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Wildlife along the River Forth
The River Forth and borders are rich with a variety of wildlife and habitats.
The Fens have aquatic plants like waterlilies and mares' tails, vegetation in the form of creeping willow and black bay, a rare Scottish reed and the northern marsh orchid. Invertebrates like dragonflies and damselflies, also rosehay willowherb, roe deer, sparrow hawks, foxes and kestrels. Plus there are over 50 species of water beetles and flies, some unique to this area.
The Forth estuary has more waders and wildfowl than any other estuary in Scotland. There is a large population of feeding river lampreys - adult and juvenile - in the Firth of Forth. Their existence helps to aerate and stabilise silt beds, and they are a food source for riverine birds, mammals and other wildlife.
Grassland areas are awash with colour with the likes of Lady's Bedstraw, Red Fescue, Cowslip, Scottish Bluebells and various Orchids, to name a few. Moorland and hills sport the Red Grouse, Snow Bunting and the Golden Plover, although sadly Hen Harrier and Peregrine Falcon numbers are on the decrease. Badgers and foxes dodge poisonous Adders.
Woodlands here display all sorts of trees, from Oak and Hazel to Birch and Willow, towering above over 300 species of plants.
