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Star species

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

Common scoter

Common scoters spend much of their time feeding out at sea, but large numbers congregate here in winter.

Common scoter (illustration)

Eider

Eider ducks nest around the coast at Culbin Sands. While the females are mottled brown, the males in breeding plumage are black and white with green on their heads - you may hear their 'oooOOhh' calls.

Eider (illustration)

Long-tailed duck

Long-tailed ducks gather here among up to 12,000 wildfowl in winter.

Long-tailed ducks (illustration)

Ringed plover

Ringed plovers have a short, orange bill with a black tip, and adult birds have a smart black breast-band. They feed on invertebrates which they find on the surface of the mud.

Ringed plovers (illustration)

Velvet scoter

Keep a sharp eye out for the white wing-flashes of velvet scoters in amongst the winter wildfowl flock.

Velvet scoter (illustration)

Contact us

  • Tel: 01463 715000

Where is it?

  • Lat/lng: 57.595432,-3.841155
  • Grid reference: NH900576
  • Nearest town: Nairn, Highland
  • County: Highland
  • Country: Scotland

Get directions

Note: Some reserves are not served directly by public transport and, in these cases, a nearby destination (from which you may need to walk or take a taxi or ferry) may be offered.

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