Dawn goose walk at Loch Leven

The Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) guided walk takes place from 6.45am to 8.30am on Sunday, 18 October.

The stars of Loch Leven have returned this month after another year of breeding in Iceland. The premier wildlife spectacle takes place every year, with numbers building throughout October. The geese quickly establish a daily feeding routine, moving from the loch to nearby fields each morning. After a long migration, the geese are very hungry, and at this time of year there is plenty of spilt grain from harvested fields to keep them busy.

Craig Nisbet, Loch Leven reserve officer, said:

“Every year we are reminded how lucky we are to have such a spectacle on our doorstep, and we’re always keen for people to share it with us. The dawn walk will give us a chance to walk down to the loch shore and see the geese at their most spectacular, as well as see the many types of migratory ducks and large gatherings of both mute and whooper swans.”

The walk is free and open to all, but booking is essential as space is limited, so call the reserve office on 01577 864439 to book a place.

Walking boots, waterproofs and any binoculars are recommended. The Dawn Goose Walk meets at the Kirkgate watchtower in Kirkgate Park, Kinross.

For up-to-date news and information on geese and other goings on at Loch Leven NNR, visit www.lochlevennnr.wordpress.com . By clicking the ‘Follow’ button, you’ll receive blog update emails each time they’re published.

Loch Leven is Scotland’s largest lowland loch and one of the most important sites for waterfowl in Britain. Its unique environment attracts not only the largest concentration of breeding ducks anywhere in the UK, but also many thousands of migratory ducks, geese and swans every autumn and winter, as well as boasting an interesting variety of wildlife, plants and trees.