Keith Broomfield’s Nature Notes to Walk 6

MAMMALS

Beaver
These marvellous river engineers have colonised the River Devon in recent years and their signs along this stretch of the river in the form of gnawed and felled trees is obvious. Research has shown their presence in a river enhances biodiversity. Dawn and dusk are best times to observe these animals.

Otter
There is every chance of spotting an otter  on this walk. Dawn and dusk are the best times. Often seen in pairs, which in many instances will be a mother with a fully grown cub.

American Mink
An introduced species, mink are smaller than otters and are adept swimmers. Often seen running along riverbanks by the edge of the water. They prey on native river species such as sandpipers and sand martins.

Mole
Seldom seen, yet common in fields, banksides and some woodland areas, with their distinctive mole-hills signalling their presence. Moles come to the surface only when the ground is too hard or waterlogged, or when young animals are dispersing.

Roe Deer
Found throughout the area, and especially active at dawn and dusk. Often solitary, but also frequently seen in family units, and in winter, in larger groups. Sometimes makes a loud, dog-like bark.

Daubenton’s Bat
The Daubenton’s, or water bat as it is sometimes known, is very much tied to water and can glimpsed hawking for insects at dusk along the River Devon. Often seen flying under bridges. Common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle and brown long-eared bat also occur.

BUTTERFLIES

Speckled Wood
A new arrival to Clackmannanshire in recent years, speckled woods are widespread and often seen in woodland clearings and other sun dappled places. On the wing from April to early October.

Comma
The comma has distinctive scalloped wings and appears orange when in flight. Reasonably frequent, with peak numbers in spring and late summer.

Red Admiral
Red admirals have increased in abundance in recent years. Can be found from spring until early autumn in sunny areas.

Small Tortoiseshell
The small tortoiseshell has declined in abundance in recent times. They hibernate as adults and emerge in spring. There is a lull in June and July and a subsequent increase in numbers in August and September.

Peacock
A colourful butterfly that is often encountered from the end of March right through until early October by sunny hedge-banks and track edges.

Orange-tip
The males are distinctive with the orange tips to their wings, which the females lack. On the wing from late April until June. Common on the haugh of the River Devon where one of their favourite food plants – cuckooflower – abounds.

Meadow Brown
May be encountered in sunny open areas. On the wing from June until the end of August.

Ringlet
A common butterfly. The flight period is from mid-June to mid-August.

WILDFLOWERS

Lesser Celandine
One of our earliest emerging wildflowers, appearing from mid-March onwards and featuring striking yellow blooms. The flowers close if it is cold and wet. Found in woodland and by path edges.

Wood Anemone
Usually prefers partially shaded wooded areas and its presence is often a sign that the woodland where it grows is ancient. In flower from early April until mid-May.

Dog Violet
Look out for the purple blooms of dog violet on hedge-banks and woodland clearings. The flowers are small and easy to miss.

Ramson
The ramson or wild garlic grows in profusion in places, the white flowers appearing from early April onwards. The plant prospers in shaded areas and is abundant by riverbanks or burns.

Red Campion
One of our longest flowering plants, red campion can be found in bloom for mid-April through to September. A plant of woodland edges, banks and other areas with dappled sun.

Cuckooflower
An attractive flower that varies in colouration from lilac to cream. Likes damp, sunny places and is common on the haugh of the River Devon and along the riverbank from late April to the beginning of June.

Meadowsweet
Sports blousy cream-coloured flowers from late June onwards. An infusion from this common but beautiful plant was used in olden times to ease pain and calm fevers, with the leaves and flowers containing the same group of chemicals as found in aspirin.

Dame’s Rocket
An abundant and attractive non-native flower ranging in colour from violet to white. Common just after the first bridge on this walk from late June onwards.

BIRDS

Grey Heron
Grey herons are often glimpsed on the River Devon stretch of this walk, standing like lone sentinels by the bank as they look for brown trout.

Dipper
There is every chance of spotting a dipper bobbing on a rock mid-river. These amazing little songbirds can forage underwater for invertebrates.

Grey Wagtail
Beautiful, little long-tailed birds that are sometimes seen by the bankside of the River Devon. Often occur in pairs.

Goosander
These large, duck-like birds frequent the River Devon. The males appear black and white when seen from the distance, the females have a greyish body with chestnut head. The females often carry their young on their backs.

Kingfisher
One of the stars of the River Devon, they are very shy, and most often the only glimpse of one will be a low-flying streak of electric-blue, accompanied by a piercing whistling call.

Teal
In winter, teal frequent some of the slower moving margins of the River Devon. These delightful little ducks have a lovely whistling call.

Dabchick
Also known as the little grebe, it is a winter visitor to the River Devon. They are shy birds and will usually dive under if one approaches too close.

Common Sandpiper
A summer visitor to the River Devon, they are often seen on flickering wings flying low over the water and have a lovely whistling call.

Chiffchaff
In spring and summer look out for these small, greenish warblers. Hard to spot, but their two-syllable “chiff-chaff’ call is distinctive.

Willow Warbler
Very similar in appearance to the chiffchaff, but differs by its beautiful cascading song. A spring and summer visitor.

Blackcap
This warbler has an incredibly loud song and is sometimes known as the ‘northern nightingale’. The male has a black cap, while the crown of the female and young birds is reddish-brown.

Long-tailed tit
Sometimes likened in appearance to a flying lollipop, these beautiful little birds occur in small flocks in winter by the river and woodland edges. Also present in the summer when they build an intricate dome-shaped nest.

Blue Tit

Found throughout the area, especially by woodland edges. One of our most familiar garden birds.

Great Tit
A colourful bird that often makes it presence felt through its “teacher, teacher” call. Found in woodland areas and by hedgerows.

Fieldfare
In winter, roving flocks of fieldfares occur on the Devon Way feeding on haws and other berries. They have a cackling, chattering call.

Redwing
Shy, winter visiting thrushes with a pale eye-stripe and reddish underwings and flanks. Often found in the company of fieldfares.

Tree Sparrow
A local bird in this area, it sometimes encountered by hedgerows near farms. It is smaller than a house sparrow and has a brown crown and dark ‘ear’ patches.

Chaffinch
Often seen on this walk and are very approachable birds, the male featuring a pink breast whereas the female is fawn with white wing markings.

Goldcrest
Our smallest bird, goldcrests may be glimpsed on some of the wooded sections of this walk, especially by pine trees.