Montrose Basin
The Montrose Basin is part of the estuary of the South Esk forming a tidal basin near to the town of Montrose in Angus (at 56°42’40"N, 2°29’53"W). The basin is not a bay open to the Firth of Tay but an almost enclosed water, trapped behind the tongue of land on which sits the town of Montrose, the South Esk entering the bay at its western side and released through a channel in the east.
The basin is almost square, a mile and a half north to south and two miles west to east at its very widest.
The whole basin is tidal and empties itself at low water to leave broad mudflats which are an important breeding ground for seabirds and waders.
Birdlife
The nature reserve in this bay is considered internationally important for pink-footed geese, red knot and redshank and is nationally important for shelduck, wigeon and eider ducks. It is also popular with mute swans, oystercatchers and lapwings as well as smaller birds. Breeding birds are preyed on by peregrine falcons and sparrowhawks. The visitor centre, run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, is accessible from the A92.
The swans give the Basin its old, more poetic name, the "Sea of Swans".
Heritage
The Montrose Basin Heritage Society was formed in 1999 to bring together information about the basin, including its history and archaeology.
The Basin has been exploited for its seafood. At one time Montrose was Scotland's second largest exporter of salmon; and mussel cultivation gave it the largest mussel beds in the country during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Eels have also been an important catch.
The National Trust for Scotland own part of the shoreline running down from its property at the House of Dun