SPA description
(information as published 2001)


image: SPA location map 


Switha is a small, uninhabited, low-lying grassy island at the southern end of the Orkney archipelago in northern Scotland. It lies 2 km east of South Walls (Hoy) and 2 km south of the island of Flotta. Switha has a rocky coastline with cliffs along the north, east and west shores, and is almost totally covered by maritime grassland, with smaller areas of heath and bog. Switha is of importance as a winter roosting site for Greenland Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis


Qualifying species

For individual species accounts visit the Species Accounts section

Over winter;
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis, 1,000 individuals representing at least 3.7% of the wintering population in Great Britain (winter peak mean)


