Perth & Kinross
The SOC Perth and Kinross Recording Area is co-terminus with the unitary council area and a Lieutenancy Area of the same name. It borders on to the recording areas of Highland to the northwest, North-east Scotland to the northeast, Angus & Dundee to the east, Fife to the southeast and Upper Forth to the southwest. Perth is the administrative centre. It corresponds broadly, but not exactly, with the former counties of Perthshire and Kinross-shire.
The geological fault that gives the distinctive character to lowland and highland Scotland passes southwest-northeast through the area. The population is largely centred in the lowlands, along wide fertile valleys such as Strathearn, and the Carse of Gowrie. To the north and west are the Grampians intersected by narrow glens with lochs in their valley floors. Among the highest elevations in the Grampians are Ben Lawers (3,984 ft) and Schiehallion (3,554 ft); in the south are the lower Ochil and Sidlaw Hills. The fertile lowland valleys are productive of soft fruit and arable farming whereas the northern highland areas support cattle as well as economically significant salmon farms.
To the north, there is afforestation and 14 hydroelectric power installations. The attractions of the natural scenery of mountains and lochs has made tourism an important part of northern Perth and Kinross’ economy.
Birding Perth & Kinross
The highland specialities are there and in the winter in particular, come into their own with thousands of over-wintering geese and other waders and wildfowl.
Areas of deciduous woodland may hold hawfinch and reed-beds also attract winter roosts.
The Tay Reedbeds are the most extensive in the UK and also has the highest number of Bearded Tits of any site.
Top Sites
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Carsebreck Loch
InformationSatellite ViewA fine wetland with a history of attracting rarities as well as good numbers of wildfowl -
Little Bank Wetland, Port Allen
InformationSatellite ViewOne of the best wetllands in the area with reedbeds and mudflats. -
Loch Leven
InformationSatellite ViewLoch Leven hosts one of the largest concentrations of inland breeding ducks in Europe. Around 1000 pairs nest mainly in the loch's islands. -
Rannoch Moor
InformationSatellite ViewRannoch Moor is an expanse of around 50 square miles of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch in Scotland, where it extends from and into westerly Perth and Kinross, northerly Lochaber (in Highland), and the area of Highland Scotland toward its south-west, northern Argyll and Bute. Rannoch Moor is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation.
County Recorder
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George Dunbar
07765 183697
Useful Reading
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If Rivers Could Sing – A Scottish River Wildlife Journey
| Year in the Life of the River Devon as it flows through the Counties of Perthshire, Kinross-Shire & Clackmannanshire | By Keith Broomfield | Tippermuir Books Limited | 2020 | Paperback | 165 pages, b/w illustrations | £9.99p | ISBN: 9781913836009 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Kinross Bird Atlas 2007-11
During the fieldwork for BirdAtlas 2007-11, data for the old county of Kinross were gathered from all of its 71 tetrads. The data are in the process of being mapped, eventually to be uploaded on to a CD. Contact Norman Elkins for details. ISBN: Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Rare and Scarce Birds in North-East Scotland
| Edited by Ian M Phillips | Ian M Phillips | 1997 | Hardback | 192 pages, 32 col plates, 60 illustrations, distribution maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780953125906 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Where to Watch Birds in Scotland
| By Mike Madders & Julia Welstead | Christopher Helm | 2002 | Paperback | 297 pages, b/w illustrations, maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780713656930 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birding Aps
Where to Watch Birds in Scotland
Apple iOS | AndroidThis app will help beginners and experts alike to discover hundreds of the best places to see and enjoy birds around the country. Where to Watch Birds in Scotland, the Scottish Ornithologists' Club's free mobile app for Apple and Android devices, now has over 580 sites. New sites will continue to be added and existing ones updated as far as possible. The app launched in April 2019 and since then has been downloaded by more than 15,000 users and amassed over 750,000 site views. It won 'Product of the Year' in Birdwatch and BirdGuides' 2019 Birders' Choice Awards, and the BTO/Marsh Award for Local Ornithology 2020.Useful Information-
Perth & Kinross Bird Report
The Perth & Kinross Bird Report was last published in 2006 -
eBird
Sightings
Organisations-
PSNS Perthshire Society of Natural Science
WebpageWe are a club for people interested in plant life, birds, insects, fungi, or, in brief, our wildlife, its natural history and its conservation. -
SOC Tayside Branch
WebpageVenue details: Glasite Hall, St Andrews Parish Church, King Street, Dundee, DD1 2JB, next to the Wellgate Centre
Reserves-
F&LS South Rannoch Blackwood
WebpageSatellite ViewSouth Rannoch is located on the southern edge of Loch Rannoch in Highland Perthshire. The forest which covers 3543ha, falls within the Glen Lyon and Loch Rannoch National Scenic Area (NSA) and incorporates the majority of the Blackwood of Rannoch Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Adding to the forest’s environmental importance is its adjacency to Loch Rannoch which is part of the River Tay SAC. -
LNR Inner Tay Estuary
InformationSatellite ViewThe inner estuary of the River Tay contains the most extensive continuous reed beds in Britain. The LNR contains many diverse habitats including mudflats, beaches and dunes which support a variety of wildlife. The Tay estuary holds populations of birds that have been recognised as having both national and international importance. -
NNR Ben Lawers
InformationSatellite ViewLook out for wildlife including red deer, ptarmigan, ravens, ring ouzels, skylarks and black grouse. -
NNR Loch Leven
InformationSatellite ViewA huge expanse of open water, Loch Leven National Nature Reserve (NNR) provides an ideal home for countless birds. With more freshwater breeding ducks than anywhere else in inland Europe... -
RSPB Loch Leven (Vane Farm)
WebpageSatellite ViewSet on the southern shore of the loch, this nature reserve offers a great day out for families, nature lovers and wildlife watchers alike. Ospreys visit the loch to fish during the summer, while up to 20,000 pink-footed geese fly in from Iceland come autumn. -
RSPB Tay Reedbeds
WebpageSatellite ViewDiscover the UK’s largest continuous reedbed along the north bank of the River Tay in Perthshire. The Tay Reedbeds are a haven for wildlife, including Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers and Water Rails. Follow the 7km Taybank Circular path for a chance to see Bearded Tits flitting over the reeds and ducks and swans enjoying the shallows.
Trip Reports-
2015 [06 June] - F Simpson - Kindrogan Field Centre
ReportThis was my thirteenth trip on an undergraduate university field course to the Field Studies Council's Kindrogan Field Centre near Enochdhu in picturesque Strathardle, Perthshire. -
2016 [06 June] - F Simpson - Kindrogan Field Centre
ReportThis 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. -
2017 [06 June] - F Simpson - Kindrogan Field Centre
ReportThis was my fifthteenth trip on an undergraduate university field course to the Field Studies Council's Kindrogan Field Centre near Enochdhu in picturesque Strathardle, Perthshire. -
2018 [06 June] - Fraser Simpson - indrogan Field Centre
ReportThis was my sixthteenth trip on an undergraduate university field course to the Field Studies Council's Kindrogan Field Centre near Enochdhu in 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 with heather moorland and small patches of open birch woodland. This trip report details the birds found mainly around the field centre...
Places to Stay-
Innerwick Estate - Aberfeldy Perthshire
AccommodationInnerwick Estate, a working hill farm in the Scottish Highlands, is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and a designated National Scenic Area. We offer four fabulous cottages for holiday rental. -
Panholes Cottages
Accommodation -
Rosemount Hotel
WebsiteOur Scottish Hotel deals are perfect for lovers of beautiful scenery and all things outdoors. There are 40 miles of waymarked trails just waiting to be explored, ideal for walkers and hikers too. We are also centrally based for touring the fabulous countryside that surrounds us in every direction
Other Links-
Birding in Perth and Kinross
ArticlePerth and Kinross offers a wealth of good birding in a variety of wonderful habitats, from montane and upland species in Highland Perthshire, to wildfowl and waders in superb wetlands. An ornithological highlight of late autumn in Perth and Kinross is the arrival of tens of thousands of wildfowl at wetlands within easy reach of Perth.
Blogs-
Shirls Gardenwatch
BlogVisitors beware… this blog contains way too much chat, photos and video on garden plants, birds and wildlife. It also goes wandering on visits to gardens and nature reserves!
Photographers & Artists-
Artist - Martin Ridley
GalleryA Creative Process Revealed: Wildlife Art Description - Gallery of wildlife and wilderness art depicting birds and other animals, paintings in oils and watercolours with accompanying original sketches by artist painter & illustrator Martin Ridley. View how sketches, preparatory drawings and a gallery of wildlife paintings are evolved from initial field encounters, detailed information about creative working methods with wildlife watching tips, painting stages from initial brush stroke to completion, oils in progress. Services include e-Cards, wildlife artwork screensavers, forthcoming wildlife art events calendar, selected art, conservation and wildlife links and search facility to source images.
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Fatbirder - linking birders worldwide...
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