Union Directive 79/409/EEC this site qualifies as a Special Protection Area (SPA) by supporting biota populations of European importance. The component landforms which are considered elements of the SPA or SSSI are the estuary itself, the dunes to the east known as the Sands of Forvie, Meikle Loch and the adjacent Kippet Hills. The Ythan Estuary SPA code is UK9002221, which designation was conveyed on 30 March 1998. Per Article 4.1, Annex I, the Ythan Estuary complex supports the following significant bird populations during the breeding season: Common tern Sterna hirundo, 265 pairs representing up to 2.2% of the breeding population in Great Britain. Little tern Sterna albifrons, 41 pairs representing up to 1.7% of the total breeding population in Great Britain Sandwich tern Sterna sandvicensis, 600 pairs representing up to 4.3% of the breeding population in Great Britain The Ythan Estuary also is qualified per Article 4.2 of the EU Directive by sustaining the following winter migratory species population of European significance: Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus, 7213 individuals representing up to 7.7% of the mean wintering Eastern Greenland/Iceland/United Kingdom population See also Fowlsheugh Wetland Important bird area References External links Fisheries Research Service Ythan Estuary Description Webcam overlooking the Ythan Nature reserves in Scotland Stone age sites Estuaries of Scotland Special Protection Areas in Scotland Landforms of Aberdeenshire Ramsar sites in Scotland Important Bird Areas of Scotland Bodies of water of the North Sea Moorlands of Scotland