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Kindrogan Field Centre

Perthshire · Scotland

   

3 -10 June 2016

Observers: F. Simpson

 

INTRODUCTION


 

This was my fourteenth trip on an undergraduate university field course to the Field Studies Council's Kindrogan Field Centre near Enochdhu in picturesque Strathardle, Perthshire. The field centre is set in an old Victorian estate with a small area of mixed woodland along the banks of the River Ardle at the foot of Kindrogan Hill, largely cloaked in spruce forestry plantation with smaller areas of larch. Strathardle is dominated by pastoral farmland in the glen and moorland on the higher ground. Further to the west lies Glen Brerachan holding some nice heather moorland and small patches of open birch woodland. This trip report details the birds found mainly around the field centre. Mammals noted included: Red Deer, Roe Deer, Fallow Deer, Red Squirrel, Brown Hare, Brown Rabbit, Hedgehog, Pine Marten, Wood Mouse, Common Shrew, Pipistrelle Bat & Daubenton's Bat.

 

Kindrogan Trip Reports:  2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |

Location Guide to LocationsSummary 2005-2018

 

 View of Strathardle from Creag na Cuinneige © Fraser Simpson

The north-west end of Strathardle, looking south-east from Creag na Cuinneige. Straloch Loch is in the foreground, Kindrogan Hill on the right (hover over image for further locations)

 

 Pine Marten (Martes martes), Kindrogan Field Centre, Enochdhu, Perthshire © Fraser Simpson

Pine Marten (Martes martes), Kindrogan Field Centre, Enochdhu, Perthshire

 

 

 

 

 

Map of Kindrogan and Strathardle

 

Dawn Chorus Chronologies, Kindrogan Field Course, 2004-2018 © Fraser Simpson

 

Kindrogan Field Centre & environs, Strathardle, Perthshire                                        Approx. sunrise 0426h, sunset 2202h


 

Mute Swan  Cygnus olor


4 prs inc 1 AON, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Pr + b/5, Straloch Loch, 08/06.

 

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis


3 prs (inc b/1), Straloch Loch 08/06.

1 singing, Loch Curran, 09/06.

1 singing, Tullochcurran Loch, Cateran Trail, Enochdhu-Kirkmichael, 09/06.

 

Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus


3 prs (2 AON) + 1 single, Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld, 06/06.

 

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea


Ad + juv, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

1, Brerachan Water, near West Lodge, 06/06.

1, flew up Alt Fearnach, 08/06.

1, flying downstream over River Ardle, Cateran Trail, Enochdhu-Kirkmichael, 09/06.

 

Greylag Goose  Anser anser


74, west over Strathardle at 19:45, 05/06.

10+, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

 

Canada Goose  Branta canadensis


c250, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Pr + b/6, Straloch Loch 08/06.

 

Mandarin Duck  Aix galericulata


1m, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

 

Wigeon  Anas penelope


None located this year.

 

Gadwal  Anas strepera


1m, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

 

Eurasian Teal  Anas crecca


2 mm, Loch Curran, 09/06.

 

Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos


30+ moulting males, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Females with b/9, b/5, b/2, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Female + b/2, Straloch Loch 08/06.

6 mm, Straloch Loch 08/06.

 

Northern Shoveler  Anas clypeata


3mm, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

 

Tufted Duck  Aythya fuligula


Male, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

4 mm, Straloch Loch 08/06.

5 mm, Loch Curran, 09/06.

 

Goosander  Mergus merganser


1-2, over River Ardle, Kindrogan Field Centre, 05/06 (AZ).

Female + b/6, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Female + b/8, Brerachan Water, West Lodge, 08/06.

2, flying over River Tummel (observed from train), 10/06.

 

Red Grouse  Lagopus scotica


Not seen this year.

 

Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus


1 m, track between field centre and curling pond, 09/06.

 

Buzzard  Buteo buteo


Regular over the field centre.

Prs noted at Kindrogan Hill, Straloch, Glen Brerachan, Loch Curran.

2, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

 

Osprey  Pandion haliaetus


Pr + b/3, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

 

Kestrel  Falco tinninculus


1, over Kindrogan Field Centre, 09/06 (TB).

 

Red-legged Partridge  Phasianus colchicus


1, Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld, 06/06.

1, Kinnaird, 10/06.

1, Edradour turn-off, 10/06.

 

Pheasant  Phasianus colchicus


Fairly common in Strathardle and Glen Brerachan.

Calling from 04:06h, 07/06.

 

Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus


Pr + b/3, Straloch Loch 08/06.

1, Tullochcurran Loch, 09/06.

 

Coot  Fulica atra


Pr, Straloch Loch 08/06.

 

Oystercatcher  Haematopus ostralegus


Several pairs in Glen Brerachan/west end of Strathardle.

Still calling at 22:27 on 07/06.

Pr, on dry stane dyke, Cateran Trail, Enochdhu-Kirkmichael, 09/06.

 

Woodcock  Scolopax rusticola


1-2 roding, Kindrogan field centre, 03:02h, 07/06.

 

Snipe  Gallinago gallinago


1 yikkering, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

 

Curlew  Numenius arquata


1, heard around Kindrogan Field Centre, 04/06.

1, Glen Brerachan, 06/06.

1, displaying, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

 

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos


1, Brerachan Water, near West Lodge, 08/06.

Pr, River Ardle at Kindrogan Bridge, Enochdhu, 08/06.

 

Black-headed Gull  Larus ridibundus


Birds regularly flying over Strathardle.

34, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

1, Straloch Loch, 08/06.

30 AON, Loch Curran, 09/06.

 

Black-headed Gull  Larus ridibundus

 Sonogram of calls from Black-headed Gull colony

Loch Curran, Perthshire, Scotland  56° 43' 27.9" N  3° 33' 32.7" W  9 June 2016

Calls from a small breeding colony of 30 pairs on a remote lochan.

[File name: blackheadedgull113809ecut]

     

 

Common Gull  Larus canus


Birds regularly flying over Strathardle.

1, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

70, in ploughed field at Wester Enochdhu, 08/06.

 

Lesser Black-backed Gull  Larus fuscus


Noted over Pitlochry.

12, in ploughed field at Wester Enochdhu, 08/06.

 

Herring Gull  Larus argentatus


Noted over Pitlochry.

 

Feral Pigeon  Columba livia


A few noted in Strathardle most days.

 

Wood Pigeon  Columba palumbus


Fairly common.

Singing at field centre from 03:59h on 07/06; 04:06 on 08/06.

 

Collared Dove  Sreptopelia decaocto


1 singing, Enochdhu, 08/06.

Noted in Pitlochry.

 

Cuckoo  Cuculus canorus


More noted than usual.

1 singing m, Enochdhu, 04/06.

1 singing m, near Starloch, 04/06.

2 singing mm, cemetery clearfell, 05/06.

1 singing m, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

3 singing mm, Strathardle around Kindrogan Field Centre, 07/06.

Singing at field centre from 03:24h, 07/06.

3 singing males + female, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

1 singing m, Loch Curran, 09/06.

1 singing m, Tullochcurran Loch, Cateran Trail, 09/06.

1 singing m, Kirkmichael, 09/06.

 

Common Cuckoo  Cuculus canorus

 Sonogram of Cuckoo song

Creag na Cuinneige, Glen Brerachan, Perthshire, Scotland  56° 45' 28.51" N  3° 35' 32.91" W  8 June 2016

Song and calls from a male and female together. Advertising song from the male (green), followed by harsh calls from the male (blue), and bubbling trill from the female (red). Also Rooks calling.

[File name: cuckoo113797e]

    Cuckoo

 

Tawny Owl  Strix aluco


Calling, walled garden, Kindrogan Field Centre, 04/06.

Calling distantly, Kindrogan Field Centre, 03:05, 08/06.

Male hooting, Catern Trail SE of Dalreoch, 01:40, 10/06.

 

Swift  Apus apus


2, over Pitlochry, 06/06.

2, Caterian Trail, NW of Kirkmichael, 09/06.

2, Kirkmichael, 09/06.

 

Green Woodpecker  Picus viridis


Pr, cemetery clear-fell, Kindrogan Hill, all week.

 

Great Spotted Woodpecker  Dendrocopus major


Fairly common.

1 drumming, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

1, birch wood near Ceanghline, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

Female feeding young in nest, forestry track south of Balnald, 09/06.

2, Cateran Trail, Enochdhu-Kirkmichael, 09/06.

 

Skylark  Alauda arvensis


1 singing, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

 

Sand Martin  Riparia riparia


3, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

2, Brerachan Water, West Lodge, 08/06.

2, Straloch Loch, 08/06.

 

Swallow  Hirundo rustica


Fairly common in Strathardle.

Active from 03:06 on 07/06.

6 AON, The Steading/Coppock Building - still repairing/building nests.

4, West Balanald, 08/06.

3, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

8, Straloch Loch, 08/06.

7, along A924, Straloch-Enochdhu, 08/06.

 

House Martin  Delichon urbicum


Noted around human habitation including Straloch, Enochdhu, Kirkmichael and Pitlochry.

3 AON, rear of Kindrogan House (nests completed).

2 AON, Cotterston, 08/06.

2, Davan, 08/06.

4, Straloch Loch, 08/06.

 

Tree Pipit  Anthus trivialis


Already colonising recently felled forestry where isolated birches have been left standing.

3 singing mm, birch wood near Ceanghline, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

4 singing mm, A924, West Lodge-Enochdhu, 08/06.

3 singing mm, in new clearfell (Mar 2016) with lone birches, Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

1 singing m, Tullochcurran Loch, 09/06.

 

Meadow Pipit  Anthus pratensis


10+ displaying, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

 

Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea


1, River Ardle, Kindrogan Field Centre, 05/06.

Ad + juv, Brerachan Water, near West Lodge, 08/06.

 

Pied Wagtail  Motacilla alba


2, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Pr + b/4 fledged, The Steading, Kindrogan Field Centre, 07/06.

Common, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

M + b/2, Straloch Loch, 08/06.

 

Dipper  Cinclus cinclus


None located this year.

 

Wren  Troglodytes troglodytes


Fairly common.

Several singing, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Singing at field centre from 03:32h on 07/06; 03:38 on 08/06.

17 singing mm, along 4.5 km of forest track, south side of Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

 

Dunnock  Prunella modularis


Fairly common in clear-fell/re-stock/forest edge around Kindrogan Hill, including trig-point.

3 singing mm, Kindrogan Field Centre.

Singing at field centre from 03:38h on 07/06; 03:51 on 08/06.

1 singing m, Tigh na Croft, 08/06.

1 singing m, in new clearfell (Mar 2016) with lone birches, Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

 

Robin  Erithacus rubecula


Common. Several fledged broods noted.

Fledged brood, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Singing at field centre from 03:02h on 07/06, 03:15 on 08/06.

18 singing mm, along 4.5 km of forest track, south side of Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

 

Redstart  Phoenicurus phoenicurus


3 singing mm, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Female with food for young, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

3 singing mm, birch wood near Ceanghline, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

1 singing m, Cotterton-Straloch House, 08/06.

 

Whinchat  Saxicola rubetra


1 singing m, near Ceanghline, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

 

Wheatear  Oenanthe oenanthe


2 singing mm, Ceanghline-Creag na Cuinneige, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

 

Northern Wheatear  Oenanthe oenanthe 

  Sonogram of Northern Wheatear song in flight

Creag na Cuinneige, Glen Brerachan, Perthshire, Scotland  56° 45' 28.51" N  3° 35' 32.91" W  8 June 2016

Song uttered in two separate song flights over rocks at the foot of a steep sheep-grazed slope.

[File name: wheatear113795ecut]

    Northern Wheatear2

     

Sonogram of Northern Wheatear song (perched)

Creag na Cuinneige, Glen Brerachan, Perthshire, Scotland  56° 45' 28.51" N  3° 35' 32.91" W  8 June 2016

Song uttered from rocks at the foot of a steep sheep-grazed slope.

[File name: wheatear113789ecut1]

    Northern Wheatear3

     

Sonogram of Northern Wheatear song (perched)

Creag na Cuinneige, Glen Brerachan, Perthshire, Scotland   56° 45' 28.51" N  3° 35' 32.91" W  8 June 2016

Song uttered from rocks at the foot of a steep sheep-grazed slope. More distant, but more musical whistles.

[File name: wheatear113789ecut2]

    Northern Wheatear4

     

 

Ring Ouzel  Turdus torquatus


None seen this year.

 

Blackbird  Turdus merula


Common.

Singing at field centre from 03:07h on 07/06; 03:22 on 08/06.

3 singing mm, along 4.5 km of forest track, south side of Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

 

Song Thrush  Turdus philomelus


Common. Heard mimicking Oystercatcher, Green Woodpecker and possible Nightingale/Thrush Nightingale.

Singing at field centre from 03:10h on 07/06; 03:17 on 08/06.

Still singing 23:05h, 06/06 (clear night). Last head 22:47, 07/06 (overcast night).

3 singing mm, along 4.5 km of forest track, south side of Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

 

Mistle Thrush  Turdus viscivorus


Noted at Kindrogan Field Centre, curling pond, Balnald, Davan, West Lodge, Ceanghline, Straloch.

1 singing male, near curling pond, 04/06.

 

Whitethroat  Sylvia communis


1 singing m, east of Straloch, 08/06.

 

Garden Warbler  Sylvia borin


None heard around Kindrogan field centre this year.

 

Blackcap  Sylvia atricapilla


Fairly common. Heard at Kindrogan Field Centre, Davan, Cotterston, Straloch, Enochdhu, East Lodge, Tulloch.

Several singing, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Singing at field centre from 03:36h on 07/06; 03:45 on 08/06.

 

Chiffchaff  Phylloscopus collybita


More noted than usual.

1 singing m, Pitlochry railway station, 03/06.

2 singing mm, clearfell around cemetery, Kindrogan Hill, all week.

1 singing m, East Lodge, 04/06.

1 singing mm, car park of Kindrogan Field Centre, 06/06-09/06.

 

Willow Warbler  Phylloscopus trochilus


Fairly common.

Several singing, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Singing at field centre from 03:55 on 07/06; 04:03 on 08/06.

9 singing mm, A924 Straloch-Enochdhu, 08/06.

9 singing mm, along 4.5 km of forest track, south side of Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

Adult with food for young, clearfell on north side of Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

 

 

Willow Warbler  Phylloscopus trochilus

Sonogram of Willow Warbler song

Kindrogan Hill, Enochdhu, Perthshire, Scotland  56° 44' 45.8" N  03° 32' 49.7" W  9 June 2015

Territorial song from c5 years old Sitka Spruce re-stock in clear-fell.

[File name: willowwarblerLS113356ecut]

    Willow Warbler4

 

Goldcrest  Regulus regulus


Common in forested areas of Kindrogan Hill, including 6-7 metre high re-stock.

Singing at field centre from 03:36h, 07/06.

7 singing mm, along 4.5 km of forest track, south side of Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

 

Spotted Flycatcher  Muscicapa striata


Singing mm or pairs noted at: Kindrogan Field Centre (2), cemetery clearfell (2), East Lodge (incubating in gutter), curling pond, Davan, West Lodge, Straloch Loch, Loch of the Lowes (2).

 

Long-tailed Tit  Aegithalos caudatus


Pr + b/8, end of front lawn, Kindrogan Field Centre, 04/06.

1, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Pr + b/5, curling pond, 08/06.

 

Coal Tit  Periparus ater


Fairly common in coniferous areas in Strathardle and Kindrogan Hill.

Up to 3 regular at feeding station, Kindrogan Field Station.

 

Blue Tit  Cyanistes caeruleus


Common.

Using nest boxes and feeders around the field centre.

 

Great Tit  Parus major


Common.

Using nest boxes and feeders around the field centre.

 

Treecreeper  Certhia familiaris


Fairly common.

1, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

Pr + b/4, matures Beeches on edge of cemetery clearfell, 07/06.

1 singing m, birch wood near Ceanghline, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

1 singing m, forest track to Loch Curran at Creag Thearlaich, 09/06.

 

 

Eurasian Treecreeper  Certhia familiaris

Sonogram of Treecreeper song

Kindrogan Field Centre, Perthshire, Scotland  56° 44' 45.8" N  03° 32' 49.7" W  7 June 2016

Calls from a recently fledged bird foraging with parents and siblings.

[File name: treecreeper113747ecut]

    Eurasian Treecreeper

 

Jay  Garrulus glandarius


1, birch wood near Ceanghline, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

1, track between field centre and curling pond, 09/06.

 

Magpie  Pica pica


2, Pitlochry, 06/06.

 

Jackdaw  Corvus monedula        


At least 12 prs nesting in chimneys of Kindrogan House and in natural holes and nest-boxes in the adjacent beech wood.

 

Rook  Corvus frugilegus


Common in Glen Brerachan. Nestlings already fledged.

 

Carrion Crow  Corvus corone


A few pairs in the north-west end of Strathardle.

 

Raven  Corvus corax


1-2, over Kindrogan Hill, daily.

1, Straloch Loch, 08/06.

 

Starling  Sturnus vulgaris


Common in Kirkmichael and Pitlochry.

Nesting at Davan and birch wood near Ceanghline, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

 

House Sparrow  Passer domesticus


Noted in Pitlochry, 06/06.

2 mm + f with food for young, Straloch PS, 08/06.

Heard, Tigh na Croft, 08/06.

2-3 prs Woodend, 08/06.

 

Chaffinch  Fringilla coelebs


Abundant. Most females probably still incubating. Copulation observed 08/06.

Singing at field centre from 03:58h, 07/06.

14 singing mm, A924 Straloch-Enochdhu, 08/06.

20 singing mm, along 4.5 km of forest track, south side of Kindrogan Hill, 09/06.

 

Kindrogan Field Centre, Perthshire, Scotland  56° 44' 45.8" N  03° 32' 49.7" W  7 June 2016

Edited sample of a singing male with three song types, playing A-A-A B-B-B C-C-C.

Of 173 song strophes sung in 20 minutes, 78 were type A (medium, 2.49 sec), 50 type B (long, 2.82 sec) and 45 type c (short, 2.11 sec) with 31 switches between each type.

[File name: chaffinch113757ecut]

    Chaffinch song types

 

Greenfinch  Carduelis chloris


Min 2 prs, Kindrogan Field Centre.

4 singing mm, A924 Straloch-Enochdhu, 08/06.

 

Goldfinch  Carduelis carduelis


2, at feeding station, Kindrogan Field Centre, daily.

1, Straloch Loch, 08/06.

Pr, east of Straloch PS, 08/06.

1 singing m, Tigh na Croft, 08/06.

 

Siskin  Carduelis spinus


Common.

Displaying birds noted in most areas.

10+, car park area, Kindrogan Field Centre, 08/06.

13, curling pond-West Lodge, 08/06.

12, A924 Straloch-Enochdhu, 08/06.

 

Linnet  Carduelis cannabina


Pr, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

 

Lesser Redpoll  Carduelis cabaret


1m, East Lodge, 04/06.

Heard, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

2, Balnald, 08/06.

2 singing mm, birch wood near Ceanghline, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

 

Crossbill  Loxia curvirostra


4, forestry track to Loch Curran, 09/06.

 

Bullfinch  Pyrrhula pyrrhula


Pairs or singles noted at Kindrogan Field Centre (2), East Lodge, Enochdhu, cemetery clearfell, ~7 y.o. restock on Kindrogan Hill, forest track to Loch Curran.

 

Yellowhammer  Emberiza citrinella


1m/2ff, feeding station, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

1 singing m, Dunkeld & Birnham GC (Loch of the Lowes side), 06/06.

 

Reed Bunting  Emberiza schoeniclus


1 singing m, Loch of the Lowes, 06/06.

1 singing m, east end of Glen Brerachan, 08/06.

1 singing m, Straloch Loch, 08/06.

 

 

Loch Curran © Fraser Simpson

Loch Curran

 

Birch slopes, Glen Brerachan © Fraser Simpson

Birch slopes, Glen Brerachan

 

Tullochcurran Loch © Fraser Simpson

Tullochcurran Loch

Kindrogan Field Centre © Fraser Simpson Kindrogan Field Centre, Enochdhu, Perthshire

Curling Pond © Fraser Simpson Curling Pond, Kindrogan Field Centre

 

Davan area © Fraser Simpson

Davan area

 

Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi) © Fraser Simpson

Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi), Kindrogan Field Centre, Enochdhu, Perthshire

 

 

 

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Location Guide to LocationsSummary 2005-2018


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