LOCH BUTTERSTONE
Woodland and water birds in a scenic setting
Loch of Butterstone is part of the Cardney Estate, and is one of five lochs in an area called the Lunan Lochs. It is designated as a Special Area of Conservation, especially for its flora, but there’s plenty of interesting birdlife too.
WHERE TO WATCH 1
When you arrive off the A923, you have already passed the Loch of Craiglush. It’s well worth a look to see the possibilities.
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You can walk down the track towards the fishing car park and view the loch from there. It is best with a scope, with summer views of Osprey, Black-headed Gulls and Goldeneye. It is great to see this duck this far south from the main breeding areas around Speyside. A reedbed runs along the north-east side, with both Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers found here. Winter has seen species like Long-tailed Duck and Smew, and a number of geese call in, such as Pinkfeet,
Greylags, and even small Canada and Egyptian Geese.
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The track takes you down a lovely wooded section with especially Alder Carr offering nest holes for a mixture of tits, plenty of Redstarts and the odd Pied Flycatcher. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are seen, along with Cuckoo, Sparrowhawk and several warblers including Wood, Willow, Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. A herd of Fallow Deer are found here along with Roe Deer.
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There seems little distance between this loch and Loch of the Lowes, which finally comes into view. The stream here includes Dipper, Grey Wagtail and even Kingfisher. Check out the flora for species like Guilder Rose, Pink Purslane and Kingcups. Otters are common here and Beaver are moving in.
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The lane finishes on a minor road leading back to the Loch of the Lowes visitor centre, but I made my way back along the track to the start. I bumped into Brown Hare, Red-legged Partridge, Jay, Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest and Buzzard, all missed on the way in. Back on the loch I had Great Crested Grebe and Grey Heron.