Join SNH for dawn ‘goose watch’ at Loch Leven

On Sunday 12th and Saturday 18th October, Scottish Natural Heritage invites you to join staff in a dawn watch at the Loch Leven National Nature Reserve to see the migrating geese come in. This sight is one of the major natural spectacles of the year. The annual return of thousands of pink-footed geese migrating southwards from Iceland to overwinter in our warmer climate has already begun but peaks in October.

The dawn goose watch is from Kirkgate graveyard. It gives watchers the chance to see and hear the Loch Leven winter population of thousands of geese before they make their daily mass exodus to their feeding grounds around the local area.

Last year’s watchers spotted two Ross’s geese within the flock. This species is usually seen in North America so you cannot know just what you may see. As well as seeing the geese and the loch at this special time of day, dawn visitors can also talk to reserve staff about geese and other wildlife around the reserve.

Loch Leven is the largest lowland loch in Scotland and its position, just off the M90, means it is easy to get to for visitors as well as locals. The whole loch and surrounding wetlands are within the National Nature Reserve. More than 20,000 geese, ducks and swans spend the winter at the loch. As well as being part of a series of bird sites of European importance the site is a wetland of worldwide importance, known as a Ramsar site.

The dawn goose-watch sessions start at 6.30am. The meeting point is by the watchtower at the end of Kirkgate Park. Contact SNH Reserve staff on 01577 864439 to book your place, as soon as possible.

This photograph of a pink-footed goose has been supplied free of copyright by Scottish Natural Heritage.