Lafarge Tarmac entered into an agreement with RSPB Scotland regarding the development of Whitesands quarry as a nature and leisure facility in 2013. It has since become home to some important winter visitors from Northern climes, Eastern Europe and Russia including pochard duck and barnacle geese.
The site is quickly becoming a haven for rarer species because of its unique freshwater habitat so close to the coast.
In late October and early November 2014 four species of geese were using the lake. These included pink footed geese from Iceland and also barnacle geese from the Svalbard Islands between Norway and the North Pole.
It is believed that with the right combination of habitat creation and public access management Whitesands Quarry has the potential to attract regionally important populations of waders and wildfowl.