South of the Central Belt trip. (1 Viewer)

I'm at the planning stages for a 4 or 5 day birding trip around this time next month. Originally intended to go north, but decided that this year we should explore a bit of the country that I've neglected previously instead. So Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders (with a bit of East Lothian probably thrown in too) it is to be.
Looking to tap into the collected knowledge base on here for the best areas/reserves etc to visit (looking at possibly 2 or 3 per day depending on distance/weather & birds etc). A loose plan is below (need to sort out B&Bs soon) so any suggestions would be most welcome.

Day 1 - travel to D&G from Dundee, possibly down Ayrshire coast
Day 2 - D&G
Day 3 - D&G then head eastwards cross country
Day 4 - the eastern side of the country/coastal areas
Day 5 - (more coast & East Lothian) then home to Dundee in the evening

Thanks

Baz

I tend to go down south during winter months when the geese are in abundance, but if you're going to travel down via Ayrshire, Ballantrae just past Girvan can be good in summer months for Little Tern. Other terns are visible at different points of the coast.

Good chance of other seabirds too, you can take a boat trip out to Ailsa Craig from Girvan where you'll probably see Manx Shearwater, Guillemot, Puffin, Gannet, Razorbill, several gulls, Whitethroat on the island, I also saw Slow Worms on the island too.

Wood of Cree near Dumfries is supposed to be good for Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, you're also in with a good chance of Green Woodpecker, Jay, Red Kite and possibly Spotted Flycatcher in the Dumfries area.

Musselburgh is a great site in East Lothian. Park up by the River Esk estuary and walk along the sea wall. Then cut inland to towards the boating lake, then head off left where you'll find 3 hides (uncovered) that look out onto 3 separate lagoons.

Scroll down this link for possible sightings: http://www.wildlifeweb.co.uk/wheretogo/lothian/lothian2.html

I would agree that Wood of Cree is an excellent site-see this thread Ken dee marshes is also excellent-kites, willow tit, pied flys,redstart.

Thanks, guys. Exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for.
Wood of Cree and Ken-Dee Marshes sound really good, and it appears we're going at the right time too. Potentially 6 lifers among the birds noted, and quite a few year ticks too. Time will tell if we actually get any of them though.....
Days 3 and 4 might need a wee bit of re-planning now, with D&G maybe requiring a 3rd day to explore, leaving Day 4 for the Hirsel and St Abbs area, and Aberlady/Musselburgh etc on Day 5.
Looking forward to this already.....

Might be worth checking the link below before your trip to Lothian. Its updated daily and there may be something of interest to you en route:

http://www.birdinglothian.co.uk/#/recent-sightings/4537581602

Well, trip over and done.....and well worth the effort. Picked up 5 lifers (and 2 new birds for the year list). Got Black Guillemot at Portpatrick harbour (had distant views off Girvan on the way down).

Wood of Cree gave us Wood Warbler and lots of Pied Flycatchers. Had a Willow Tit fly across the road in front of us on the road in from Minigaff.

Great views of Nuthatch (plus Bank Vole and Red Squirrel) at Ken-Dee Marshes plus a Garden Warbler singing up a tree near the car park. Three Red Kites from the car on the road out too.

Dropped in to both Mull of Galloway and Mersehead after closing time but didn't see too much.

Popped over the border and managed to grab a Snow Goose flying low over us at Holy Island causeway, and a Grasshopper Warbler reeling at dusk amongst the wild roses at Bamburgh Castle. Fleeting views of it though, thankfully.

Had to cut short the trip by a day owing to us both feeling under the weather, so Lothian didn't get the attention it should have. St Abbs Head was visited on the way home (mostly the Mire Loch area) but nothing out of the ordinary was seen. Brief stops at Skateraw, and North Berwick. A visit to the river mouth at Musselburgh co-incided with a dog that swam after the birds for quite some distance, scuppering any chance of seeing anything good there.

Still a really enjoyable trip. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions, folks.

Here's a few photos from the trip. Mostly just record shots for a variety of reasons.

1. Garden Warbler at Wood of Cree
2. Nuthatch at Ken-Dee Marshes
3. Pied Flycatcher at Wood of Cree
4. Wood Warbler at Wood of Cree