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Category: BRITAIN
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STRATHY POINT

SCOTLAND

SUTHERLAND (Thurso), (w)

National Grid

00o00´/00o00´ N/A ha 0-60m, mainly meadows and rocky coastal cliffs

April to June for breeding seabirds then August & September especially for passage seabirds, but anytime can be productive (27.07.2008)

 

Birding Site Guide

This headland points north from the centre of the north shore of Scotland about 7km (4 miles). From Thurso head west about 20 miles on A836 to about 4 or 5 miles past the turnoff for the A897 (Forsinard and Helmsdale) continue past the turnings for Strathy beach and then turn north when a sign saying Strathy Point is seen. Drive down the road as far as you can to the small car park and park, there are no facilities. Walk from here for 15 minutes to the lighthouse and bird from in front of it. 

There is a Bed & Breakfast place and the Strathy Inn immediately before the turnoff to Strathy point and there is camping and more B&B and hotels at Melvich. There is a shop and petrol station at Melvich and supermarkets (3) at Thurso. 

Our visit was a little too early for large seabird movements, but later in August passage here could be spectacular with thousands of shearwaters, terns, auks, divers and skuas and other seabirds on the move. 


Birds seen here and up to Melvich.


Mammals seen.

White-beaked Dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris (3), Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena and Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus. 


Plants

At Strathy included Scottish Primrose Primula scotica, the best time for which is late May and June, Moss Campion Silene acaulis, Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi and Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula.


Author: BSG

 

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