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Mercat Cross

📷 Bill Harrison · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeSeasonal

Dogs welcome

Getting here

57.69367, -2.00515

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦111+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Shag and Herring Gull
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
☕Symposium Coffee House — a good base for a longer summer day out

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦111+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Shag and Herring Gull
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
☕Symposium Coffee House — a good base for a longer summer day out

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

CaféParking· Paid

Best for

6 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Shag, Herring Gull, Gannet +108 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Shag, Herring Gull, Gannet +108 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Daisy, White Clover, Cochlearia officinalis +29 more · last seen 2023; Plants — Daisy, White Clover, Cochlearia officinalis +29 more · last seen 2023

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Smoky-winged Woodlouse-fly, Merchant Grain Beetle, Mesopsocus +11 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Smoky-winged Woodlouse-fly, Merchant Grain Beetle, Mesopsocus +11 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Good match

Plants — Hogweed, Common Nettle, Common Sorrel +1 more foraging species

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Formartine and Buchan WayWalking route86 km

Dyce to Fraserburgh with branch to Peterhead

Named routeLength 86 kmNational walking route

🚴

Cycling

1 signed route nearby

Route 194Cycling route

Named routeRef 194National Cycle Network

Wildlife to spot

8,953 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

8,953 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds114 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2025

Shag · Herring Gull · Gannet · Great Skua · Whimbrel +109

ShagGulosus aristotelis
Herring GullLarus argentatus
GannetMorus bassanus
Great SkuaStercorarius skua
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Common GuillemotUria aalge
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus
EiderSomateria mollissima
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
Great Northern DiverGavia immer
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
RazorbillAlca torda
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna grisea
Little AukAlle alle
RedshankTringa totanus
Ross's GullRhodostethia rosea2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
PuffinFratercula arctica
Rock DoveColumba livia
CurlewNumenius arquata
Common GullLarus canus
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
FulmarFulmarus glacialis
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
House SparrowPasser domesticus
RedwingTurdus iliacus
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus2024
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
Storm PetrelHydrobates pelagicus
SwallowHirundo rustica
WigeonMareca penelope
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
House MartinDelichon urbicum
JackdawColoeus monedula
TealAnas crecca
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Larus argentatus argentatusLarus argentatus argentatus
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2024
BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Common TernSterna hirundo
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
GoosanderMergus merganser
DunlinCalidris alpina
LapwingVanellus vanellus
BuzzardButeo buteo
RobinErithacus rubecula
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudus2024
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
PintailAnas acuta
Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
Black ScoterMelanitta americana
Brent GooseBranta bernicla
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa
SwiftApus apus
MagpiePica pica
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
SanderlingCalidris alba
Great White EgretArdea alba
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Slavonian GrebePodiceps auritus
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2024
RookCorvus frugilegus2024
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2024
Sabine's GullXema sabini2024
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2024
OspreyPandion haliaetus2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
SnipeGallinago gallinago2024
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2024
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
RuffCalidris pugnax2024
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2023
KnotCalidris canutus2023
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2023
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
RavenCorvus corax2023

🦌

Mammals10 species

springsummerautumn

2025

Common Porpoise · Minke Whale · Risso's Dolphin · Grey Seal · Killer Whale +5

Common PorpoisePhocoena phocoena
Minke WhaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata
Risso's DolphinGrampus griseus
Grey SealHalichoerus grypus
Killer WhaleOrcinus orca
Bottle-nosed DolphinTursiops truncatus
Pine MartenMartes martes
DelphinidaeDelphinidae2024
Humpback WhaleMegaptera novaeangliae2024
SealsPinnipedia2023

🐝

Insects14 species

summer

2025

Smoky-winged Woodlouse-fly · Merchant Grain Beetle · Mesopsocus · Liorhyssus hyalinus · Coelopa frigida +9

Smoky-winged Woodlouse-flyMelanophora roralis2023
Merchant Grain BeetleOryzaephilus mercator
MesopsocusMesopsocus
Liorhyssus hyalinusLiorhyssus hyalinus
Coelopa frigidaCoelopa frigida2024
Eupteryx aurataEupteryx aurata2024
Syritta pipiensSyritta pipiens2024
Eristalis intricariaEristalis intricaria2024
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus2024
Trichopsocus brinckiTrichopsocus brincki2024
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2023
Mesopsocus immunisMesopsocus immunis2023
Cartodere constrictaCartodere constricta2023
Adistemia watsoniAdistemia watsoni2023

🌿

Plants32 species

spring

2023

Cochlearia officinalis · White Clover · Daisy · Thrift · Scentless Mayweed +27

Cochlearia officinalisCochlearia officinalis
White CloverTrifolium repens
DaisyBellis perennis
ThriftArmeria maritima
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum
CleaversGalium aparine
Taraxacum agg.Taraxacum agg.
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
GorseUlex europaeus
MontbretiaCrocosmia aurea x pottsii = C. x crocosmiiflora
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
SilverweedPotentilla anserina
Curled DockRumex crispus
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Sea PlantainPlantago maritima
Buck's-horn PlantainPlantago coronopus
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartiana
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
Lyme-grassLeymus arenarius
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper
Sea CampionSilene uniflora
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

8,953 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds114 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2025

Shag · Herring Gull · Gannet · Great Skua · Whimbrel +109

ShagGulosus aristotelis
Herring GullLarus argentatus
GannetMorus bassanus
Great SkuaStercorarius skua
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Common GuillemotUria aalge
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus
EiderSomateria mollissima
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
Great Northern DiverGavia immer
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
RazorbillAlca torda
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna grisea
Little AukAlle alle
RedshankTringa totanus
Ross's GullRhodostethia rosea2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
PuffinFratercula arctica
Rock DoveColumba livia
CurlewNumenius arquata
Common GullLarus canus
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
FulmarFulmarus glacialis
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
House SparrowPasser domesticus
RedwingTurdus iliacus
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus2024
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
Storm PetrelHydrobates pelagicus
SwallowHirundo rustica
WigeonMareca penelope
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
House MartinDelichon urbicum
JackdawColoeus monedula
TealAnas crecca
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Larus argentatus argentatusLarus argentatus argentatus
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2024
BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Common TernSterna hirundo
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
GoosanderMergus merganser
DunlinCalidris alpina
LapwingVanellus vanellus
BuzzardButeo buteo
RobinErithacus rubecula
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudus2024
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
PintailAnas acuta
Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
Black ScoterMelanitta americana
Brent GooseBranta bernicla
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa
SwiftApus apus
MagpiePica pica
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
SanderlingCalidris alba
Great White EgretArdea alba
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Slavonian GrebePodiceps auritus
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2024
RookCorvus frugilegus2024
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2024
Sabine's GullXema sabini2024
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2024
OspreyPandion haliaetus2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
SnipeGallinago gallinago2024
Hooded CrowCorvus cornix2024
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
RuffCalidris pugnax2024
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2023
KnotCalidris canutus2023
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2023
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
RavenCorvus corax2023

🦌

Mammals10 species

springsummerautumn

2025

Common Porpoise · Minke Whale · Risso's Dolphin · Grey Seal · Killer Whale +5

Common PorpoisePhocoena phocoena
Minke WhaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata
Risso's DolphinGrampus griseus
Grey SealHalichoerus grypus
Killer WhaleOrcinus orca
Bottle-nosed DolphinTursiops truncatus
Pine MartenMartes martes
DelphinidaeDelphinidae2024
Humpback WhaleMegaptera novaeangliae2024
SealsPinnipedia2023

🐝

Insects14 species

summer

2025

Smoky-winged Woodlouse-fly · Merchant Grain Beetle · Mesopsocus · Liorhyssus hyalinus · Coelopa frigida +9

Smoky-winged Woodlouse-flyMelanophora roralis2023
Merchant Grain BeetleOryzaephilus mercator
MesopsocusMesopsocus
Liorhyssus hyalinusLiorhyssus hyalinus
Coelopa frigidaCoelopa frigida2024
Eupteryx aurataEupteryx aurata2024
Syritta pipiensSyritta pipiens2024
Eristalis intricariaEristalis intricaria2024
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus2024
Trichopsocus brinckiTrichopsocus brincki2024
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2023
Mesopsocus immunisMesopsocus immunis2023
Cartodere constrictaCartodere constricta2023
Adistemia watsoniAdistemia watsoni2023

🌿

Plants32 species

spring

2023

Cochlearia officinalis · White Clover · Daisy · Thrift · Scentless Mayweed +27

Cochlearia officinalisCochlearia officinalis
White CloverTrifolium repens
DaisyBellis perennis
ThriftArmeria maritima
Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum
CleaversGalium aparine
Taraxacum agg.Taraxacum agg.
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
GorseUlex europaeus
MontbretiaCrocosmia aurea x pottsii = C. x crocosmiiflora
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
SilverweedPotentilla anserina
Curled DockRumex crispus
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Sea PlantainPlantago maritima
Buck's-horn PlantainPlantago coronopus
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartiana
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
Lyme-grassLeymus arenarius
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper
Sea CampionSilene uniflora
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Bill Harrison · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Mercat cross, Fraserburgh

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