Bullers of Buchan (within Buchan Ness to Collieston Coast)

Bullers of Buchan cliffs are located around 6 miles south of Peterhead. One key geological feature at the site is the collapsed sea cave, which has created a blow-hole and natural arches (Fig. 1). The cliffs, sea stacks, caves, and arches provide excellent habitat for a number of breeding seabirds, and it is one of the best places along the East Grampian Coast to spot puffins. 

Bullers of Buchan Coast has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (Fig. 2) for its coastal geomorphology, maritime cliff, alongside breeding populations of common guillemot (Uria aalge), black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), european shag (Guloses aristotelis) - and the breeding seabird colony as a whole (NatureScot, 2010).

Bullers of Buchan sits within the larger Buchan Ness to Collieston coast, which spans 15km of coastline. Buchan Ness to Collieston has been designated as detailed below:

• Buchan Ness to Collieston has been designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for 'vegetated sea cliffs' (Fig. 3). The cliff slopes support plant communities rare in the northeast of Scotland such as maritime heath, acid peatland, and brackish flushes. Specific plant species such as Scots lovage (Ligusticum scoticum), roseroot (Sedum rosea), carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris), cowslip (Primula veris), and sea wormwood (Seriphidium maritimum) can be found here (JNCC, n.d.).
• Buchan Ness to Collieston has also been designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) (Fig. 4) for breeding fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), guillemot, herring gull (Larus argentatus), kittiwake, shag, and its breeding seabird assemblage. Buchan Ness to Collieston regularly supports around 95,000 breeding seabirds every year (RSPB, n.d.), with some of these breeding populations being nationally important. For example, Buchan Ness to Collieston supports  6.2% of the GB population of black-legged kittiwake, 1.2% of the GB population of common guillemot, and 2.7% of the European shag population (NatureScot, 2009).

Within the Buchan Ness to Collieston area there is Collieston to Whinnyfold SSSI, designated for its geology (Dalradian), maritime cliff, sea wormwood, breeding seabird colony, and breeding guillemot, kittiwake, fulmar, and razorbill (Alca torda) (NatureScot, 2011). Longhaven Cliffs Nature Reserve, managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, is also a key cliff area supporting breeding seabirds amongst the pink granite cliffs, sea stacks, and arches (Scottish Wildlife Trust, n.d.).

There is a level of pressure on the cliffs from recreation, with walkers and wildlife watchers visiting the coastline to see the seabirds and the landscape. This can have an impact on the clifftop vegetation and also potentially disturb breeding birds. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has impacted upon the breeding seabirds at all along the East Grampian Coast, particularly guillemots and kittiwakes (SOC North East Scotland Branch, n.d.).