Wild Life in and Around the Cottages and Dykehead

There's a great variety of wild life in and around Dykehead.

Up in the mountains you might see buzzards, falcons and golden eagles. Lower down in the forest areas herons can be seen on the loch shores, and ospreys can be seen on the fresh water lochs.

Red deer are common everywhere roaming across the hillsides. Wild cats are not seen very often, but if you are lucky they may be seen in the forests. You may catch sight of Pine martens near the cottages and in the oak woods near Loch Lomond. Red squirrels are reasonably common now days.

Red Squirrels can be seen in the lanes around Dykehead and in the gardens of the cottages.

Pine Martens are more common than they used to be. We have seen them along the lanes surrounding the cottages, and were lucky enough to see one wandering across the front garden one early evening. We couldn't believe our eyes! This picture is taken from http://www.ionalister.com/pinemarten/picturegallery.htm

Red deer can be seen in and around Dykehead, often in late afternoon when they graze in the fields and woods.Occassionaly you may see them in the gardens of the cottages, grazing on our plants!! They are common in the Trossachs and Loch Lomond areas, and indeed throughout the rest of Scotland.

Red kites are reasonably well established in the area, and we often see them flying near the cottages.

Ospreys (below) breed and feed around the Lake of Menteith, along the road from the cottages but their exact location is protected and you will not be allowed to view them close up. However, you can see them via a web cam at the David Marshall Lodge in Aberfoyle.

Other more common birds that can bee seen in the gardens of the cottages include Tits, Finches, Woodpeckers