Loch of the Lowes has taken on a very autumnal feel over the past few weeks with signs of the changing season increasingly evident. With the leaves on the trees gradually losing their green chlorophyll, they are transforming into a vibrant kaleidoscope of golds, yellows, reds and burnt oranges. Eventually falling to the ground, children (and adults!) can then delight in swishing through them whilst out walking and hear them crunch under their feet.  Perthshire, with its large and impressive woodlands is a magical place at this time of year for this very reason.

Any summer migrants have long since departed and we are starting to see some of our winter visitors arriving. On the loch numbers of goldeneye have been slowly increasing, with sightings of wigeon and teal also reported. We haven’t seen any whooper swans yet – they tend to appear later in the year. Large flocks of pink-footed geese have been passing by on their way south – for a real goose spectacle head to Montrose Basin where 85,632 were counted last October!   

We had our first pair of brambling of the autumn at the feeding station a couple of days ago and flocks of redwing and fieldfare have been sighted in the surrounding woodland. I saw and heard a flock of a dozen or so fieldfare chuckling away in the trees beside the disabled car park as I arrived one day last week.

Our EVS volunteer Chris is desperate to see some waxwing this winter so if anyone hears of any within distance of Loch of the Lowes drop us an email!

Jonathan