|
|
Wildlife at Pannanich Forest Upper Deeside Forests
Aberdeenshire
Scotland
Ballater. is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: NO 3895
 This pine wood stretches over the steep lower slopes of Pannanich Hill. There is a waymarked footpath, very steep in places, and a viewpoint with a really tremendous view over Upper Deeside, from Ballater in the foreground out to the most distant hills. A steep footpath from opposite the bridge over the River Dee leads you through a mixed woodland (not Forestry Commission land) into the forest. Alternatively, a small car park has been created roughly 1km along the road west of the bridge, where a waymarked, more gentle track gives access to the forest. The waymarked trail within this forest is part of the network of trails around Ballater The trails network has been created with the assistance of Upper Deeside Access Trust.
Mammals: Red deer are frequently seen in this forest, as well as the smaller roe deer.
Red squirrels thrive in this conifer wood - grey squirrels have never been seen here. Squirrels eat fungi, chicks and young nestlings as well as conifer seeds. We have information about Red squirrel, Red deer and Roe deer
Birds: As well as the small forest birds - siskins, treecreepers, goldcrests and coal tits - this forest is home to Capercaillie, the "horse of the woods". This bird is rare, threatened and endangered. There are less than 1,000 birds left in Scotland. Please do not try to find capercaillies - you might accidentally disturb them, and drive a near extinct species even closer to the brink. But if you are walking along the waymarked trail on a morning in the spring time, listen out for a bubbling, popping noise - the call of the male capercaillie at its lek.
For the sake of these birds, we ask that you keep your dog under close control all the time, and on a short lead between March and August, when the hens are sitting on eggs, and the young chicks are at their most vulnerable. Sorry if this inconveniences you, but if we want this huge member of the grouse family to keep its place as part of Scotlands pine woods fauna then we all need to take steps to keep the few remaining birds and their chicks safe. We have information about Capercaille
Insects and reptiles: Young capercaillie chicks do not eat heather or blaeberries, but instead eat grubs and insects. Forests like this one support a wealth of insects which in turn are the food source for many birds and mammals. Habitats: This forest is mostly planted pine with some areas of birch and other broadleaves within it. Not only does it provide food for the many animals and birds which live within its green shelter, it also provides a refuge in bad weather for animals and birds of the open hill.
How to get there:
From Ballater, cross to the south side of the River Dee. Pannanich Forest covers the hill above you. There is a steep track up into the forest from opposite the bridge over the River Dee, and a more gentle track leads from a small car park about 1km along the B976 west of the bridge.
Local Weather Forecast (Multimap) Enter through:
Pannanich Car Park
Facilities:
 Activities:
Other places to go in Upper Deeside Forests
Cambus O' May
Contact:
Liz Wallace
01466 794161
e-mail: liz.wallace@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
|
What to see now Small forest birds, like treecreepers and great tits, hunting for food through both the forest canopy and in the cracks and crevices on tree trunks.
Did you know Birds beaks are adapted to allow them to specialise in different foods. So the beaks of tree-creepers are quite long but slim and pointed, to allow them to tweak insects out of crevices, and capercaillies beaks are large and strong to allow them to break off heather twigs. Try to snap a twig of heather yourself, and you'll see what a tough plant it is!
What else is here
Find out more
|
 |