Perthshire Autumn Colour

Autumn colour in the woodland surrounding Loch Faskally.
Spent a few days in Pitlochry enjoying the spectacular colours in the woodland walks in the surrounding area.

 Reflections in Loch Dunmore.

 Looking through the trees to Loch Faskally.

 The water's edge at Loch Faskally.

 Woodland walk at the Hermitage, Dunkeld.

Leaves cover this woodland above Pitlochry. It was dusk and there are two roe deer in the centre of this photo. Unfortunately, couldn't get close enough to get a better picture.

Loch Faskally

On a day trip to Pitlochry on Tuesday, we walked along the shore of Loch Faskally. There were some snow flurries and still some patchy snow lying on the hills above the loch.

View of Loch Faskally from the boating station

Male tufted duck

There was a large group of mallards which are regularly fed by the boating station, but also a pair of tufted ducks. The male is a smart black and white with a long tuft at the back of the head. The female (pictured below) is dark brown with a shorter tuft.

Female tufted duck

Pitlochry Interlude

Enjoyed a short break in Pitlochry at the excellent Green Park Hotel, which overlooks Loch Faskally. Awoke to a light covering of snow yesterday morning, but it soon turned to rain, which cleared away in the afternoon. Took a short stroll along the shore of the Loch. Groups of mallards at the edge of the water. Spotted two pairs of tufted ducks in the middle of the loch. One of the nature highlights of the trip was seeing a red squirrel running across the road in front of the car between Killiekrankie and Pitlochry. Fortunately we didn't hit it! There are few enough of them as it is. Didn't get the chance to take a photo of it (I was driving at the time!), but came across this carving of a squirrel on a bench in Faskally Woods.
A pheasant seemed to have suicidal tendencies. It darted in front of the car. I stopped to let it cross, expecting it to carry on crossing, but it got half way across the road changed it's mind, ran back again, turned again and finally made it to the other side.