Twitching

a super fluffy baby owl sleeps in a copper birch tree

BIRD WATCHING AT LOCHEND CHALETS

There is a fabulous array of birds to be seen at Lochend, from the ospreys which fish in the lake all summer to the tawny owls who nest each year in the giant Douglas fir at the bend in the drive. Guests in our chalets, cabins and lodges beside the lake become very familiar with the resident heron, who fishes right in front of the chalets, occasionally flying off across the bay, squawking in his pre-historic way. Bird-watching at Lochend becomes part of your every day while on holiday here.

Birding on holiday at the Lake of Menteith

As for the ducks, they were wild once, before they worked out it was easier just hanging around everybody’s patios waiting for bread! We can provide more suitable food for them, if you want to make firm friends and look after them. Meanwhile, we also have swans, elegantly gliding from Lochend to their nest in the reeds across the bay, as well as oystercatchers, bullfinches and tree-creepers, long-tailed tits and goldfinches, cormorants, buzzards, goldeneyes and great crested grebes. Bird and bat boxes are dotted about all over Lochend; recycled bird-feeders on the front of each chalet are busy in spring and summer with the chatter of finches and tits.

Some of you may have seen the 2020 series of Springwatch, which featured presenter Gordon Buchanan spotting a massive sea eagle while he was filming at Lochend, too. Chris carved a life-sized model bird out of wood for the show, which you can see on the shore; it's a big old bird!

Here is a full check-list of birds seen so far at Lochend – 95 and counting. We have bird books in each chalet to help you identify what you see, and we’ll be really excited if you can add to the list.

Barn Owl
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Coal Tit
Common Tern
Corn Bunting
Dipper
Garden Warbler
Goldfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Greylag Goose
Heron
House Sparrow
Kestrel Kingfisher
Linnet
Muscovy Duck
Mute Swan
Oystercatcher
Pheasant
Pink-footed Goose
Red-breasted Merganser
Robin
Sandpiper
Sea eagle
Skylark
Spotted Flycatcher
Swallow
Treecreeper
Whooper Swan
Willow Warbler

Blackbird
Bullfinch
Carrion Crow
Collared Dove
Coot
Cuckoo
Dunnock
Goldcrest
Goosander
Great Tit
Grey Wagtail
Hooded Crow
Jackdaw
Lapwing
Mallard
Mistle Thrush
Nuthatch
Partridge
Pied Wagtail
Pochard
Red Kite
Rook
Shag
Snipe
Sparrow hawk
Swift
Tree Sparrow
Widgeon
Woodcock

Black headed Gull
Buzzard
Chaffinch
Common Gull
Cormorant
Curlew
Fieldfare
Goldeneye
Great Crested Grebe
Greenfinch
Herring Gull
House Martin
Jay
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Meadow Pipit
Moorhen
Osprey
Peregrine
Pied Flycatcher
Raven
Redwing
Sand Martin
Siskin
Song Thrush
Starling
Tawny Owl
Tufted Duck
Willow Tit
Wood Pigeon

MORE ACTIVITIES AT LOCHEND CHALETS

Paddle Boarding

PADDLE BOARDINGPaddle Boarding is currently the fastest growing area of paddle sports in the UK and it is easy to understand why. Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is hugely versatile – if you are wanting a fun splash about in the water for the first time you will pick up the basic skills under our…

Nick Nairn Cook School

NICK NAIRN COOK SCHOOLWithin the grounds of Lochend, in what was once the estate piggery, lies the acclaimed Nick Nairn Cook School and it’s new restaurant, run by our big brother, Nick Nairn, and his wife Julia.As a result of the pandemic, cook school classes are all currently postponed. Do check on their website for…

Fishing

Lake of Menteith

Star gazing

Games Room

Play Area

Twitching

Water Fun

Tennis

Bikes At Lochend

Wildlife

Photography

Wellness

HOLIDAYS AT LOCHEND CHALETS -MORE THINGS TO DO

Browse a selection of our favourite things to do when you enjoy a short break here on the Lake of Menteith. Stay on site or explore local landscapes. Explore our national park, take a trip further afield, or use your holiday lodge as a base to tour around Scotland. Whatever your interests, there will always be something to keep you entertained and make memories that will last a lifetime.