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Black Knowe (Mound)

📷 John Comloquoy · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeHeritage

Dogs welcome

Getting here

59.10191, -3.24754

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦79+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Lapwing and Curlew
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦79+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Lapwing and Curlew
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

5 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Lapwing, Curlew, Greylag Goose +76 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Lapwing, Curlew, Greylag Goose +76 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Strong match

Birds — Lapwing, Curlew, Greylag Goose +76 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Lapwing, Curlew, Greylag Goose +76 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Seasonal nature

Good match

Plants — Ribwort Plantain, Sneezewort, Welsh Poppy +12 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Ribwort Plantain, Sneezewort, Welsh Poppy +12 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Common Blue Damselfly · last seen 2025; Insects — Common Blue Damselfly · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚴

Cycling

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 9Cycling route

Named routeRef EV12International cycle route

Orkney Prehistory Loop RideCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

7,845 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

7,845 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds50 species

autumn

2025

Curlew · Shoveler · Lapwing · Teal · Mallard +45

CurlewNumenius arquata
ShovelerSpatula clypeata
LapwingVanellus vanellus
TealAnas crecca
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
WigeonMareca penelope
GadwallMareca strepera
Greylag GooseAnser anser
SnipeGallinago gallinago
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
Common GullLarus canus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
RuffCalidris pugnax
RedshankTringa totanus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
CootFulica atra
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
RavenCorvus corax
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
Water RailRallus aquaticus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Little StintCalidris minuta
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
WoodcockScolopax rusticola
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Barn OwlTyto alba
MerlinFalco columbarius
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
TwiteLinaria flavirostris
DunlinCalidris alpina
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
EiderSomateria mollissima
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Rock DoveColumba livia
Great SkuaStercorarius skua

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

7,845 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds50 species

autumn

2025

Curlew · Shoveler · Lapwing · Teal · Mallard +45

CurlewNumenius arquata
ShovelerSpatula clypeata
LapwingVanellus vanellus
TealAnas crecca
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
WigeonMareca penelope
GadwallMareca strepera
Greylag GooseAnser anser
SnipeGallinago gallinago
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
Common GullLarus canus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
RuffCalidris pugnax
RedshankTringa totanus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
CootFulica atra
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
RavenCorvus corax
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
Water RailRallus aquaticus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Little StintCalidris minuta
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
WoodcockScolopax rusticola
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Barn OwlTyto alba
MerlinFalco columbarius
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
TwiteLinaria flavirostris
DunlinCalidris alpina
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
EiderSomateria mollissima
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Rock DoveColumba livia
Great SkuaStercorarius skua

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 John Comloquoy · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Westside, Birsay

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Market GreenUrban park3.8 km→🐄The Tattie BoxVisitor farm5 km→✦Knowe of Esgar (burnt mounds Prehistoric)Historic site3.6 km→🌱Kellian BraeUrban park4.8 km→✦H.M.S. "Tern"Historic site3.3 km→✦Barrow (Prehistoric)Historic site3.8 km→

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