Short birdwatching visit · RSPB
Loch Spynie
- Tier
- Good stop nearby
- Best season
- year-round
- Headline birds
- Osprey · Water Rail · Whooper Swan
- Parking
- About six spaces have a hardcore surface; an unmarked Blue Badge space is closer to the hide.
- Hides
- One hide has ramp access and moveable seating.
- Step-free
- The main parking can be muddy; the closer Blue Badge space reduces the approach to about 15 metres. The RSPB currently flags wheelchair access as temporarily closed; contact the reserve before relying on this approach.
Oakenhead · IV30 5PQ
Loch Spynie offers a compact wetland outing near Elgin, with open water, reedbed, wet woodland and fen meadow close together. Water Rail, Osprey and Whooper Swan are the three birds highlighted by the RSPB, giving reasons to visit in different seasons. Two short trails and a lochside hide make it possible to spend time watching without attempting a long circuit. Nearby Scots Pine woodland adds variety, and the reserve also supports Otter and Red Squirrel.
Birds and seasons
- Osprey · Headline bird — Typically spring and summer Source for Osprey
- Water Rail · Headline bird — Typically year-round Source for Water Rail
- Whooper Swan · Headline bird — Typically autumn and winter Source for Whooper Swan
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- One hide has ramp access and moveable seating.
- Paths
- Two short trails are available; the main hide approach is a rough track about 250 metres long.
- Toilets
- No reserve toilets; public facilities are listed in Elgin and Lossiemouth.
- Parking
- About six spaces have a hardcore surface; an unmarked Blue Badge space is closer to the hide.
- Dogs
- Dogs must stay under close control around wildlife and livestock.
- Access notes
- The main parking can be muddy; the closer Blue Badge space reduces the approach to about 15 metres. The RSPB currently flags wheelchair access as temporarily closed; contact the reserve before relying on this approach.
- Step-free access
- The main parking can be muddy; the closer Blue Badge space reduces the approach to about 15 metres. The RSPB currently flags wheelchair access as temporarily closed; contact the reserve before relying on this approach.
Getting there: Use the reserve car park at the end of the farm access track, clear of working buildings.
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.
Nearby special trips
- Nigg Bay · 27.1 straight-line miles
- Udale Bay · 32.9 straight-line miles
- Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve · 34.9 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: Findhorn Bay Local Nature Reserve, 12.5 miles away in a straight line.
- Lossie Estuary · 2.7 miles in a straight line
- Hopeman–Covesea Cliffs · 6.1 miles in a straight line
- Spey Bay and Spey Estuary · 6.8 miles in a straight line