RFI south west Scotland - Newton Stewart area (1 Viewer)

Hi

My non birding partner and I will be in the Newton Stewart Gatehouse of Fleet area for time with his mum who lives in Creetown. We'll be there from this coming Saturday for a week. I'd like to get some wildlife watching in and would appreciate any up to date information on what's about and where to go please. We live in Norwich so any good gen on birds and mammals that are special to this area would be much appreciated. We are familiar with the red kite centre and a few places for red squirrels.

Many thanks!

Jo

kittykat23uk said:

Hi

My non birding partner and I will be in the Newton Stewart Gatehouse of Fleet area for time with his mum who lives in Creetown. We'll be there from this coming Saturday for a week. I'd like to get some wildlife watching in and would appreciate any up to date information on what's about and where to go please. We live in Norwich so any good gen on birds and mammals that are special to this area would be much appreciated. We are familiar with the red kite centre and a few places for red squirrels.

Many thanks!

Jo

Click to expand...

The Dumfries & Galloway Information Centre used to issue a very helpful little booklet about the birds in the whole county - and where to watch them. It might be worth calling in at one of the Centres on your way. It used to be free but will probably be a small charge now. Try on-line maybe?

Sandra

Thanks! I will look out for that.

Hi Jo, my non-birding wife and I will also be in Dumfries & Galloway soon (also from Norwich) and I would welcome any recommendations that you have for good birding sites. Does the visitor centre still have the booklet referred to by Sandra ?

Thanks

John

Depends how far you wish to travel but Langholm Moor can be excellent for Birds of Prey - Hen Harriers, Short Eared owls, Merlin etc.
Caerlaverock is a WWT centre on the solway- check out their website for what’s about at the moment.
Moffat area has Ospreys and breeding peregrines by Grey Mares Tail not far from St Mary’s Loch.
There’s is also a community woodland here which is a lovely little spot with a couple of hides overlooking a small body of water.
Loch Ken and the Ken Dee Marshes also has Red Kite, Ospreys and Otters if you’re lucky. (Couple Of hides here)
Galloway Forest Park is an extensive forested area that holds many woodland specialists and holds decent numbers of Pine Martens.
Mull of Galloway is a good sea watching spot as well.
There is also an Rspb reserve at Mersehead, just along the coast from Caerlaverock.
Hope this is useful, enjoy- its a superb area.

The D&G ranger service no longer operates but the very useful places to birdwatch booklet is downloadabe at www.the-soc.org.uk/bird-recording/l...as/birding-advice/dumfries-birdwatching-sites
Mull of Galloway RSPB for sea cliffs, lighthouse museum and a great café next door with stunning views. Wigtown has a great hide by the harbour with great views over the merse (saltmarsh) and the tidal River Bladnoch. Just south of Wigtown RSPB Crook of Baldoon and nice walks around the bay at Garlieston ( bit of military history there as well). A nice drive north from Newton Stewart to Bargrennan, passing close to RSPB Wood of Cree (ancient oak woodland, woodland birds and chance of otter on the river by car park) then turn off towards Straiton (chance of Golden Eagle) and then follow signs for the forest trail drive through to Loch Doon (views and video feed to osprey nest site from the café) and back down towards Castle Douglas past Loch Ken (RSPB Ken Dee Marshes on west side of loch). Plenty to see and do in often missed great part of the country.
Hope this helps
Carl