Loch of the Lowes is a busy place at the moment with our two young ospreys out and about all over, and trying their fishing skills in between rain showers!

As some of you have noticed, there are also quite a few geese appearing on the Loch- the beginning of our autumn and winter influx?  Amongst the Canada geese there have even occasionally been three Barr Headed Geese (a central Asian species, probably escaped from captivity!).

There are also lots of ducks on the loch- Mallards, Tufted Ducks and a few Goldeneye, as well as our Great Crested Grebes which bred successfully here for the first time in a few years (thanks to a lack of summer flooding).

Our ospreys are not the only birds with fledglings learning their flying skills at the moment- there is a large family of jays with young around, as well as dozens of woodpeckers, and many small birds too.

 Amongst the mammals, our red squirrels are doing really well, with at least two young visiting the feeders at the visitors centre regularly- you can tell them by their cheeky antics and the very shiny pelts in contrast to their parent’s rather threadbare moulting stage fur. Our local fallow deer have also been seen a lot around the loch, including our white hind with her beautiful pale faun.

 And you thought it was just all about ospreys here at Lowes! Even after our youngsters leave us in a few weeks, there will be plenty of wildlife for visitors to enjoy, and to console us ‘osprey addicts’ until the spring. 

 Emma Rawling

Perthshire Ranger