From Opus

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[edit] Overview

This highland reserve contains a range of habitats, the most important being the wooded hillsides, mainly Sessile Oak with a mixture of Birch, Ash, Alder and Wych Elm and an understorey of Hazel. Above the woods is pastureland and further still, birch-covered crags and a ridge of heather moorland.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

The woodland has Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard, Common Crossbill, Common Redstart and sometimes Pied Flycatcher, various warblers and Green Woodpecker]] and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The fringes of the woods have Black Grouse, Tree Pipit and Whinchat, Common Sandpiper, Common Dipper and Grey Wagtail nest along the streams. In the higher parts of the reserve there are Red Grouse and the crags have Northern Raven and Common Kestrel.

The wetter areas in the northern part of the reserve are nesting grounds for Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew and Meadow Pipit.

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Red Grouse, Black Grouse, Eurasian Woodcock, Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Common Wren, Common Dipper, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, European Pied Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Northern Raven, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill

[edit] Other Wildlife

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus and Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris are common.

There is a rich and varied flora within the reserve. Yellow Mountain Saxifrage Saxifraga aizoides, Scottish Asphodel Tofieldia pusilla, Globeflower Trollius europaeus, Grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris, Marsh Lousewort Pedicularis palustris and Northern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza purpurella grow in the wetter parts as well as rare species of rush and sedge.

The moorland has Lesser Twayblade Listera cordata, Intermediate Wintergreen Pyrola media, the rare Sticky Catchfly Lychnis viscaria and Shining Geranium lucidum and Bloody Cranesbills Geranium sanguineum.

[edit] Site Information

Although there are many resident species the best time to visit this reserve is May-July.

[edit] History and Use

To do

[edit] Areas of Interest

To do

[edit] Access and Facilities

Situated in the Highlands just north of Pitlochry this reserve is reached on the A9, turning off onto the B8079 road to Killiecrankie. From the village take the minor road to the left and head south-westwards over the railway and river to the reserve car-park at Balrobbie Farm. From the north leave the A9 about 2.5km south of Blair Atholl onto the B8079 to Killiecrankie.

The waymarked trail is open at all times but the remainder of the reserve can only be visited by written arrangement with the warden.

[edit] Contact Details

To do

[edit] External Links

• Tayside Birding Thread
• Killiecrankie on Streetmap

Content and images originally posted by Steve