Read this from the RSPB; Massive offshore wind expansion must not threaten Scotland's seabirds You can help RSPB have put together a suggested template email to send to Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy: Dear Cabinet Secretary, I am writing to you as I am extremely concerned about the rapid expansion of offshore wind in Scotland without guaranteed measures to address the impacts on our struggling seabird populations – or help their recovery and resilience.  Scotland is globally important for seabirds, but they are facing multiple threats including climate change, unsustainable fishing, invasive species, and avian flu. Around 70% of species are in decline, including Puffins, Gannets, and Arctic Terns. And now unsuitable offshore wind developments threaten to fast-track species towards extinction. Berwick Bank would be particularly devastating for seabirds, with the potential to kill thousands and displace thousands more. It is also undermining other les...

30 Sandwich Tern - 1 juv with yellow ring on left leg & metal on right, 8 Golden Plover, c15 Knot - 2 with russet chests still, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, c 250 Ringed Plover. Dog walker disturbance. PJ

RSPB Crook of Baldoon. One still on saltmarsh pool; park at end of Shell Road (DG8 9AQ). 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/31/pony-foals-snatched-sea-eagles-scotland-hebrides-inquiry/ Isn't it long overdue for farmers to be required to farm empatheticaly with the environment? I think we should have a national job description enshrined in law to require it, but like any job, if you're not suitable, you don't get the job. If it doesn't pay enough, then in simple thinking, other work should be found. I find the sensationalist report & many of the hysterical comments left by readers seriously disturbing. It's another reveal of those who are anti-environment & yet supposedly educated (if they choose to subscribe to & read The Times?). This is also another exposé of how pets & humanly-embraced farm animals take presidence over anything wild. If it isn't controlled, it should be, or should be shot. You can guarantee that should a wild animal, in doing what is natural to it, attacks a pet or other humanly-embraced animal, t...

Hello, I hope this message finds you well. My name is Afrika, and I am coordinating a forthcoming feral goat vantage point survey in the moorlands between Langholm and Newcastleton this September on behalf of the Mammal Society. The aim of the survey is to establish an independent population estimate of the feral goats within this area using standardised vantage point counts.  We are currently reaching out to local groups and organisations to invite participation. In practice, this would involve:  - Joining survey teams at pre-assigned vantage points (always in pairs).  - Following a simple standardised protocol (training and materials provided).  - Recording observations using binoculars and/or spotting scopes, supported by maps or a Google Earth project.  - Contributing to a collective effort to improve knowledge of feral goat populations in this region. The survey is scheduled for the 27th and 28th of September, with a briefing beforehand on the 15th of Septe...

Portpatrick 08:46. One flew south past Dunskey Castle. 

Aug 30th. Great White Egret 1, Castle Loch, South-East Corner. Aug 28th. Pied Avocet 3, 1 with yellow rings both legs. Western Marsh Harrier 1 juv. Both River Esk at Browhouses. David W. Smith.

Corsewall Point. One flew past close inshore 29th. 

Curlew Sandpiper. 9 (nine) again early morning then flew out to mudflats; park at end of Shell Road (DG8 9AQ). 

Single Comm Sandpiper on Carse Gut shoreline. WWT Folly Pond almost gone despite rain. Browhouses 1500-1600; 16 Greenshank, 3 juv Ruff though one bird I couldn't be 100% about tbh, 5 Snipe, 2 Wigeon & a wintery Guillemot straddling the borderline. PJ

11 Curlew Sandpiper, 11 Ruff and 2 Little Stint reported on the merse pool north of car park. Gavin Chambers. 

1600. Pair likely dark juv Arctic Skua chasing down the odd Sandwich Tern for a plundered snack. Just offshore from the lighthouse but wandered west. PJ

2000+ Oystercatcher, possibly 500-1000 Ringed Plover & 3 Bar-tailed Godwit. No other small waders seen but distant. Several hundred Sandwich Tern & lots of gulls. PJ

Fair numbers of Redshank & Turnstone on the point. 13th golf tee, ditto plus 6 Knot, 2 Dunlin & a Whimbrel turned up with a few Curlew. A steady stream of a few hundred Sandwich Tern heading out offshore plus a Gannet or 3 & 6 Common Scoter. PJ

If you don't seek, you'd never know. "Pete Berry said Sun Aug 24 2:26 PM, 2025. A pal of mine organised a pelagic off Portpatrick this past Friday. We went out to the drop off approx half way between England and Northern Ireland and spent a few hours chumming. In total we saw 20 Storm Petrel (unfortunately none were Wilsons) as all were seen well enough to ID them. We also had plenty of Gannets, Manx Shearwaters, Guillemots and Razorbills mostly with young birds in tow and up to 20 Fulmar right next to the boat. Surprise of the day was 3 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls hanging about and feeding on the chum 5 other species of gull and Kittiwakes were also seen. Common, Arctic and Sandwich".   https://manchesterbirding.activeboard.com/t13255103/dumfries-and-galloway/?page=1#:~:text=pete%20berry%20said,Arctic%20and%20Sandwich  

2 seen today at RSPB Crook of Baldoon. 2 on tidal lagoon at high tide; park at end of Shell Road ( DG8 9AQ ).

Moulting adult and 2nd winter Mediterranean Gulls off the old pier at Carsethorn this afternoon on falling tide. Gavin Chambers.

Still at Carsethorn on the mud opposite old village pier. PJ

1200-1500, ebbing tide, Ruff (1) showing well, Greenshank (22), Black-tailed Godwit (4) and a juvenile Redstart on the steelworks security fence as I was going back across the field. Bill Jamieson.

0630-0730. Greylag Goose c 800-1000, Canada Goose 15, Avocet 12, Dunlin 1, Greenshank 7, Ruff 9 , Black-tailed Godwit 5, C Snipe 1. Ian Irving. (Early birders... etc😁) 

5 Green Sandpiper are now on the river Annan at Mein water, showing great this morning at water's edge, and, not to be outdone, they were joined by the single remaining Common Sandpiper. Bill Jamieson. 

Mediterranean Gull (moulting into 2nd winter) still around Carsethorn. Seems to favour area out from old wooden pier by village (at low tide), which happens to be viewable from living room window. Gavin Chambers.

c1700-1900. 2 Greenshank & a 1st-summer Med Gull amongst the preening gulls, 15 at least Little Egret. On the WWT merse. Imm. Peregrine being patient. 2 cream-capped Marsh Harrier. One could be ad♀️, as missing some primaries. Other had 2 yellow shoulder wing tags, possibly ending with a V, but always mobile at distance so couldn't nail it. A local bred bird? It buzzed a Buzzard on the ground but going for small birds on the ground now & then. PJ

Around 3pm. Had a good view of Bill J's juv Ruff, hanging out with a Greenshank before both flew to the foreshore opposite the cottages. Also saw Bill J's single Whooper hanging out with a Mute, a distance towards Redkirk Point is it? Also several hundred Greylags there. PJ

Short visit to WWT. No Wood Sand. evident & 1 LRP briefly on what remains of Folly Pond from Sharps Lookout. Also reported an Osprey on the pole triangle/hopeful nest site & a Spot Fly along the Avenue. Browhouses c1245+, 14 Avocet inc 2 juv & 18 Greenshank. 1 Avocet left leg green over yellow rings & another with yellow flag on both legs. Too much haze to read. PJ

Always the last to know... You'll all be aware of the bird reported at WWT Caerlaverock since Friday 15th on Folly Pond. Probably gone now as not reported tmk today. 

Nothing unusual. No Grey Plover today. 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Greenshank, 2 Goosander, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, 1 Turnstone, 250 Redshank, 4 Little Egret, c20 Ringed Plvr, c12 Whimbrel. c1000 Oystercatcher. Post-breeding gulls. PJ

1815 - 1945, ebbing tide. Ruff, (1 juv), Greenshank (12), Whooper Swan (1), and a few Little Egret (1 ringed, yellow and orange). Bill Jamieson. 

4 Green Sandpiper this morning, Osprey over the river. Also 2 Common Sandpiper remain, juvenile Willow Warblers and Whitethroat in good numbers. Bill Jamieson. 

Mostly around the Carrick scout camp rocks: 110 Sandwich Tern, 295 Oystercatcher, 27 Curlew, 3 Turnstone, Little Egret. Spot-fly at Sandgreen. 2 Whimbrel on Newton beach. Ian Bainbridge.