A Perthshire Wildlife Snapshot

We’ve been feeling inspired by the images from our Instagrammers recently and have been making plans to step out into the Perthshire countryside. Pining for the spring - which seems just beyond our reach - we called upon our friend Daniele to share her amazing experiences of all the wonderful wildlife sitting right here on our doorstep.

Mother Nature is especially fond of Perthshire and Daniele’s guided walks across the area are an amazing way to discover the countryside around you. I promise that her wide-reaching knowledge and enthusiasm are nothing short of contagious; in fact I'm sure it was her Spooky Species Halllowe'en Bat Walk that secured my place as favourite auntie with my two young nephews. 

Daniele has a singular aim. To make us all fall in love with our local wildlife.  She has made her office the countryside of Perthshire and from the wildlife-rich areas of Dunkeld & Birnam in the west to Glenshee in the east, her work spreads across our stunning area.  A walk with Daniele can show you species including beavers, kingfishers, sand martins, swallows, dippers, goosanders, yellowhammers, roe deer swifts, house martins and pipistrelle bats.

Among her most popular tours is the Brilliant Blairgowrie Beavers offering a chance for you to see these beautiful mammals living wild on the River Tay catchment.  You can also sign up for Bloomin’ Beautiful Bluebells walk perfectly showcasing the blanket of blue that appears in the hidden woodlands of Scotland every May.  It its some native animals you're hoping to see try the Batty Dusk Wildlife walk where you will enjoy evening wildlife such as roe deer, bats and woodcock. 

For lovers of our feathered friends step out on one of the Dunkeld Super Swifts tours and find out all about the folklore and conservation of these amazing birds.  And if you enjoy that then the Red Kites of Glen Artney will let you view rare red kites in this beautiful, wild flower filled glen.

Perthshire Wildlife has a strict commitment to the environment and Daniele is emphatic that her tours cause no-disturbance to the area. This means her groups are small – good for you as well as the wildlife! – and she also donates a percentage of her profits to local conservation organisation the Scottish Wild Beaver group.

Her passion reaches beyond walks and she started Celtica Wildflowers in the summer of 2014, supplying Scottish wild flowers in pots and plugs that improve the biodiversity of gardens and parks. This means plants that attract bumble bees, butterflies and other indigenous insects. The plants are grown from Scottish seed or sustainably harvested in Perthshire.

Pond and wetland plants are her speciality and she has yellow flag iris, marsh cinquefoil, bogbean, meadowsweet, marsh marigold and valerian. She also supplies willow kits for growing willow domes and living willow structures over the winter season so you can enjoy a little nature all year round.

Daniele's next walk is a Dawn Chorus Walk in Bluebell Woods, near Murthly on Sunday 1st of May. It’s International Dawn Chorus Day and one of the best days of the year to experience the amazing spring dawn chorus. Daniele's walk will take you through the gorgeous bluebell oakwoods - if you've never been you must go! - where she'll help you identify the beautiful sights and sounds of dawn. 

Read Daniele’s Big Personality story here on Small City.

Check our Great Outdoors Event Section for updates on Perthshire Wildlife's events and tours throughout the year. 

ABOUT THE GALLERY PHOTOGRAPHER:
Daniele Muir is a passionate conservationist living and working in Perthshire. Her company, Perthshire Wildlife, offers a range of guided wildlife walks to locals and visitors to the area. These help people enjoy iconic Scottish wildlife and beautiful Perthshire countryside. 

Ranging from dusk wildlife watches from hides to see lochside wildlife, to strolls through bluebell woods, and gentle hikes down unspoilt glens enjoying rare birds of prey, Daniele will open your eyes to the wonderful experiences right here on your doorstep.  Daniele also offers tailor-made tours and guided walks.  Contact her with the species or place you would like to see and she’ll do the rest.

BEAVER IMAGE by Dave walsh.