Bird Watching in Scotland
Scotland Offers Bird Watchers a Rare Treat in July
RSPB Scotland and Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park have a wonderful treat in store for bird lovers. The park is home to one of UK’s rarest breeding birds, the hen harrier and you can now observe the birds nesting through high quality CCTV images. The project aptly called ‘Aren’t Birds Brilliant’ is on every Saturday at 1 pm through June and July. Take a twenty minute train ride from Glasgow to Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire, and use the free bus service to the Muirshiel Visitor Centre, just five miles to the north of it.
The park’s moorland landscape offers nest sites for this spectacular bird, as well as places for it to hunt small birds and field voles. Free guided two hour walks take place on Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes, warm clothing and waterproofs and do not forget your binoculars.
Your bird watching begins at the Visitor’s Centre where a feeding station located in front of the main viewing area and the wildlife garden offer great opportunities to observe garden birds. The Center’s viewing tower and ground level observation window with telescopes and friendly staff helps you make the most from your visit. Trails including a new walking route to Lochwinnoch town and wildlife viewing hides are all easily accessible.
Spend the day at Lochwinnoch nature reserve situated within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. It is one of the few remaining wetlands in west Scotland and offers excellent views of its marshland, woodland and a shallow loch with wet meadows and ponds surrounded by sedge beds. There are opportunities of seeing short-eared owls, peregrine falcons and black grouse, a wide variety of mammals, plants and insects and, if you a very lucky, the chance of seeing a hunting hen harrier. In the winter you may see a variety of waders and wildfowl including whooper swans, geese, goosanders and goldeneye. Springtime birds include great crested grebes and lapwings.
The Centre also has the facilities for a light snack and you can browse in the RSPB shop.
Special events aimed at children are held throughout the year. The observation tower has an interactive display for children. RSPB Explorer Backpacks containing binoculars, bug viewers, wildlife guides and activity booklets are available for children to use on the reserve.