It is great to read how many people are enjoying watching our webcam during this period of staying home. I know many of us, myself included, are enjoying listening to the bird call in the background – it almost feels like we are sat in the woodland at Loch of the Lowes, perhaps a bit warmer and more comfortable though!

I have really enjoyed trying to identify some of the bird song in sound clips that have been sent in through both social media and email. Apologies for those who I was unable to offer an identification for. This year our microphone is picking up more calls and song than ever before! Sometimes the black headed gulls at the far end of the loch, sound like they are in my living room – it is truly amazing.

The immense range the microphone records has also led to some worries about other, more human sounds such as engine noise and dogs barking. Often these noises sound a lot closer than they are – one which is particularly common is a tractor working on a nearby farm which can often be mistaken for a boat engine.

Along with the increased volume of the bird calls picked up through the microphone, many of the calls often sound different, or “exotic”. This is mostly because when the calls are recorded and played through our live stream they can often get distorted in the process, changing their tone, sometimes slowing them down and giving them a metallic “twang” or a “bubbling” sound. This makes it even more challenging to identify them!

To try and help you identify these birds, I am going to share some of the most commonly heard calls on our live-stream. I hope you join me and continue to enjoy listening to our webcam and watching the stunning view over the loch through our online “window”.

Amy Bastow
Visitor Centre Assistant

Our Osprey Protection Programme at Loch of the Lowes is kindly supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.