In May I usually attempt to get to Killiecrankie to try for Wood Warbler and Pied Flycatcher. Last year I joined the Dundee Naturalists coach trip, and in previous years I've relied on getting a lift from birding friends. However, with neither being an option this year I had to bite the bullet and to look into getting there under my own steam. Looking at the TravelineScotland website and app I worked out that it was possible to get around 6 hours or so around the Pitlochry area by taking the train to Perth, then another to Pitlochry. From there I would walk to Killiecrankie along one of a choice of routes.
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| Dipper |
With the train to Perth due to leave at around 0855, I headed out in plenty of time to catch the bus into town and then from there to walk to the railway station. Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw and Swift were all seen within minutes of leaving home. Blue Tit, Blackbird and Feral Pigeon were seen from the bus. There weren't many birds seen from the train, though Mute Swan and Black Headed Gull were added as we passed Invergowrie Bay. Brown Hare and Roe Deer were seen in the fields as we neared Perth.
The wait at Perth station was quite productive with a number of birds seen as I waited. A Willow Warbler was heard singing while overhead Swifts and House Martins circled round. Starlings flew back and forwards with food for young. A Lesser Black Backed Gull glided over. Jackdaws picked around on a bit of wasteground. A Collared Dove perched atop a wall opposite. A Blackbird landed on a sign within the station, and a pair of House Sparrows loitered near a few folk waiting for the train. A Pied Wagtail landed on the tracks.
From the train north, I added an Oystercatcher at a building site on the outskirts of the city. There were plenty of Rooks in the fields and a few Jackdaws too. A pair of mallards flew parallel to the train for a few seconds. A few Pheasants were in the fields as we headed further northwards. A Lapwing on the edge of a field was spooked by the train. I arrived in Pitlochry at around 1020 and decided to take the route alongside the river to walk to Killiecrankie.
I found a route down to the water and followed the signs for the Bealach Path. A Grey Wagtail was down by the edge of the river and a Chaffinch was seen in the trees a little further on. A Robin perched on a low branch a bit further on. A Chiffchaff and the first Wood Warbler of the day was heard, but not seen. The path was rather up and down and I didn't seem to have gone very far. Coal Tit and then Long Tailed Tits were found before I heard a Garden Warbler singing down a side track. After a few minutes I did manage to see the bird, and better than I had the day before, though there was little opportunity of a photo. I heard a distant Cuckoo and an unexpected Green Woodpecker calling, as well as a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
On one of my first clear views of the mountains around Pitlochry I scanned along the skyline as I tend to do, just in case. A large raptor was seen circling and I took a few photos. One of them showed a white tail and on the computer at home it was possible to see the black terminal band too. A
Golden Eagle. What a cracking bird to start the walk with. A totally unexpected bonus. Not too long after my first
Wood Warbler of the year chose to land in a tree a few feet above me, calling as it did so. I had nice close views before moving on again.
Oystercatcher and Common Sandpiper were seen on the river near the power station. There was a small flock of Siskins in the trees before an RAF Hercules overflew at low level. I heard a possible Redstart singing in the trees across a field but couldn't see anything. As I neared the Garry bridge a
Pied Flycatcher dropped in onto a branch at eye level, giving me my second year-tick of the day. My second Wood Warbler showed well just beyond the bridge in the trees on the other side of the gorge. I did contemplate not completing the walk to Killiecrankie as I had seen both my targets, but I wanted to see if I could see anything interesting on the other side of the river on the walk up Tenandry Hill and back down to Garry bridge.
North of the bridge the character of the river changed, becoming more rocky and faster flowing generally. It didn't take too long to find a Dipper, and it was a youngster. An adult flew in to feed it, and I was able to get a few photos through the branches of the trees on my side of the river. A little further on, I came across another two youngsters and was taking photos as the adult bird came in to feed them when a couple of walkers asked what I was photographing. I managed to show them through a gap in the trees, just as a third youngster appeared. Whether this was the same bird from earlier or a different one, I've no idea, but it was great to see the 3 youngsters and an adult bird all at one time.
As I neared Killiecrankie I added a Common Gull to the list, and a Blackcap singing across the other bank. A family group of Great Tits gave me great close views a short distance further on. A Robin with food was near the railway viaduct. I headed up the hill towards the visitor centre. I stopped near the Soldier's Leap and was aware of a bird flying into the tree behind me. Another Pied Flycatcher, but this time in far better light than the one earlier. It sang for a minute or two before appearing to disappear into a nest box on the tree. I headed up the hill a bit further before spotting a Wood Warbler with nest material on a branch. It dropped down lower, eyeing me warily. I took another couple of very quick shots then left it to descend to its chosen nest site unseen.
A Jay shot through the trees and down across the river as I chatted to a couple who were looking for Wood Warblers. I had a spot of lunch at a picnic table near the visitor centre before deciding I would start to walk back to Pitlochry down the other side of the river, despite my legs feeling rather heavy already. Swallows were seen over the houses down the hill at Killiecrankie though there was no sign of the very chatty Dutch guy who stopped us to chat last year (and who can actually be seen on the Google Streetview images). A couple of HGV lorries came round the corner just across the bridge which was surprise but thankfully they spotted me in plenty of time.
I knew from having walked a short way up the bottom of the hill previously that it was quite a steep incline. The sun was shining too and shade was limited so I took my time in the heat, stopping to take scenic photos a few times. Thankfully it wasn't too high a hill and I was soon at the top of the road. There was a sign showing a loop around the actual top of the hill, but I think a start/end point in Killiecrankie would be required for attempting that one - maybe next year. A Tree Pipit was heard calling but not seen.Wren and Goldcrest were heard on the way downhill. I stopped to watch 4 Buzzards high overhead together as I descended the hill. A Raven circled out above me a few minutes later.
Reaching Garry bridge I checked the map board to decside on the shortest route back, choosing to double back on my route of earlier, though when I found a distance marker it said 3.5 miles which was the same distance as the western bank route that I chose not to use. I did succeed in adding two more species in the grounds of Faskally House, a Song Thrush on the path and a Mistle Thrush on the grass area in front of the house, along with Jackdaws and Oystercatchers. By now my legs were starting to hurt so I found a route which I suspected would take me back to the main road back into Pitlochry. Thankfully it did.
On the walk back into the town I added a Dunnock and heard another Chiffchaff as well as a Willow Warbler. I had a look at the decent selection of bird books in the station book shop, though decided against buying any despite being tempted by a few. I had great but very brief views of an RAF A400M at low level as it raced past the station, probably terrifying drivers on the A9 as its shadow fell on them. There was nothing new added on the way back to Dundee except Shelducks in Invergowrie Bay.
All in all a very good day out with some nice photo opportunities and good views of both target species/year-ticks (in bold) and the bonus of the Golden Eagle, even if the views of it were very distant. ore quality than quantity with only the relatively low total of 45 species seen (8 others heard only).
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| Golden Eagle |
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| Wood Warbler |
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| Wood Warbler |
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| Mallard Duckling |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Blackcap |
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| Dipper |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper |
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| Great Tit |
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| Great Tit |
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| Great Tit |
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| Robin |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Wood Warbler |
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| Wood Warbler |
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| Wood Warbler |
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| Buzzard |
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| Raven |
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| Garden Warbler |
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Common Sandpiper |
Species seen - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Dipper, Dunnock, Garden Warbler,
Golden Eagle, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant,
Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Shelduck, Siskin, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Swift,
Wood Warbler, Woodpigeon.
Heard only - Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Wren.
