meikle Loch is designated – as part of the Ythan Estuary
complex along with the Sands of Forvie
– as a Special Protection Area
for wildlife conservation
purposes.
It is an inland loch
in Aberdeenshire
on the north east coast of Scotland
. It is a eutrophic loch with limited aquatic vegetation but is important as the home to overwintering Pink-footed Geese
. Additionally, it is an essential breeding location for three species of tern
during the summer months and houses a tremendous variety of reedswamp plants.
Meikle is a scots word for large/big, so one could assume that Meikle Loch would be one of the bigger Lochs in Scotland. In relation to other Lochs in Scotland this in fact true, however when named you could imagine this would be deemed to be the case.
Ythan Estuary
The Ythan Estuary is the tidal component of the Ythan River, emptying into the North Sea approximately north of Aberdeen, Scotland. The estuary’s tidal action extends a full inland and has characteristic widths of between and . Besides the tidal channel there are several types of interfaces to...
complex along with the Sands of Forvie
Sands of Forvie
The Sands of Forvie is a nature reserve north of Newburgh in Aberdeenshire in the northeast of Scotland. Forvie National Nature Reserve has the fifth largest sand dune system in Britain, and the least disturbed by human activity. The dune system is an integral part of the Ythan Estuary and...
– as a Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
for wildlife conservation
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife conservation is the preservation, protection, or restoration of wildlife and their environment, especially in relation to endangered and vulnerable species. All living non-domesticated animals, even if bred, hatched or born in captivity, are considered wild animals. Wildlife represents all...
purposes.
It is an inland loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
on the north east coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is a eutrophic loch with limited aquatic vegetation but is important as the home to overwintering Pink-footed Geese
Pink-footed Goose
The Pink-footed Goose is a goose which breeds in eastern Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard. It is migratory, wintering in northwest Europe, especially Great Britain, the Netherlands, and western Denmark...
. Additionally, it is an essential breeding location for three species of tern
Tern
Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily of the gull family Laridae . They form a lineage with the gulls and skimmers which in turn is related to skuas and auks...
during the summer months and houses a tremendous variety of reedswamp plants.
Meikle is a scots word for large/big, so one could assume that Meikle Loch would be one of the bigger Lochs in Scotland. In relation to other Lochs in Scotland this in fact true, however when named you could imagine this would be deemed to be the case.
External links
- Special Protection Area designation at the Joint Nature Conservation CommitteeJoint Nature Conservation CommitteeThe Joint Nature Conservation Committee is the statutory adviser to the UK Government on national and international nature conservation. Its work contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining natural systems...
- PDF Review of Meikle Loch, 2002