Find Wildlife
Where to find wildlife locally
(Please click on green links or photos to open the related website)
Great Tit
Carron Glen is an attractive stretch of woodland with a beautiful steep-sided gorge which supports a large tract of ancient deciduous woodland. Globeflower is abundant on the islands in the river and several woodland birds are found here including green woodpecker. Dipper and kingfisher can also be found along the river.
Golden Eye
Cambus Pools, Tullibody Inch and Alloa Inch, SWT Reserves.
Detailed walks are described on our WALKS page.
Mallards at Doune Ponds
Visit Doune Ponds for waterfowl and other birds as well as fungi in the autumn.
Red Kite
An excellent centre, near Doune, where there is a red kite feeding station and viewing area.
Flanders Moss
National Nature Reserve Flanders Moss is an area of raised bog lying in the Carse of Forth in west Stirlingshire. The eastern part of the Moss is the largest raised bog in Europe to remain in a predominantly near-natural state and as such is a site of special scientific interest.
Lesser Butterfly Orchid
Plean Country Park is an area of over 70 hectares of diverse parkland and woodland owned by Stirling Council and open to the public all year round during daylight hours.
(NB: Don't miss the orchid meadow in June)
Great Crested Grebe
Gartmorn Dam Country Park and Nature Reserve
The Dam is an important site for migratory wildfowl in the winter months. Many birds also live at Gartmorn all year round and breed there in the summer time.
In the Ochil Hills
Walks around Stirling and the Ochil Hills
Take your pick! So many to choose from e.g. Alva, Dollar and Kippenrait Glens and so much more.
Trainees at Jupiter
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth
Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre demonstrates how urban green spaces can be created from wasteland, and how green amenity areas can be managed to meet both human and wildlife needs. Despite the small size of the reserve, the habitats are extremely varied, from ponds, wetlands and woodlands, to wildflower meadows.
Ospreys
A wildlife viewing station offers live pictures of Ospreys during the nesting period. Several way-marked walks start and finish at The Lodge.
Red squirrels, nuthatches, tree creepers and woodpeckers are frequently seen from the viewing hide.
Spoonbill
Skinflats RSPB Reserve, Grangemouth
A bit further afield
Common Blue
This is a lovely little reserve where from June to August several species of orchids and other plants can be seen, together with butterflies and dragonflies.
Snow Gentian
The best mountain in Scotland for alpine flowers
The flagship SWT Reserves, the RSPB Reserve and the Country Park shown below, are a bit further away. Most have something of interest for all ages.
Peregrine Chick at 3 weeks
Falls of Clyde, New Lanark
Famous for its breeding peregrines - this reserve is located within the World Heritage Site of New Lanark. Apart from its woodlands and waterfalls, badgers, bats, otters and many species of wild flowers may be seen.
Osprey
Loch of the Lowes, near Dunkeld
Ospreys have been nesting here since 1969. Red squirrels, pine martens and great spotted woodpeckers can be seen from viewing windows, and fallow and roe deer are often seen from the hide.
Photo courtesy of Peter Wallack http://birdsofsanibel.free.fr/
Montrose Basin Visitor Centre
A bird haven situated on the edge of a tidal estuary, the Basin is of international importance for over 50,000 migratory birds each year. The winter spectacle of over 30,000 pink-footed geese arriving is not to be missed.
Greylag Geese
Loch Leven RSPB Reserve by Vane Farm, near Kinross
Part of the Loch Leven National Nature Reserve, Vane Farm is an ideal day out for all the family. If you're new to bird watching, visit their viewing hides for close-up views of wildlife.
Bluebell Wood at Mugdock Country Park
Mugdock Country Park, Milngavie, near Glasgow
Apart from a variety of walks, the Countryside Rangers run numerous environmental activities for all ages.
Why not come to one of our illustrated talks where you can meet specialists in various areas who will advise on the best places to visit, alternatively why not contact us.