Short birdwatching visit · RSPB
Birsay Moors
Evie · KW17 2PL
Birsay Moors offers open-country birdwatching among blanket bog, rough grassland and small lochs on Orkney Mainland. The RSPB manages the moor and its grassy margins for a mixture of upland birds and hunting raptors. Golden Plover, Dunlin and Curlew give the landscape a strong spring and summer character, while Short-eared Owl is another reserve species. This is an exposed outing with broad views; the public road and established visitor facilities offer alternatives to walking over the moor.
Birds and seasons
- Golden Plover — Typically spring and summer
- Dunlin — Typically spring and summer
- Curlew — Typically spring and summer
- Short-eared Owl — Typically year-round
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Public hide provided; follow its wildlife-disturbance signs.
- Paths
- Unsurfaced tracks have slopes and can become particularly muddy between autumn and spring.
- Toilets
- No reserve toilets; facilities are available in Dounby.
- Parking
- Parking is provided at the visitor facilities, with a Blue Badge space at the picnic area.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs close, preferably on a short lead, from 1 April to 15 August.
- Accessibility
- Rough vehicle approaches require care; wheelchair space can be made inside the hide.
Getting there: Arrive via the public road between Evie and Dounby; use the designated parking areas.
Sources
Social preview photograph: Common Starling standing in grass in Oxfordshire. Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted for the preview.
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss, 3.3 miles away in a straight line.