The loch itself is approximately 22 hectares, though this has varied over time with drainage attempts and the silting up of the outflow stream.

Including surrounding fen, swamp and mire, 85 hectares are protected as a Ramsar Site.

There are internationally important numbers of greylag geese, with 1% of the Iceland population over-wintering at the site.

[3] Black-headed gulls, pink-footed geese, water rails and whooper swans occur in nationally important numbers, along with otters, red squirrels, butterflies and dragonflies.

Police Scotland's Digital Forensics Unit investigated this as a murder, using records obtained from mobile phones.