The Wildlife of The Glenkens
The Wildlife of the Glenkens PDF Print E-mail
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Tuesday, 16 December 2008 12:31
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The Wildlife of the Glenkens
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Wildlife

There is a wide diversity of wildlife in the Glenkens, in the forests, woodlands, hills, farmland, burns, rivers and lochs. The Glenkens is within an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) and also within the wider Natural Heritage Zone of Western Southern Uplands and Inner Solway. Also within the area are a Regional Scenic Area, a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, a National Nature Reserve, a Ramsar site, a Special Protection Area, a Special Areas of Conservation and a Biosphere Reserve.
"28% of the area of the  Stewartry of Kirkcudbright is under forest and woodland"


The Coniferous Forests:

In young new planted forests with plenty of grass and heather, you may find Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Whinchats, Grasshopper Warblers, Short-eared Owls, and Black and Red Grouse. As the trees get bigger most of these birds disappear and are replaced first by birds like Chaffinches, Wrens and Redpolls and then Siskins, Goldcrests, Crossbills and Coal Tits; Sparrowhawks may be found in all stages of forest development. When mature trees are felled and replaced by young growth, or in open areas of the forest, nightjars may be found. Red Squirrels eat the seeds from the cone of mature trees, and this is one of the few places left in Britain where they are still fairly common. If you are very lucky you might see an otter or even a pine marten. Part of the Galloway Forest Park is within the Glenkens.

Broadleaved Woodland:

Most of the broadleaved woodland in the area consists mainly of native species, though some have Sycamore and the more troublesome Rhododendron too. Rabbits, Voles and in places Badgers may be found in these woods, also Woodpeckers, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts and Chiffchaff. Buzzards nest in the woodland but hunt over the hillsides and farmland.

Farmland:

Much of the farm land in the area is upland, with a few good fields running along the riverside in the valley bottom. Farming in this area tends to be mixed and not intensive.


The upland areas are important breeding grounds for Peregrine, Black Grouse, Merlin, Curlew and Skylark, and a wintering ground for Hen Harrier, and in the farmland areas, depending on place and the time of year, you might also expect to find, Hare, Rabbits, Weasels, Stoats, Oystercatchers, Snipe, Plovers, Kestrels, Pheasants, Partridge, Barn Owls, Tawny and Short-eared Owls and Buzzards. Higher up you might see Raven, Grouse, Merlin and possibly even a Golden Eagle. By burns in upland areas you may find Dippers and Grey Wagtail.


Osprey have been seen occasionally hunting over the river and loch area, and on and by the lochs and rivers are Grey Heron, Mute and Whooper Swans, Cormorants, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Coot and Waterhen. This is also an important are for wintering Greenland White Fronted Geese and Icelandic Greylag Geese, also for breeding Redshank and Lapwing. Red Kites have recently been introduced to the area and may be seen in the Loch Ken area.
Unfortunately much of the upland area is under Sitka Spruce and many of native flora and fauna are disappearing through loss of habitat.

 


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Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 March 2009 08:05