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Auchterarder Ornithology

The whole district of Auchterarder is rich in bird life for the keen ornithologist. Both Song and Missel Thrushes can be seen in numbers as can winter visitors, Fieldfare and Redwing.
The Skylark, common enough forty years ago, may be suffering from changes in agricultural practices disturbing their natural habitat. Hopefully, they may yet again adapt to new conditions.

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Other common birds in the area are Blackbird, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Starling, Tits, Pied Wagtail, Sparrow Hawk, Merlin and the occasional Peregrine. In addition we have all the warblers - Willow and Garden plus the lesser and rarer White Throat Warbler. Down by the Lochy Burn the occasional Grasshopper Warbler can be seen. Swifts, Martins and Swallows are common to the area, as are the Curlew, Oyster-catcher, Lapwing and Heron. Dippers were once to be seen bobbing up and down on the Lochy Burn.

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The new bypass may have frightened off this naturally shy bird; there have been no sightings recently. Snipe also used to be seen regularly down by the marshy ground near Coal Bore, but again, they have not been seen for some years. It is worth keeping an eye open for their return. Resident species include Long Tailed Tit, Fly Catcher, Goldfinch, Wood-pecker, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Sparrow Hawk, Buzzards and Hen Harrier.

We also have regular visits from members of the crow family - Rook, Carrion Crow and Jackdaws in abundance, with Jays fairly widely spread over the area. There are many migratory visitors using Auchterarder as a re-fuelling stop during their annual migration. Duck, Geese and most unusual of all; a Black-Stork which stayed on the River Earn near Dalreoch for most of the 1984/85 winter. Many visitors came to see the birds which stayed with us for a considerable period.

It pays to keep your eyes open in the Auchterarder area!