Bird list for Loch of Leys, Banchory, Kincardineshire

This is a list of the species I've seen at the Loch of Leys to the north of Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland, about 15 miles from the coast (map). The loch is more of a bog since there is very little open water remaining. To the north and east are conifer plantations, with open farmland to the south and west.

1. Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - single over West, 6 June 1987
2. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - several often present
3. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) - single on the water, April 1993
4. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - numerous, breeds - several pairs
5. Teal (Anas crecca) - regular, breeds
6. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - common resident, breeds
7. Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - regular
8. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - regular mainly over farmland to south
9. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) - common resident
10. Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) - formerly regular
11. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) - regular but absent in mid-winter; perhaps 5-10 pairs
12. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) - common resident, breeds
13. Coot (Fulica atra) - common resident, breeds
14. Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) - common summer visitor, from late February; breeds nearby
15. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) - regular visitor
16. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - regular visitor, probably very numerous but secretive
17. Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) - rodding birds seen on summer evenings, probably breeds in small numbers
18. Curlew (Numenius arquata) - regular visitor in small numbers, possibly breeds
19. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) - former breeding colony
20. Common Gull (Larus canus) - regular visitor
21. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) - passes overhead commuting between Loch of Skene roost and Crow's Nest amenity site; day roost in fields to west
22. Great Blackback (Larus marinus) - passes overhead commuting between Loch of Skene roost and Crow's Nest amenity site; day roost in fields to west (up to 150 birds)
23. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) - common resident
24. Stock Dove (Columba oenas) - uncommon resident
25. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) - resident, presumably breeds
26. Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) - resident in small numbers
27. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) - resident in small numbers
28. Skylark (Alauda arvensis) - regular visitor
29. Common Swift (Apus apus) - regular summer visitor
30. Swallow (Hirundo rustica) - former large roost (1400 birds, 1989); smaller roost in recent years (50 birds, 1998)
31. House Martin (Delichon urbica) - small numbers with Swallows at roost
32. Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) - small numbers with Swallows at roost
33. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) - common resident
34. Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) - uncommon summer visitor, breeds at east end
35. Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarelli) - uncommon visitor
36. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - common resident
37. Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - common resident
38. Blackbird (Turdus merula) - common resident
39. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) - common winter visitor
40. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) - common resident
41. Redwing (Turdus iliacus) - common winter visitor
42. Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) - common summer visitor, breeds
43. Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) - uncommon summer visitor
44. Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) - common summer visitor, breeds
45. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) - common resident, breeds in woods to north and east
46. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) - common resident, breeds
47. Coal Tit (Parus ater) - common resident, breeds in woods to north and east
48. Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) - common resident
49. Great Tit (Parus major) - common resident
50. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) - uncommon resident
51. Magpie (Pica pica) - regular visitor; breeds near farms to west
52. Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) - common visitor, feeds at Crow's Nest to west
53. Rook (Corvus frugilegus) - common visitor, sometimes in large numbers in roost flights
54. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) - common resident, up to 100 birds feeding at Crow's Nest to west
55. Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix) - uncommon resident, regular individuals amongst Carrion Crows at Crow's Nest to west
56. Jay (Garrulus glandarius) - uncommon resident
57. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - common resident, formerly roosted in large numbers (>1000 birds, 1989)
58. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) - common resident, breeds
59. Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) - uncommon visitor
60. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - uncommon visitor
61. Siskin (Carduelis spinus) - common resident, breeds
62. Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) - uncommon resident breeder, larger numbers visit in winter
63. Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) - uncommon visitor, possibly breeds
64. Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) - common resident
65. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) - common resident
66. Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) - common resident, perhaps 20 pairs

NB - another species reported from the site is Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia) though I'm yet to see one there and I'm fairly sure there have been none in some years. Even rarer, a presumed Marsh Warbler was reported on 8 June 2008