Holiday in Perthshire - Birding locations please.

[Marmot]

I am trying to persude Ian to have a change of Scottish scenery for our holidays next year probably May. We normally do either Aviemore area or Castle Douglas...but thought it might be worth a change to Perthshire.[less driving for me]

The place I have provisionally picked as our base is about 10 miles east of Blairgowrie [don't worry Delia you havn't got visitors staying with you :eek!: ] at Alyth. I am looking for places to go that would be within an hour or so drive of here.

At the moment I have Loch of the Lowes [Osprey] and Scone Palace [Hawfinch] as places that I want to go. But can I have some other suggestions please and to what I can see there. I know there is the Loch of Kinnordy and Loch of Linrathren and Montrose Basin but not 100% sure of the species found in May.

So any replies about the above locations or any others would be most appreciated by me and a bit of extra persuasion to choose Perthshire.

[TheSeagull]

Loch Leven National Nature Reserve has Vane Farm RSPB in it. Some more info here
http://www.perthshire.co.uk/index.asp?tm=89

[Marmot]

Thanks for that, found a section with various locations..but keep those ideas coming.

[kinnordyvolunteer]

I have to suggest Loch of Kinnordy. Marsh and \Hen Harriers there at the moment.

Darell

[Marmot]

I have to suggest Loch of Kinnordy. Marsh and \Hen Harriers there at the moment.

Darell


I have been having a read of your patch and have found it really interesting, who knows if I can persude Ian to come to Perthshire you could show us around your patch [lets hope we wouldn't need wellies in May] ;)

[Dormouse]

I can highly recommend Kinnordy, and May is a good time to get a variety.
Osprey should be fishing daily by then, and with them coming very close to the hides somethines you can get some amazing views (the best n Scotland? Maybe I'm just biased). This year in the summer we frequently had 3 osprey around together.
Marsh harrier is often around in May.
If you come in early/ mid May there should be Black headed gulls attempting to nest in front of the Gullery hide, and a reasonable chance of seeing otter.
Lapwing and redshank are often visible from the hides at that time of year, and of course lovely views of male shoveller, gadwall, mallard and tufties...weather dependant there may be a few early broods of Mallard around.
Smaller birds include reed bunting, sedge warbler, willow warbler, blackcap, whitethroat, possible garden warbler...Darell what have I forgotten?
Keep watching the Kinnordy thread and I'm sure you'll get a good idea of what is around at the time.

Other ideas: Angus Glens - it's less than an hour to Glen Clova (good food / atmosphere at the hotel there) for some upland birds
There is also Alyth Den (a regular walk for me) with dipper and grey wags seen frequently through the breeding season, although I get these almost daily at some times in spring along bits of the burn just down from the main square!. If you want to stretch your legs you can join the Cateran trail over Alyth Hill and drop back down into the town, stunning views of the Sidlaws / Carse and I've had a few good views of birds of prey up there.
Lintrathen and Backwater Dam are both worth a visit, again osprey fish both. I have heard rumours of a Black grouse lek in that area, but not sure of details.
A little further afield there is Montreamont Forest which I'm told is good for a variety of woodland species and Lunan Bay is beautiful as well as having some nice birding if you get tides right, and if you go that far you may as well put in a trip to Montrose Basin - waders galore...Hope you have enough time for all of that!

[markgrubb]

Killiecrankie especially around the Soldier's Leap is really good for wood warblers in early May-pied flycatchers too

[gordon hamlett]

Killiecrankie especially around the Soldier's Leap is really good for wood warblers in early May-pied flycatchers too

What's the position with pied flycatchers there this year? I know of several birders (self included) who haven't connected for a couple of years now.

Gordon

[Steve G]

What's the position with pied flycatchers there this year? I know of several birders (self included) who haven't connected for a couple of years now.

Gordon
Still present in much lower numbers around Killiecrankie.

I find the best place in Perthshire to see Pied Flycatchers, Spotted Flycatchers, Redstart, Tree Pipit & Wood Warbler is up the lower stretch of Glen Lochay north of Killin.
This glen has the added merit of being very quiet & strikingly beautiful in parts. The river holds Goosander, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Common Sandpiper and (unusually for Perthshire) Kingfisher. The more open upper stretches are good for Cuckoos (still holds good numbers) as well as Whinchat & Wheatear, & I have also (once) seen Ring Ouzel here.

The single track road leads up to the top of the glen where a pot-holed but passable paved road (unmarked on many maps) leads up over the hill & down into the head of Glen Lyon enabling a circuit either along (almost) the whole length of Glen Lyon down to Fortingal or back up & over to Loch Tay via the Ben Lawers visitor centre (good for Twite).

Glen Lochay: http://www.pbase.com/rainbirder/image/114826738
http://www.pbase.com/rainbirder/image/114826742
http://www.pbase.com/rainbirder/image/114826739

[Pluvius]

If you need a B & B my sister has a very nice place nr Dunkeld http://www.miltoncottage.com/

[Marmot]

I think there must have been some vibes on this as when I put this thread on we were deciding on the area and only just yesterday began to try and narrow it down to where to stay.

Thanks for all the info and keep it coming.

Also thank you pluvius for the link to the B & B but we are wanting to go self catering, so if anyone knows or can recommend any that would be appreciated as well.

[Pluvius]

My Sister says if you want upmarket self catering try here its meant to be fabulous but not cheap http://www.lochtay.co.uk/cottages.html and for more http://www.scotland-holiday-cottage.com/perthshire/ is a very good website.

[Marmot]

I see what you mean about them not being cheap, but thanks for the link to the other site as I hadn't came across it, seen a couple on it that are worth considering.

[Islemartin]

Interesting about Glen Lochay. I have been searching for Pied Flycatcher in Perthshire for the past 2 years without much success. As has been said Killiecrankie is very good for Wood Warbler and Redstart. In fact if you go on to the other side of the River there is a walk from Tenandry church into the upper part of Tenandry wood via a footpath which exists - its great in the first week of May.
Perthshire as a whole seems to be very good still for Spotted Flycatcher - I saw them in Methven Woods on the edge of Almondbank village 2 years ago. I also saw a pair in a garden in Keltneyburn.
The area round Amulree and Glen Quaich is very good for Black Grouse and the whole range of upland birds. Plus I have seen Grey Partridge there and red kites.

[delia todd]

Hi Islemartin - welcome to Birdforum.

Amulree / Glen Quaich is one of my favourite areas as well - really lovely there.

D

[Woodchatshrike]

hello islemartin. Good to see you on here.

[Rhummy]

I'm from Alyth. Lovely part of Scotland.

[KellySim]

Well, I am from Scotland and it depends on where you want to go. We travel within our country with a family as well. I would recommend you to book a self-catering cottage as it is a perfect option if you want to spend good time with family and be in the short distance from the big city. If you want to spend Easter in Scotland, you will find a wealth of places and events. We usually book a holiday cottage for Easter not far from Edinburgh or Inverness (nice views, good food, many interesting places to visit and kids won’t be bored). Our family uses a Scottish company Cottages and Castles.

[Marmot]

Thank you all again for the suggestions, any more birding info would be still welcome.

We actuaully are going to be stopping just outside of Alyth so we might even see Rhummy around birding. Hopefully we will be meeting Darell [KInnnordy Volunteer] and getting a guided tour around his patch.