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