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What's there to see in the Kelvin Valley, Scotland?
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What's there to see in the Kelvin Valley, Scotland?
Rob K
15/03/2014 18:37
The Kelvin valley is where I have lived for fifteen years, half way between Glasgow and Stirling. It provides a great variety of habitats within easy walking distance, including the upland Campsie fells up to 1500' asl with their heather moorlands and forestry plantations, as well as some delightful glens and sparkling waterfalls at places like Colzium Country Park and Campsie Glen near Lennoxtown. Below the escarpment is some rich and diverse overgrown older oak and beech woodland and unimproved pasture and grazing. Below them is the valley bottom, with lots of water, regular flooded watermeadows, a long stretch of the Forth and Clyde canal, bogs and marshes. So we are spoiled for choice! What's to see here in terms of birds and other species? Lots! I haven't composed a definitive list, but we have plenty of owls, kestrels and buzzards as well as the chance to see osprey fishing in the Carron valley just over the hill from the Tak Ma Doon Road. There is a lively bird population in the woods: mostly pigeons, jay, siskins, goldfinch, chaffinch, linnet,redpoll, greenfinch, plenty of different tits, robins, crows, magpies, and kingfisher. Two kinds of woodpecker. And the lakes and marshes such as Banton Loch are a haven for heron, cormorant, geese, swans, mallard, goosander and tufted duck (there were 16 tufties on the loch this morning)In the winter I have seen flocks of waxwings mob the rowan berries. Kilsyth is a 'walkers are welcome' town with all local facilities, and there is a great network of pleasant footpaths linking all these habitats. Bring your boots and binoculars.
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