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Dumfries and Galloway (1 Viewer)
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markgrubb
Leading a life of quiet desperation
You can downlaod a copy of the Birdwatching in Dumfries and Galloway guide from the SOC site. It has details of 50 or so sites
Loch Ryan would be a great place to head for with a large number of winter wildfowl and waders present. Wig Bay and The Scar, car park just before the small village of Kirkcolm, is a good place to look from. A Dotterel has been present with the large Golden Plover flock for a week or two now.
The very south end of Loch Ryan is the best place to see the wildfowl (Scaup, Wigeon, Grebes, Pale Bellied Brent Geese) and also Gulls if thats your thing. An adult Mediterranean Gull is usually kicking about somewhere. There are a number of laybys that can be used to view the south end.
Also check out D&G birding website for recent sightings in the area.
Hope you enjoy your stay!
The very south end of Loch Ryan is the best place to see the wildfowl (Scaup, Wigeon, Grebes, Pale Bellied Brent Geese) and also Gulls if thats your thing. An adult Mediterranean Gull is usually kicking about somewhere. There are a number of laybys that can be used to view the south end.
Also check out D&G birding website for recent sightings in the area.
Hope you enjoy your stay!
Hi Gav
There was a good thread on them last year: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=127114
Hope this helps.
D
There was a good thread on them last year: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=127114
Hope this helps.
D
Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
Was lucky enough to be around the corner from Threave this weekend so dropped in.
Great little spot, the adult male Blue-winged Teal showed quite well although, like the majority of Eurasian Teal was roosting most of the time.
Was seen (and possibly photograhed?) dabbling on Saturday and appears to be un-reinged and fully winged.
Certainly worth a view if you are passing - thanks to the locals for some useful local knowledge.
Also in the area were male Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Greenland Whitefronts, a leucistic Greylag, Willow Tit, whilst down the road in Dumfries two flocks of Waxwing, 150+ to the west of the town and 50+ in the centre. 2 Red-head Smew on Auchenreoch Loch visible from the layby. We also had Peregrine & Goshawk near Glencaple.
Great little spot, the adult male Blue-winged Teal showed quite well although, like the majority of Eurasian Teal was roosting most of the time.
Was seen (and possibly photograhed?) dabbling on Saturday and appears to be un-reinged and fully winged.
Certainly worth a view if you are passing - thanks to the locals for some useful local knowledge.
Also in the area were male Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Greenland Whitefronts, a leucistic Greylag, Willow Tit, whilst down the road in Dumfries two flocks of Waxwing, 150+ to the west of the town and 50+ in the centre. 2 Red-head Smew on Auchenreoch Loch visible from the layby. We also had Peregrine & Goshawk near Glencaple.
Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
You got some great photos from your trip there Rob. I love that first Waxwing shot!
Thanks for telling us what's around over there.
D
Thanks for telling us what's around over there.
D
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
My husband & son are staying in D&G until Wednesday. About 10 miles from Dumfries off the Dalbeattie road. Is there anywhere in particular they should be looking at/for? They're not twitchers but they would not like to come home and then find out they were close to something interesting. They spent a good day yesterday at Caelaverock then Southerness lighthouse. They will probably be at Mersehead today but I'm not certain . They do have the excellent booklet about Birding in D&G with them. But it would be good to get some local knowledge.
Thanks in advance
Sandra
Thanks in advance
Sandra
Stewart J.
Well-known member
Hi Sandra were motor-homing in the Loch Ken area at the moment, cold very wet day over here at the mo. Have you checked out this site:-
http://dumfriesandgallowaybirding.webs.com/latestsightings.htm
Stewart
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
Thanks for that Stewart - looks like a useful site. Watch out for a Y reg. green Fiesta and wave...... they might be in that area - though if the chalet is as good as they said yesterday, they should stay in there for the day
Sandra
Sandra
Paul Collins
Well-known member
Hey,
I went to the Galloway Night Sky Forest Park back in November on a photo trip; I found a capercaillie with quite a lot of luck, so you might see one around there!
I went to the Galloway Night Sky Forest Park back in November on a photo trip; I found a capercaillie with quite a lot of luck, so you might see one around there!
Hi Paul,
it seems highly unlikely that the bird you saw in Galloway was a Capercaillie. Present estimates suggest somewhere between 1,300 and 2,800 birds in Scotland and since 2003, aside from a small isolated population in the Loch Lomond area, all of these are north of Perth. I'm not saying that a Capercaillie turning up in Galloway isn't possible - just highly unlikely. Also, Capercaillie are largely resident in their range and are also largely indifferrent to heavy snowfall.
regards
Gordon
it seems highly unlikely that the bird you saw in Galloway was a Capercaillie. Present estimates suggest somewhere between 1,300 and 2,800 birds in Scotland and since 2003, aside from a small isolated population in the Loch Lomond area, all of these are north of Perth. I'm not saying that a Capercaillie turning up in Galloway isn't possible - just highly unlikely. Also, Capercaillie are largely resident in their range and are also largely indifferrent to heavy snowfall.
regards
Gordon
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
Dumfries & Galloway 21st - 24th February
My son is just back from 4 days in D&G. He went with his dad and has emailed me his trip report. It is the first he'd done and I'm quite impressed. I thought BF members may enjoy it too. Don't get me wrong - he's not a little kid (he's 30-odd) but it's the first time he's put pen to paper after a holiday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dumfries & Galloway February 2011
Sunday 20th
Good, uneventful, food free journey straight up from home to WWT Caelaverock. Greeting us at the carpark was a large flock of Chaffinch & Greenfinch on the feeders, upon closer inspection a solitary male Brambling was added to our list. Into the visitor centre for soup & coffee to be told that there is going to be a VERY high tide in 90 minutes. On to the reserve the first birds seen are a big flock of Yellowhammer & House Sparrows at the T-junction. Down to the Saltcot observatory for the high tide. The biggest surprise was the first, when I opened the window a Skylark was flying up singing. A Peregrine was sat on a post watching the huge flock of Knot which made the sky look as though it had static electricity. Four Roe Deer got marooned on a small & shrinking island before having to swim back to dry land. Next stop was the Peter Scott Hide for the Swan feed, 120 Whoopers, lots of Wigeon, numerous Teal, Mallard & Mute Swans. Last stop was the Folly Pond hide to see flocks & flocks of Barancle Geese (8000 in total on the reserve) in the fields, lots of Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwits & Shelduck. A few Redshank & pair of Snipe on the near shoreline of the scrape, in the distance a female Hen Harrier quartered the gorse-line.
Up the road to Southerness Lighthouse, very heavy seas & sky meant all we saw were Oystercatcher & Redshank on the nearby shore.
Monday 21st
Up at 7 for a full English and then were off up the West side of Loch Ken braving the wintery showers and all the way on to Carlae, more or less bird free apart from Graylag Geese in the fields and a Buzzard and Kestrel roadside. Next stop was the carpark at Clattershaw Loch (the visitor centre is closed in February), looking across the water the only bird in sight is a Goldeneye. Get out of the car to make a coffee, the floor & sky instantly looked like a biblical plague of Chaffinch coming from every bush and tree around, they seemed to be quite partial to ginger biscuits. Off to the Kite feed at Bellymack via Newton Stewart and Creetown, the estuary brown with muck off the mud-flats making it look like the Ganges. Arriving at The Kite feed for feeding time at 2 o’clock, 80 to 100 kites filled their bellies then went and sat in the nearby trees before seconds. Last stop of the day was RSPB Ken Dee Marshes, we walked out of the carpark and a mile down the track towards the hide I had a ‘OH NO, binoculars on the car roof moment’, I ran to get them then back to ‘Paps’. The binoculars were there but i haven’t run that far in my life before. Running is for people who can’t afford a bike, isn’t it? At the hide everything looked quiet, a bit of patience gave us Mute Swan, Graylag & Canada Geese, Tufled Duck Goldeneye & Teal. The feeders were full of Tits, Blue, Great & Coal but not a Finch in sight. Concentrating on the feeders a Red Squirrel arrived, a proper little Squirrel Nutkins all fluffed up and very, very red. Just before we left a Treecreeper was spotted at the bottom of one tree before spiralling its way up and off to another tree out of view. Last thing seem from the hide was a Nuthatch on the feeder. On the way back to the car a Sparrow Hawk flew past quickly at low level. What had started off as a wildlife free morning had become a busy afternoon.
Tuesday 22nd
Up at 7 again, this morning I took the binnies to the breakfast room to get a better view of the house feeders, large numbers of Siskin, Tree Sparrow and a few Blue, Great & Coal Tits. We then set off the 60 plus miles to Lock Ryan, 1st stop was the old jetty at Cairnryan, a really good start with 16+ Black Guillimots. We then went further North, this turned out to be a mistake as the Loch opens up to the Sea, the wind gets stronger and the birds went AWOL. Turned back round back past Cairnryan to the pull-off at the old railway line. Instantly the birds were back, small numbers of Scaup & Slavonian Grebe, larger amounts of Black-necked Divers (including a flock of 7). Scanning with the scope it was obvious large amounts of birds were between us and Stranraer so we moved in that direction. At the lay-by with the butty shop we added Turnstone, Dunlin & Rock Pipit to our list. Last stop was on the outskirts of the town where people feed the Swans. Large Numbers of Mute Swans came round our feet, only 30 yards out were rafts of Scaup and Pintail, further out were smaller numbers of Goldeneye and a few singleton slavs. Another really productive second half to the day just like yesterday (the moral must be stay in bed till dinner, trouble is that would mean missing the cooked breakfast). Nothing to note on our journey home.
Wednesday 23rd
Breakfast with the binnies again, as well as yesterdays birds we also had Pheasant, Collared Dove & Wood Pigeon on the floor with in minutes, but before we had finished eating this also included a dozen Yellowhammers and a solo Brambling. Today would be a quick visit to RSPB Mersehead and then back down the motorway. When we got to Mersehead it was raining just like a storm off the TV, five minutes in the car and it broke just long enough for us to risk getting out for a shortened stop. A quick march to the far hide gave us a Stoat running across the path, Barnacle Geese in the fields and Rooks building nests in the trees. Once in the hide plenty of Wigeon, Shelduck & Pintail on the water, some more scanning added a Dabchick to the list with the final entrant being a very noisy male ‘Gothic’ Pheasant.
My son is just back from 4 days in D&G. He went with his dad and has emailed me his trip report. It is the first he'd done and I'm quite impressed. I thought BF members may enjoy it too. Don't get me wrong - he's not a little kid (he's 30-odd) but it's the first time he's put pen to paper after a holiday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dumfries & Galloway February 2011
Sunday 20th
Good, uneventful, food free journey straight up from home to WWT Caelaverock. Greeting us at the carpark was a large flock of Chaffinch & Greenfinch on the feeders, upon closer inspection a solitary male Brambling was added to our list. Into the visitor centre for soup & coffee to be told that there is going to be a VERY high tide in 90 minutes. On to the reserve the first birds seen are a big flock of Yellowhammer & House Sparrows at the T-junction. Down to the Saltcot observatory for the high tide. The biggest surprise was the first, when I opened the window a Skylark was flying up singing. A Peregrine was sat on a post watching the huge flock of Knot which made the sky look as though it had static electricity. Four Roe Deer got marooned on a small & shrinking island before having to swim back to dry land. Next stop was the Peter Scott Hide for the Swan feed, 120 Whoopers, lots of Wigeon, numerous Teal, Mallard & Mute Swans. Last stop was the Folly Pond hide to see flocks & flocks of Barancle Geese (8000 in total on the reserve) in the fields, lots of Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwits & Shelduck. A few Redshank & pair of Snipe on the near shoreline of the scrape, in the distance a female Hen Harrier quartered the gorse-line.
Up the road to Southerness Lighthouse, very heavy seas & sky meant all we saw were Oystercatcher & Redshank on the nearby shore.
Monday 21st
Up at 7 for a full English and then were off up the West side of Loch Ken braving the wintery showers and all the way on to Carlae, more or less bird free apart from Graylag Geese in the fields and a Buzzard and Kestrel roadside. Next stop was the carpark at Clattershaw Loch (the visitor centre is closed in February), looking across the water the only bird in sight is a Goldeneye. Get out of the car to make a coffee, the floor & sky instantly looked like a biblical plague of Chaffinch coming from every bush and tree around, they seemed to be quite partial to ginger biscuits. Off to the Kite feed at Bellymack via Newton Stewart and Creetown, the estuary brown with muck off the mud-flats making it look like the Ganges. Arriving at The Kite feed for feeding time at 2 o’clock, 80 to 100 kites filled their bellies then went and sat in the nearby trees before seconds. Last stop of the day was RSPB Ken Dee Marshes, we walked out of the carpark and a mile down the track towards the hide I had a ‘OH NO, binoculars on the car roof moment’, I ran to get them then back to ‘Paps’. The binoculars were there but i haven’t run that far in my life before. Running is for people who can’t afford a bike, isn’t it? At the hide everything looked quiet, a bit of patience gave us Mute Swan, Graylag & Canada Geese, Tufled Duck Goldeneye & Teal. The feeders were full of Tits, Blue, Great & Coal but not a Finch in sight. Concentrating on the feeders a Red Squirrel arrived, a proper little Squirrel Nutkins all fluffed up and very, very red. Just before we left a Treecreeper was spotted at the bottom of one tree before spiralling its way up and off to another tree out of view. Last thing seem from the hide was a Nuthatch on the feeder. On the way back to the car a Sparrow Hawk flew past quickly at low level. What had started off as a wildlife free morning had become a busy afternoon.
Tuesday 22nd
Up at 7 again, this morning I took the binnies to the breakfast room to get a better view of the house feeders, large numbers of Siskin, Tree Sparrow and a few Blue, Great & Coal Tits. We then set off the 60 plus miles to Lock Ryan, 1st stop was the old jetty at Cairnryan, a really good start with 16+ Black Guillimots. We then went further North, this turned out to be a mistake as the Loch opens up to the Sea, the wind gets stronger and the birds went AWOL. Turned back round back past Cairnryan to the pull-off at the old railway line. Instantly the birds were back, small numbers of Scaup & Slavonian Grebe, larger amounts of Black-necked Divers (including a flock of 7). Scanning with the scope it was obvious large amounts of birds were between us and Stranraer so we moved in that direction. At the lay-by with the butty shop we added Turnstone, Dunlin & Rock Pipit to our list. Last stop was on the outskirts of the town where people feed the Swans. Large Numbers of Mute Swans came round our feet, only 30 yards out were rafts of Scaup and Pintail, further out were smaller numbers of Goldeneye and a few singleton slavs. Another really productive second half to the day just like yesterday (the moral must be stay in bed till dinner, trouble is that would mean missing the cooked breakfast). Nothing to note on our journey home.
Wednesday 23rd
Breakfast with the binnies again, as well as yesterdays birds we also had Pheasant, Collared Dove & Wood Pigeon on the floor with in minutes, but before we had finished eating this also included a dozen Yellowhammers and a solo Brambling. Today would be a quick visit to RSPB Mersehead and then back down the motorway. When we got to Mersehead it was raining just like a storm off the TV, five minutes in the car and it broke just long enough for us to risk getting out for a shortened stop. A quick march to the far hide gave us a Stoat running across the path, Barnacle Geese in the fields and Rooks building nests in the trees. Once in the hide plenty of Wigeon, Shelduck & Pintail on the water, some more scanning added a Dabchick to the list with the final entrant being a very noisy male ‘Gothic’ Pheasant.
myoudale
Well-known member
[/QUOTE]
Tuesday 22nd......
..... larger amounts of Black-necked Divers (including a flock of 7). [/QUOTE]
This is a very interesting record of Divers. In Loch Ryan you tend to get Red-throated Diver and the odd Great Northern. Black-throated Diver are a lot less common so to have potentially 7 this is a great record. I would recommend give the county recorder Paul Collin and email, as in D&G winter plumage Black-throats are asked to be submitted.
Thanks
Mike
Tuesday 22nd......
..... larger amounts of Black-necked Divers (including a flock of 7). [/QUOTE]
This is a very interesting record of Divers. In Loch Ryan you tend to get Red-throated Diver and the odd Great Northern. Black-throated Diver are a lot less common so to have potentially 7 this is a great record. I would recommend give the county recorder Paul Collin and email, as in D&G winter plumage Black-throats are asked to be submitted.
Thanks
Mike
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
Tuesday 22nd......
..... larger amounts of Black-necked Divers (including a flock of 7). [/QUOTE]
This is a very interesting record of Divers. In Loch Ryan you tend to get Red-throated Diver and the odd Great Northern. Black-throated Diver are a lot less common so to have potentially 7 this is a great record. I would recommend give the county recorder Paul Collin and email, as in D&G winter plumage Black-throats are asked to be submitted.
Thanks
Mike[/QUOTE]
I have now spoken to my son, Mike, and he sends his apologies. On re-reading his report he can't think why he wrote the name of a non-existant bird! He's almost certain the 7 were more red-throated divers.
A pity the spell-check doesn't distinguish between bird species!
Sandra
..... larger amounts of Black-necked Divers (including a flock of 7). [/QUOTE]
This is a very interesting record of Divers. In Loch Ryan you tend to get Red-throated Diver and the odd Great Northern. Black-throated Diver are a lot less common so to have potentially 7 this is a great record. I would recommend give the county recorder Paul Collin and email, as in D&G winter plumage Black-throats are asked to be submitted.
Thanks
Mike[/QUOTE]
I have now spoken to my son, Mike, and he sends his apologies. On re-reading his report he can't think why he wrote the name of a non-existant bird! He's almost certain the 7 were more red-throated divers.
A pity the spell-check doesn't distinguish between bird species!
Sandra
As has been said, this is highly unlikely (to the point of near-impossibility!), but you may well have seen a black grouse. They're not common in D&G but there are something like 200 lekking males in the area so it's possible.
Mike
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
This post brings to mind that I thought I'd seen my first capercaillie some years ago - crouched in the heather near Loch Garten and right at the side of the car - but some time later I realised it had been a black grouse. This was still another first sighting but I blush when I think of how excited I was and who I told...... it was too complicated to change my story later.
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