Birds of Rannoch
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Eagles are fairly common in the area, nesting on both rocky outcrops and in pine trees. They prey on hares, ptarmigan, grouse and will take carrion. There is a well known pine tree nest site which has been occupied for many decades and in the same vicinity there are other nests which were used in the past.
I have seen an eagle from my garden at West Tempar, circling over Schiehallion. Perhaps this makes the Golden Eagle a garden bird?
Peregrine Falcon
This fast flying falcon nests on Craig Varr amongst other places. It is a spectacular hunter, diving on its prey from a great height and striking it with its talons. This is called stooping and can result in the decapitation of the prey. They are vigorous in defending their nest area and I have seen one mobbing a buzzard very effectively in Glen Errochty. The stoop can reach a speed of 200 miles an hour. Pigeons are common prey and so racing pigeon owners are not always keen on peregrines. Peregrines suffered a good deal from the use of persistent pesticides such as DTP, deildrin and aldrin. Their egg shells became thin and cracked. Happily this threat seems to be over.
Hen Harrier
The hen harrier nest on moorland is not much liked by those who manage the land for grouse shooting as they do take grouse. They also hunt over lower marshy land such as on the shores of Dunalastair Water. They male is grey with a white rump and can easily be mistaken for a gull. The larger female is brown with a white rump. They have quite a reputation for ferocity in defending their nest areas. In any case, like all birds of prey they are protected by law. The hunting technique consists of drifting low over the land and then pouncing on the unsuspecting prey.
Kestrel
The commonest British falcon, the kestrel is easily recognised by its habit of hovering before pouncing on its prey. In the Rannoch area they frequently nest in pine trees and are a common sight.
Sparrow Hawk
The sparrow hawk seems less common than the kestrel, although it may just be that is is less often seen. It hunts low over the ground and surprises its prey by suddenly appearing over hedges and other objects. Its wings are rounded, the typical shape for providing manoeuvrability in woodland habitats. The female is considerably larger than the male which allows them to hunt different types of prey and therefore benefit from a larger food supply.
Merlin
The smallest British falcon. The merlin is only about the size of a thrush and one of its favourite preys is meadow pipits.
Osprey
The osprey became extinct in Britain but has recolonised from Scandinavia. This process has undoubtedly been helped by the RSPB who guarded the early nests at Loch Garten and Loch of the Lowes. At Loch Garten vandals attempted to cut through the tree with a chain saw. In the world context Ospreys are not an endangered species as they are Pandemic in distribution. In the USA and other places they even nest in colonies. They are fond of pylons in the states and a Rannoch one has used the same kind of nest-site. Their fishing technique is spectacular, diving feet first with swept-back wings to grab their fish prey beneath the surface of the water. Then with considerable effort they struggle into the air, shaking off the water and supporting the burden of the fish. The fish is held longitudinally so that there is less drag when they are flying. They are now reasonably common in Scotland and are a great addition to the fauna. In winter they migrate through Mediterranean regions to Africa where they have further problems. Dead ones have been found with arrows in them. Along with other birds of prey they choose to cross the sea where it is narrowest because they like to use thermals to assist flight and reduce energy expenditure. In consequence they cross in the Mediteranean at Gibraltar and the Dardanelles.
Tawny Owl
Tawny owls are common and can often be seen sitting on fence posts or telegraph poles at twilight. They can be very vocal producing a range of hoots or screeches. Occasionally people find apparently abandoned chicks. These are best left alone as the parents are probably going to return.
Short-eared Owl
Short-eared owls fly in the daylight more often than other owls in the Rannoch area and can be mistaken for buzzards. They have quite long wings for an owl. They hunt over the moorland where they nest. They are summer visitors from places like Scandinavia where they are well known predators of the lemming and their numbers fluctuate with lemming years.
Red grouse have indirectly exerted a great influence over the Scottish landscape. Large tracts of land have been managed to provide a favourable habitat for them. The patch work of the moorlands is a result of heather burning, the purpose of which is to encourage fresh growth of heather shoots which the grouse like to eat. In the past game keepers suppressed birds of prey which were seen as a threat to the grouse. Much research has been done on the relationship between predators and grouse and further information can obtained from the RSPB, Aberdeen University and the Game Conservancy. Much research and habitat management is undertaken by workers at Crubenmore near Dalwhinnie.
Red grouse numbers have increased in the last few years following a considerable decline. They are found on the major estates of the area eg. Dunalastair, Innerhadden, West Tempar etc.
The Black grouse is also known as the Black Cock, the female being called a Grey hen. It is a larger bird than the red grouse and lives in those places where woodland and moorland meet. The Black grouse has suffered a decline in recent years and the reasons for this are being studied at present. There is a well known Lek for Black grouse at Moulin a Vardie on the Dunalastair estate. Smaller numbers are found on Camusericht and West Tempar.
The Ptarmigan is a bird of the high tops. It is found at approximately 2000 feet and higher. In winter it turns white for camouflage. In summer it is greyish or brownish with some white. The call is a distinctive churring produced either while walking or in flight. They tend to be fairly tame, perhaps because of the lack of human contact and it is possible to approach quite closely before they take to the air. I have encountered up to twenty on the slopes of Schiehallion.
The Capercaillie is a very large bird which lives in the original caledonian woodland. There are only small areas of this type of woodland (eg the Black Wood and Rothiemurchus Forest) and so the available habitat is fairly restricted. The species had gone extinct in Scotland and was reintroduced but is in danger of dying out again. The males are turkey sized and can get quite aggressive in the breeding season. They have been known to put tourists to flight at Carie. They are game birds and have been shot (perhaps over shot). The flesh is not immediately pleasant to eat as the feed on pine shoots and it can apparently only be rendered palatable by marinating in orange juice. Like the Black Cock, with which they can interbreed, Capercaillie use a Lek for breeding. The males defend a territory and the females choose which to mate with. The male has a very unusual call which sounds like a bottle of wine being uncorked and then pouring.
Rannoch bird list (alphbetical) If you would like to add to the list email birds@rannoch.net
Barn Owl
Black Bird
Black Grouse
Black Headed Gull
Black Throated Diver
Blue Tit
Bull Finch
Buzzard
Capercaillie
Carrion Crow
Chiffchaff
Coal Tit
Common Gull
Common Partridge
Common Sandpiper
Cormorant
Corncrake
Crossbill
Cuckoo
Curlew
Dipper
Dunnock
Fieldfare
Garden Warbler
Gold Crest
Gold Finch
Golden Eagle
Goldeneye
Golden Plover
Goosander
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Green Finch
Greenshank
Green Woodpecker
Greylag Goose
Grey Wagtail
Hen Harrier
Heron
Hooded Crow
House Martin
House Sparrow
Jackdaw
Jay
Kestrel
Mallard
Meadow Pipit
Merlin
Mistle Thrush
Lapwing
Linnet
Little Grebe
Long Tailed Tit
Osprey
Oyster Catcher
Peregrine Falcon
Pheasant
Pied Flycatcher
Pied Wagtail
Pochard
Ptarmigan
Raven
Red Breasted Meganser
Red Grouse
Redshank
Red Start
Redwing
Robin
Sand Martin
Sedge Warbler
Short Eared Owl
Siskin
Sky Lark
Slavonian Grebe
Snipe
Song Thrush
Sparrow Hawk
Spotted Flycatcher
Stone Chat
Swallow
Swift
Tawny Owl
Teal
Tree Creeper
Tree Pipit
Tufted Duck
Twite
Waxwing
Wheatear
Whin Chat
Whooper Swan
Wigeon
Willow Warbler
Woodcock
Wood Pigeon
Wood Warbler
Wren
Yellow Hammer