The North Caithness Cliffs SPA is located on the north coast of Caithness in northern Scotland. The site comprises most of the sea-cliff areas between Red Point and Duncansby Head on the north mainland coast, and the western cliffs on the island of Stroma. The cliffs are formed from Old Red Sandstone and are generally between 30-60 m high, rising to 120 m at Dunnet Head. Cliff ledges, stacks and geos provide ideal nesting sites for important populations of seabirds, especially gulls and auks. The seabirds nesting on the North Caithness Cliffs feed outside the SPA in the surrounding waters of the Pentland Firth, as well as further afield. The cliffs also provide important nesting habitat for Peregrine Falco peregrinus.
This site qualifies under Article 4.1 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European importance of the following species listed on Annex I of the Directive:
Peregrine Falco peregrinus, 6 pairs representing at least 0.5% of the breeding population in Great Britain (Mid-1990s)
This site also qualifies under Article 4.2 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European importance of the following migratory species:
Guillemot Uria aalge, 26,994 pairs representing at least 1.2% of the breeding East Atlantic population (Count as at 1987)
The area qualifies under Article 4.2 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by regularly supporting at least 20,000 seabirds
Note that sites selected for waterbird species on the basis of their occurrence in the breeding, passage or winter periods also provide legal protection for these species when they occur at other times of the year.
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