LYING to the west of Stirling, North Third Reservoir makes for a delightful circular walk that is enhanced by the abundance of waterfowl out on the water.

Having parked in a layby next to the Bannock Burn on the south side of the reservoir, I struck a course along the water’s edge towards the dam at the far end.

The air here was filled with the incessant ‘honking’ calls from numerous greylag and Canada geese, some of which were on the reservoir and others grazing in adjacent fields.

Most greylags in Scotland are winter visitors, but those at North Third are resident birds that presumably nest on the islands in the middle of the reservoir. A scan of the water with my binoculars also brought into focus a pair of great crested grebes.

These most stunning birds are distinguished in spring and summer by their slender white necks and chestnut frills on either side of the head and small dark crest. In Victorian times the colourful plumage was much prized for fashionable clothing – in particular the satin breast or ‘grebe fur’.

An endearing trait of the great-crested grebe is the elaborate and rather comical courtship behaviour that involves frantic chases and ceremonial displays where the male and female birds face-up to each other, rapidly shaking and bowing their heads.

The display often involves the collection of pondweed in their sharp bills, which is then showed off to each other like some prize trophy.

A handsome male reed bunting, sporting a fine jet black head, flitted by a boggy area of rushes, and as I ascended the path that leads towards the craggy escarpment overlooking the dam, a chiffchaff repeatedly called.

A small migratory and rather undistinguished looking warbler, chiffchaffs are becoming increasingly common. They are also one of our earliest spring arrivals – I heard my first one this year on March 24 in Strathdevon.

This section of high path on the rim of the escarpment offers marvellous views over the reservoir and the Touch Hills beyond, with a soaring buzzard high above the cliff edge providing the icing on the cake for a most enjoyable excursion.