Crested Tit - Trossachs

[greg_evans]

Hello all - i'm just looking for a bit of info - I am on holiday next week in the Callander area of the Trossachs. I was hoping to see Crested Tit but I fear that I am too far South - would anyone be able to recommend a site within striking distance?

Regards,

Greg

[forthbirder]

Hi Greg. I have seen crested tit in the conifer woods across the road from the access path to Dumyat hill above Stirling, but this was a while ago and have no idea whether or not they are resident there. It might be worth your while popping into the David Marshall Lodge in Aberfoyle and asking someone in the know there. There could well be some in the Queen Elizabeth forest park, but again, I couldn't say for sure. Nearest extensive stretch of Caledonian pinewood would probably be The Black Wood of Rannoch, but this is quite a drive from Callander. Good luck anyway, Mark.

[Capercaillie71]

They turn up very occasionally here on Deeside, so anything is possible, but these maps (if they are still up to date) suggest that crested tits do not breed regularly south of strathspey.

http://blx1.bto.org/atlases/CI-atlas.html

[devon.birder]

I got back from Scotland last Thursday and managed to see one Crested Tit and hear another at Forest Lodge RSPB but that is about 130 miles from Callander.
Speaking to other Birders when I was up there I got the impression that they were fairly scarce this May too. I think you will be unlucky unless you are prepared to drive for just over 3 hours. Roger

[greg_evans]

Thank you all for your info - the weather quite scuppered any plans but I did get out to Bass Rock and have an Eagle over Loch Lomond - but no Crested Tits!!!

Cheers again guys.