Forvie National Nature Reserve

08/09/2026

Always nice to see the first aurora display of the autumn. Not a big one but there's no day -or indeed night - that can't be improved by a visit from the merrie dancers.

07/09/2026

Our friends at Newburgh and Ythan Community Trust have been nominated for a Nature of Scotland award for their 'Heads up for Seals' project. It's a massive help to us on the reserve here and has helped reduce seal disturbance by providing a top-quality viewing area. If you want to vote for them, follow the link in the shared post!

On Wednesday evening our chairperson, Isobel Davidson and Secretary Ron Macdonald, attended the RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards 2026 shortlisting ceremony at the Scottish Parliament. Voting has now opened for all the category awards. We are one of 5 projects in the Community Initiative category with the winner decided by public vote.

The window for voting is quite tight, from 3 - 24 September so please vote as soon as you can! We would be grateful if you would vote for our 'Heads Up for Seals' project which has improved seal viewing facilities on the southern shore and by so doing significantly reduced visitor disturbance at the seal-haul out on the northern bank of the Ythan estuary.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/nature-of-scotland-awards/community-initiative-award

06/09/2026

Get your wellies on for this week's blog, folks - we're taking a trip down to the Ythan Estuary. (And if you haven't got any wellies, you'll just have to roll your trousers up.)

We’re undeniably fortunate here at Forvie to be blessed with a richly diverse landscape. Far from being one-dimensional, our beloved Reserve is composed of several distinct zones of habitat, …

05/09/2026

Hi folks! Our weekend wardens are on site all weekend. If you see them, please feel free to ask any questions.

The estuary is busy with wading birds at this time of year. We advise keeping dogs on the lead or close to heel to avoid disturbance to wildlife. Thank you!

The Forvie Team

04/09/2026

It's definitely feeling like autumn out there. The willows on the heath are shedding some of their leaves already and we're noticing all the shadows are lengthening. Some of the corners of Hackley Bay are staying in shadow much earlier or later in the day now.

03/09/2026

Did you know that virtually all birds produce pellets? Their digestive systems are set up so anything indigestible will come back up, rather than out the back end. Even songbirds will do this (I've just watched a blackbird cough up what I think are rowan seeds). But you only usually see pellets from larger birds, like this crow pellet which is full of grit and seashell and insect carapace.

01/09/2026

At high tide, the egrets can sometimes be seen roosting on the Snub or Inch Geck. At least two of these birds are 'our' fledglings from this year, recognisable by (if you zoom in) their pale grey legs - adult birds have black legs and yellow feet.

30/08/2026

Today's Forvie blog celebrates the fact that in any given week, you never quite know what wildlife will come your way. And this week was a total case in point - read on to discover more!

There are many brilliant things about being interested in the natural world. But to my mind at least, one of the most brilliant aspects of all is the limitless scope for learning and discovering ne…

29/08/2026

Hi folks! Our weekend warden is on site this weekend, if you see them, please feel free to ask any questions.

It feels like change is in the air, but there is still a lot to see out on the reserve. Striking mounds of purple heather brighten the dune heath and you may spot migrating birds taking a break from their journey in the shelter of the leafy willow scrub.

A polite reminder to help us reduce disturbance to wildlife by watching from a distance and keeping dogs under control.

Thank you! The Forvie Team.

28/08/2026

Feeling icky. Or, rather iccy. The easterlies and rain have dropped a 'fall' of birds on the reserve, including this rare icterine warbler, colloquially know an as an 'iccy'. The name means 'jaundiced' as they are a bonny yellow down the front.