Loch an Daim

Lochan an Daim

(7th April 2020)

Cycling up the Schiehallion road from West Tempar to Lochan an Daim is quite good exercise. When you arrive you are confronted by a small shallow body of water which in its younger days was used for curling and skating in the winter. Parts of it could still be so used if the winters were cold enough but climate change has put paid to that it would seem.

In addition there has been a lot of growth of reeds (Phragmites). They are marching inexorably across the open water. It seems to me that this extensive growth of Phragmites has been beneficial for the biodiversity although the total loss of open water would not be desirable.

Lochan an Daim is what is termed a ‘Stank’ - a body of water in which fish are effectively trapped, in this case because there is a small concrete dam at the outflow which prevents fish from leaving.

Today a vocal pair of Canada Geese warded off an interloper with much splashing and unseen Little grebes whinnied in their reedy haven. At the right time of day snipe can be heard either calling or drumming and they certainly nest in the vicinity, even quite close to the road. Drumming is their way of marking their territories by diving through the air at speed and causing their tail feathers to vibrate with a winnowing sound. They do this most often at twilight.

Lochan an Daim is used by herons to fish and and mallards to breed, something that mallards are very good at.

The Phragmites provide a nest site for reed buntings and Sedge warblers which build their nests attached to the reed stems and protected by the water below.

Today, perhaps encouraged by the blue skies and sunshine, the amphibians were in full cry - frogs and toads croaked, their lust-laden voices the background to the soundscape.

In historic times Slavonian grebe and Water Rails have nested here and Whooper Swans attempted to nest but were unsuccessful.

Ravens nest on the nearby ridge and buzzards frequently circle in the sky above. If you are lucky your could see a hen harrier or a golden eagle or a short-eared owl here.

Close by on the knoll on the other side of the Schiehallion road is the limestone pavement and probably the runoff raises the pH of the water in a Loch an Daim.

Round about meadow pipits are performing their parachuting display flights - singing as they descend to earth from about one hundred feet up. Later in the year there will be wheatears flashing their white rumps as they fly away and dapper stonechats singing from the tops of stunted trees or any vegetation the provides a slight elevation above the heather.

To the northwest scattered birches lead to MacGregor’s Cave and Dunalastair Water.

To the south looms the massive flank of Schiehallion still streaked with snow in its northern gullies.