Ousdale Burn
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Upland birch woodland | Favourable | — | 2005-03-31 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Ousdale Burn Ousdale Burn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located near the east coast of Caithness, approximately 6km northeast of Helmsdale. The steep slopes surrounding the lower part of the Ousdale Burn support nationally important birch woodland. Woodland is a comparatively rare habitat in Caithness and, together with the nearby Langwell Water and Berriedale Water SSSIs, this site contributes to the largest area of deciduous woodland in the county. Downy birch Betula pubescens and rowan Sorbus aucuparia are the most common trees here. Aspen Populus tremula, bird cherry Prunus padus and hazel Corylus avellana are also found in areas where the soil is enriched by the base-rich rocks whilst eared willow Salix aurita, grey willow Salix cinerea and goat willow Salix caprea grow on the banks of the burn. The woodland understorey includes dog rose Rosa canina and honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum. The site has a rich and varied ground flora which includes species such as bugle Ajuga reptans, sweet woodruff Galium odoratum and hairy-brome Bromopsis ramosa. Tall herb vegetation near the burn includes species such as greater woodrush Luzula sylvatica. There are outcrops of the base-rich flagstone rocks in other parts of the site. Here the ground flora includes grassland with plants such as opposite-leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, while ferns such as black spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum grow in the rock crevices.
Species mentioned
Show the 17 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| black spleenwort | Asplenium adiantum-nigrum | LC | fern | aspleniaceae |
| hairy brome | Bromopsis ramosa | LC | grass | poaceae |
| bugle | Ajuga reptans | LC | herb | lamiaceae |
| opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage | Chrysosplenium oppositifolium | LC | herb | saxifragaceae |
| woodruff | Galium odoratum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| honeysuckle | Lonicera periclymenum | LC | herb | caprifoliaceae |
| wood sorrel | Oxalis acetosella | LC | herb | oxalidaceae |
| dog-rose | Rosa canina | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| great wood rush | Luzula sylvatica | LC | rush | juncaceae |
| downy birch | Betula pubescens | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| aspen | Populus tremula | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| bird cherry | Prunus padus | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| rowan | Sorbus aucuparia | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| eared willow | Salix aurita | LC | tree shrub | salicaceae |
| goat willow | Salix caprea | LC | tree shrub | salicaceae |
| grey willow | Salix cinerea | LC | tree shrub | salicaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon |
Endangered | Bromopsis ramosa |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Prunus spp., Rosa spp. |
| Dark bordered beauty Epione vespertaria |
Endangered | Populus tremula |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Prunus spp., Salix spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Rosa spp., Salix spp. |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Salix caprea |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Prunus spp., Salix spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Rosa canina |
| Scarce chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta |
Vulnerable | Populus spp., Populus tremula, Salix cinerea, Salix spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Lonicera periclymenum, Populus tremula, Prunus padus, Rosa canina, Salix spp., Sorbus aucuparia |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp., Salix spp. |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| White admiral Limenitis camilla |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Rosa canina, Salix spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pubescens, Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Rosa spp., Salix caprea |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Rosa canina |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Salix spp. |
| No common name Zeugophora turneri |
Vulnerable | Populus tremula |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Salix spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Salix spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Salix caprea |
| Purple emperor Apatura iris |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Salix aurita, Salix cinerea, Sorbus aucuparia |
| Minor shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula, Salix aurita, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Populus spp., Salix spp. |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Salix aurita, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pubescens |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Populus spp., Prunus spp., Salix spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp. |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Galium spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Populus tremula, Salix spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Salix spp. |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| White prominent Leucodonta bicoloria |
Regionally Extinct | Betula spp. |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.