East Sanday Coast facts for kids

The East Sanday Coast is a special protected area in Scotland. It's found around the island of Sanday. Sanday is one of the beautiful Orkney islands. This coastal area is a very important wetland. It helps protect many different types of wildlife.

Discover the East Sanday Coast

The East Sanday Coast covers a large area. It stretches for about 55 kilometers (34 miles). This protected zone includes 1,515 hectares (about 3,743 acres) of land and sea. That's a huge space! It became a protected area in 1997.

What Makes This Place Special?

The coast here is a mix of different natural habitats. You can find rocky shores and wide sandy beaches. There are also sand dunes, which are hills made of sand. Another special habitat is called machair. This is a unique type of grassy plain. It grows on sandy soil. The area also has intertidal flats. These are muddy or sandy areas. They are covered by the sea at high tide. They are exposed when the tide is low. Saltmarshes are also part of this amazing place. These are coastal wetlands. They are flooded by salty water.

Amazing Wildlife

The East Sanday Coast is a vital home for many animals. It's especially important for birds. Lots of different wading birds and waterbirds spend the winter here. They come from far away places.

• Purple Sandpipers: These small birds have dark feathers. They are often seen on rocky shores. They search for food among the seaweed.
• Ruddy Turnstones: These birds are known for their colorful feathers. They use their beaks to "turn over" stones. They do this to find insects and other food.

The coast is also a breeding ground for other animals.

• Great Black-backed Gulls: These are very large gulls. They have dark backs and powerful beaks. They often nest in colonies.
• Common Seals: These marine mammals are also called harbor seals. They can be seen resting on the rocks or swimming in the water. They are very curious animals.

Why is it Protected?

The East Sanday Coast is recognized internationally. It's listed as a wetland of international importance. This means it's super important for nature. This protection comes from the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention is an international agreement. It helps protect wetlands around the world.

The entire island of Sanday has even more protection. It is a Special Area of Conservation. This shows how valuable the natural environment here is. Protecting these areas helps keep the animals safe. It also protects their homes for the future.