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Loch Leven National Nature Reserve
Loch Leven is the largest loch in lowland Scotland and one of the most important sites for waterfowl in Britain. Its position, size, shallowness, richness and variety of habitats provide a unique environment that attracts, not only the largest concentration of breeding ducks found anywhere in the UK, but many thousands of migratory ducks, geese and swans every autumn and winter.
Highlights: The extensive shallows provide good feeding for dabbling ducks like mallard, shoveler, teal and gadwall. The slightly deeper water is highly suitable for diving ducks such as tufted duck and pochard. The most numerous breeding ducks are tufted duck and mallard, with smaller numbers of gadwall, wigeon, teal, shoveler and shelduck. As winter approaches, many thousands more duck begin to arrive from Scandinavia, Iceland and Russia to spend winter on the loch.
More than 20,000 Pink-footed geese and smaller numbers of Greylag geese use Loch Leven as a stop over from Iceland and Greenland to their wintering grounds in the UK. Mute, Whooper and Bewick swans can all be found here at times of the year, with all three present in autumn.
Loch Leven is a haven not only for wildfowl, but also for waders such as lapwing, curlew, oystercatcher, redshank, snipe, ringed plover and common sandpiper, golden plover, dunlin, greenshank, ruff, spotted redshank, black tailed godwit, curlew, sandpiper and little stint.
RSPB Vane Farm occupies part of the NNR.
Mammals
Otters, water voles, Daubenton's and Pipistrelle bats, short-tailed field voles (a key prey species for short-eared owls) and Roe deer are all relatively common here.)
Click here to see the latest research on water voles at Loch Leven.
Location: There are many access point to the NNR. You can access the reserve via RSPB Vane Farm, which is on the B9092, just off the M90 at junction 5.
Highlights: The extensive shallows provide good feeding for dabbling ducks like mallard, shoveler, teal and gadwall. The slightly deeper water is highly suitable for diving ducks such as tufted duck and pochard. The most numerous breeding ducks are tufted duck and mallard, with smaller numbers of gadwall, wigeon, teal, shoveler and shelduck. As winter approaches, many thousands more duck begin to arrive from Scandinavia, Iceland and Russia to spend winter on the loch.
More than 20,000 Pink-footed geese and smaller numbers of Greylag geese use Loch Leven as a stop over from Iceland and Greenland to their wintering grounds in the UK. Mute, Whooper and Bewick swans can all be found here at times of the year, with all three present in autumn.
Loch Leven is a haven not only for wildfowl, but also for waders such as lapwing, curlew, oystercatcher, redshank, snipe, ringed plover and common sandpiper, golden plover, dunlin, greenshank, ruff, spotted redshank, black tailed godwit, curlew, sandpiper and little stint.
RSPB Vane Farm occupies part of the NNR.
Mammals
Otters, water voles, Daubenton's and Pipistrelle bats, short-tailed field voles (a key prey species for short-eared owls) and Roe deer are all relatively common here.)
Click here to see the latest research on water voles at Loch Leven.
Location: There are many access point to the NNR. You can access the reserve via RSPB Vane Farm, which is on the B9092, just off the M90 at junction 5.
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
