Torry Bay Local Nature Reserve
Torry Bay was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 1996. It was created to conserve and manage the habitats and wildlife of Torry Bay and to promote environmental education.
Torry Bay is a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and part of the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA). The reserve is one of the largest intertidal areas in the Upper Forth and holds waterfowl in nationally significant numbers.
Intertidal mudflats are an important estuarine habitat for birds and thousands are attracted to the reserve every year. The apparent barrenness of the shore is deceiving. It has been estimated that one square metre of mud may contain up to 60,000 Laver Spire Snails or thousands of Ragworms. These invertebrates provide essential food for the birds that overwinter at Torry Bay. In the winter you can see large numbers of Great Crested Grebe, Shelduck, Wigeon, Curlew, Redshank and Dunlin. Others like Sandwich Tern, Ringed Plover, Ruff and Greenshank occur on migration during the Autumn.
Washed up on the beach, you can also find Cockles, Mussels, Periwinkles and Tellins. Rockpools often contain Butterfish, Gobies, Sea Anemones, Shore Crabs and Shrimps.
Pockets of Saltmarsh contain colourful flowers such as Sea Aster, Thrift and Scurvy Grass. One plant that grows in the soft mud is the uncommon Eelgrass, an important food source for the Wigeon.