purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea). Other parts of the site, where there is surface patterning and extensive area of more typical bog vegetation are dominated by heather (Calluna vulgaris), deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum) and cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix) while white beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba), cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) and carpets of the moss Sphagnum magellanicum can be locally abundant. The SAC has an area of around , of which roughly consists of a mosaic of mire vegetation communities. The area qualifies as a Special Protection Area because it contains breeding and wintering hen harrier, merlin, peregrine falcon, short-eared owl and European golden plover. Slightly more than of the Moss is managed as a wildlife reserve by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds with the aim of improving the condition of the site and the neighbouring floodplain to benefit wildlife. This has included blocking drainage ditches and thousands of dams have been installed to restore water levels. References External links Special Area of Conservation details Geography of East Ayrshire History of East Ayrshire Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland Moorlands of Scotland