Wildlife

Wildlife is abundant in the Ettrick Marshes. It has a high biodiversity value with several species of conservation importance including the scotch argus butterfly, the northern lady's mantle plant and tea leaved willow tree.

The soils of the floodplain are fertile and support a rich variety of flowering plants, grasses, sedges, rushes, mosses and ferns. This list of flowering plants summarises the species that can be found on the Marshes and surrounding woodlands.

In the rivers and burns brown trout, salmon, lamprey, stickleback, minnow, stoneloach and eel can be found feeding on the abundant invertebrates living in the fresh water.

Mammals of the Marshes include otters, red squirrels, roe deer, badger, fox, stoats, weasels, mice, voles, shrews and several species of bat. These elusive creatures are seldom observed but mammal sign is evident throughout the area with diggings, scats and droppings, bark rubbings and feeding remains. In the conifer forest around the Marshes a healthy population of red squirrels thrives however recently grey squirrels have been spotted in the area and their impact at this stage is unknown so sightings of all squirrels in the area is useful.

Birds of the Marshes 80 species of bird have been recorded in the Ettrick Marshes and surrounding woodland. This wide range of species reflects the diversity of habitats in the area. By the rivers kingfishers, sand martin and dippers are common and on the open water herons, waterfowl and waders can be found. The wetland and willow carr support many passerine species including the grasshopper warbler, willow warbler and sedge warbler. Many raptor species patrol the Marshes including kestrel, sparrowhawk, goshawk, tawny and barn owls and occasionally osprey. Buzzards are the most common and are regularly seen and heard across the floodplain.