Editing Loch of Strathbeg (section)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox body of water
 | name = Loch of Strathbeg
 | image = Lochofstrathbeg2.jpg
 | caption = Looking south-east across the loch
 | image_bathymetry = 
 | caption_bathymetry = 
 | location = [[Aberdeenshire]], [[Scotland]]
 | coords = {{coord|57|37|11|N|1|52|37|W|region:GB_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
 | lake_type = 
 | inflow = Burn of Savoch
 | outflow = 
 | catchment = 
 | basin_countries =
 | length = 
|pushpin_map=Scotland Aberdeenshire
 | width = 
 | area = {{convert|220|ha|acre}}<ref name=nature/>
 | depth = 
 | max-depth = {{convert|2|m|ft}}<ref name=nature/>
 | volume = 
 | residence_time = 
 | shore = 
 | elevation = 
 | islands = 
 | cities = 
 | frozen = 
| embedded = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_date = 27 November 1995
| designation1_number = 778<ref name=ramsar>{{Cite web|title=Loch of Strathbeg|publisher=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/778|accessdate=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
}}
[[File:Konik Horses at Loch of Strathbeg - geograph.org.uk - 4078748.jpg|thumb|Free-roaming [[konik horse]]s on the shore of the loch]]
The '''Loch of Strathbeg'''{{efn|The name ''Strathbeg'' comes from Gaelic and means "small [[strath]] or valley".<ref>{{cite book|last=Robertson|first=James A.|title=The Gaelic Topography of Scotland, and What It Proves|location=Edinburgh|publisher=William P. Nimmo|date=1869|page=349|url=https://archive.org/details/gaelictopography00robeuoft/page/349}}</ref> According to James Cumine of Rattray, writing in 1888, it referred originally to "a perfect little strath, about three quarters of a mile long, stretching from the Bridge of Savock at [[Crimonmogate]] to a steep bank at the west end of the Loch, called Stor-na-fin".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cumine|first=James|date=1888|title=The Burgh of Rattray|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433075899314&seq=132|journal=Transactions of the Buchan Field Club, 1887 to 1890|page=114}}</ref>}} is a shallow freshwater loch on the coast of [[Buchan]] in [[Aberdeenshire]], Scotland. It lies within the parishes of [[Lonmay]] and [[Crimond]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/parishes/parhistory224.html|title=Parish of Lonmay (historical perspective)|publisher=[[Gazetteer for Scotland]]|accessdate=2024-11-07}}</ref> The loch is a designated [[special protection area]] because of its importance to birdlife<ref name=ramsar/> and is managed by the [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]], which operates a visitor centre at Starnafin. It is visited in the winter months by at least 20,000 birds, including [[pink-footed geese]], [[whooper swan]]s, and [[Eurasian teal|teal]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/loch-of-strathbeg|title=Loch of Strathbeg|publisher=RSPB|accessdate=2024-11-07}}</ref>