Bird list for Loch of Leys, Banchory, Kincardineshire

This is a list of the species I've seen at the Loch of Leys to the north of Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland, about 15 miles from the coast. The loch is more of a bog since there is very little open water remaining. To the north and east are conifer plantations, with open farmland to the south and west.

  1. Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - single over West, 6 June 1987
  2. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - several often present
  3. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) - single on the water, April 1993
  4. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - numerous, breeds - several pairs
  5. Teal (Anas crecca) - regular, breeds
  6. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - common resident, breeds
  7. Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - regular
  8. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - regular mainly over farmland to south
  9. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) - common resident
  10. Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) - formerly regular
  11. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) - regular but absent in mid-winter; perhaps 5-10 pairs
  12. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) - common resident, breeds
  13. Coot (Fulica atra) - common resident, breeds
  14. Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) - common summer visitor, from late February; breeds nearby
  15. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) - regular visitor
  16. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - regular visitor, probably very numerous but secretive
  17. Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) - rodding birds seen on summer evenings, probably breeds in small numbers
  18. Curlew (Numenius arquata) - regular visitor in small numbers, possibly breeds
  19. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) - former breeding colony
  20. Common Gull (Larus canus) - regular visitor
  21. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) - passes overhead commuting between Loch of Skene roost and Crow's Nest amenity site; day roost in fields to west
  22. Great Blackback (Larus marinus) - passes overhead commuting between Loch of Skene roost and Crow's Nest amenity site; day roost in fields to west (up to 150 birds)
  23. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) - common resident
  24. Stock Dove (Columba oenas) - uncommon resident
  25. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) - resident, presumably breeds
  26. Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) - resident in small numbers
  27. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) - resident in small numbers
  28. Skylark (Alauda arvensis) - regular visitor
  29. Common Swift (Apus apus) - regular summer visitor
  30. Swallow (Hirundo rustica) - former large roost (1400 birds, 1989); smaller roost in recent years (50 birds, 1998)
  31. House Martin (Delichon urbica) - small numbers with Swallows at roost
  32. Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) - small numbers with Swallows at roost
  33. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) - common resident
  34. Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) - uncommon summer visitor, breeds at east end
  35. Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarelli) - uncommon visitor
  36. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - common resident
  37. Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - common resident
  38. Blackbird (Turdus merula) - common resident
  39. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) - common winter visitor
  40. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) - common resident
  41. Redwing (Turdus iliacus) - common winter visitor
  42. Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) - common summer visitor, breeds
  43. Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) - uncommon summer visitor
  44. Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) - common summer visitor, breeds
  45. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) - common resident, breeds in woods to north and east
  46. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) - common resident, breeds
  47. Coal Tit (Parus ater) - common resident, breeds in woods to north and east
  48. Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) - common resident
  49. Great Tit (Parus major) - common resident
  50. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) - uncommon resident
  51. Magpie (Pica pica) - regular visitor; breeds near farms to west
  52. Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) - common visitor, feeds at Crow's Nest to west
  53. Rook (Corvus frugilegus) - common visitor, sometimes in large numbers in roost flights
  54. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) - common resident, up to 100 birds feeding at Crow's Nest to west
  55. Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix) - uncommon resident, regular individuals amongst Carrion Crows at Crow's Nest to west
  56. Jay (Garrulus glandarius) - uncommon resident
  57. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - common resident, formerly roosted in large numbers (>1000 birds, 1989)
  58. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) - common resident, breeds
  59. Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) - uncommon visitor
  60. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - uncommon visitor
  61. Siskin (Carduelis spinus) - common resident, breeds
  62. Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) - uncommon resident breeder, larger numbers visit in winter
  63. Common Crossbill (Loxia_curvirostra) - uncommon visitor, possibly breeds
  64. Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) - common resident
  65. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) - common resident
  66. Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) - common resident, perhaps 20 pairs

NB - another species reported from the site is Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia) though I'm yet to see one there and I'm fairly sure there have been none in some years.

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