A bird with Barnacles from the Martyr's Stake at Wigtown. https://maps.app.goo.gl/mmJSHiKUBpaEqTRy9

" Ring-billed Gull still present off the Scar. A brief sighting of an Osprey today was a delight. Some Red-throated Divers, Slavonian Grebes & Long-tailed Ducks are looking stunning in full breeding plumage, with many more transitioning. A pair of Goosander were unusually at the Wig this morning. The woods are alive with birdsong (including several Chiffchaff & my first Blackcap yesterday). Still some Redwing present, and some of those have started singing as well! Oystercatchers & Ringed Plover displaying on the beach. Pied Wagtail passage is occurring, with mostly males so far & my first White Wagtail of the spring at the Wig Fields today." E.Grover.

Nearly 250 Whoopers moving north through Wigtown Bay today. Also GWE, Merlin & Jack Snipe. Ivan Lang. 

I can only hope that Natural England's delight in putting more people in the way of sensitive coastal wildlife is mitigated by the coastal paths AVOIDING the same.

A bird sadly flushed this pm from the River Nith at Carnsalloch. https://maps.app.goo.gl/QBzHc11VvqooLBxS9

Probably same dozen Sand Martin that overflew Castle Loch hawking over Kirk Loch. Maybe 30 Tufties, 50+ Wigeon, c25 Goldeneye, 2 Mute Swan.

Drake & I think imm ♀ Scaup, 5 probably 6 GWE. c12 Sand Martin over at 1555 flying north. 300+ Wigeon, c50 Tufties, c20 Goldeneye, 4 Little Grebe, 1 GC Grebe, c20 Shoveler, c15 Goosander, Reed Bunting, Buzzard, at least 31 Mute Swan, uncounted Heron but at least 5, Teal, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard.

60 Scaup, Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot at Stranraer end & 6 Bar-tailed Godwit at the Wig. All a reminder of some of the delights to be found there.

Started at Southerness but all winter visitors bar 1 Turnstone gone. Just Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher & gulls. No migrants. A better 3hrs at Meida Hide at Mersehead. Good views of ♂️ & ♀️ Marsh Harrier. A Chiffchaff half way to the hide with metal ring on right leg was my first this season. Another found along the main track back to the farm. About 5pm spotted the Green-winged Teal out dabbling in line with the "road liable to flooding" sign. Would've been a closer view from the Bruaich Hide. However, I decided to stop by that hide after 6pm & had a good view of it in sleep mode not too far away. Record pics att. Not a bad few hours 👍

3 Avocet this pm on ebbing tide, showing well but conditions cold and blustery. Bill Jamieson.

No sign of the Cattle Egret today. However a Swallow off the sea near Auchenmalg was a surprise. 116 Greenlands still present at West Freugh. Ivan Lang. 

A bird seen at Point of Lag, Monreith today.

A Cattle Egret with cows in field to the east of East Mains Farm and the conifers. Also at least 3 chiffs around the area. Ivan Lang.

15th. Chiffchaff; a singing bird in Bloomfield Park, Dumfries & 4 seen at RSPB Mersehead on 14th, where a dozen or so Redwing & Fieldfare remain. A good number of 15 Reed Bunting counted there too. I'm v dubious of a report of 3 Shag at Carsethorn, which are likely to be Cormorant. I haven't seen Shag there in 17yrs of visiting. PJ. 

I've occasionally wondered why the lower "town" prone to flooding isn't offered relocation on higher, unoccupied commercial ground. A generalist view but to me seems a better resolution when you have a town centre ghost. Yes there are still buildings, historic buildings which are more difficult to place in such an idea. Consider that in former industrial locations, the history that is locked into historical buildings have been taken down carefully & rebuilt, into a living museum of forner times. Too bold? Too costly perhaps? How much is the project costing again? What guarantee is there that the costs won't escalate? What guarantee is there that the project will succeed in its intended purpose but sweep Glencaple & Kirkconnell Merse away & under water? Are the plans solving one problem, only to create another by stripping away riverine profile, roads & wildlife habitats downriver? 🤔 https://www.dgwgo.com/dumfries-galloway-news/dumfries-tree-...

22 Lssr Redpoll, pair GC Grebe at Lochinvar. Water Rail at Caerlaverock NNR. 2 Dipper & Chiffchaff on farmland along River Annan north of the town.

Wigtown Wetland : Cetti's reported earlier calling, is now singing at the reedbed. Ivan Lang. Caerlaverock NNR : a bird also reported calling there early pm. 

Are you a birder in Dumfries and Galloway? We are looking for a volunteer to count waterbirds at Kelhead Quarry once a month! If you think you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at app.bto.org/websonline/s... #Ornithology #UKBirding #BirdingScotland [image or embed] — Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP) ( @webs-gsmp.bsky.social ) 13 March 2026 at 11:57

Singing Cetti's Warbler and 2 Scaup (drake & female-type) at Castle Loch. Paul Massey.

"Gulls were the highlight of a lunchbreak at Bishopburn today (11/03): 1369 Black-headed, 291 Common, 113 Herring, eight Lesser Black-backed, two Great Black-backed and an adult Ring-billed Gull. Plus more still flying in as I left." E. Grover.

About 150 or more in 3 fields opposite Barngarth Cottage, east of Bankend, as is usual.

4 Avocet 1330 then flew to the English side. A few Goosander, Goldeneye, c30-40 Wigeon. 3 Grey Plover, lots of Wigeon & Teal along the tideline between Newbie Barns & Barnkirk Pt. Very blustery.

6th. A GWE at Threave NTS fishing. 8th. A Marsh Harrier imm/♀ "quartering" at RSPB Mersehead.

"Spring very much underway in North Rhins (the following sightings are from the last week or so). The first Wheatears have landed at the Wig, and the first Sandwich Tern was over Loch Ryan on 7th. Birdsong has erupted from all around, Tysties are squeaking away, ducks chase each other round in their displays, and corvids, House Sparrows and Herons have all been seen carrying nesting material. Winter species are starting to head north - Fieldfares and Redwing remain, the Pale-bellied Brent Goose flock dwindles ever smaller (different birds each day, perhaps?), Pink-footed Goose flocks are more regularly seen passing overhead, Goldcrests have dropped off dramatically (only the local birds remain, singing away) and a steady Chaffinch passage appears to have been occurring. Loch Connell has sported seven Pintail, three Pochard and drakes of each Shoveler and Gadwall. Other highlights include two possible Mistle Thrush pairs (uncommon breeder locally), a breeding plumage Slavonia...

6 Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher & Snipe seen on river Nith in Whitesands area. Also a Woodcock disturbed from brambles 50m from Robbie Burns centre. A Chiffchaff & Water Rail reported at RSPB Mersehead.

Sighted again this pm at RSPB Mersehead, from the Bruaich Hide.

Mark Humphreys reports a bird "sighted at Cannee Farm, Kirkcudbright today, 7th March!".

6th. Andrew Russell appears to have been lucky enough to see a bird at the Devil's Beef Tub from, I assume, the lay-by at the valley head. The upper white tail similar to a ♀ Hen Harrier or more nearly a juv Golden Eagle, is the clincher. See; https://ebird.org/checklist/S306563217

c70 Whoopers beside the A75 near the west end of the Castle Douglas bypass yesterday & today. Estimated as driving past in speedy traffic queue. David H. 

Willow Tit; A bird briefly seen at Castle Corner, Caerlaverock NNR. Redhead Smew; still at Carlingwark Loch, Castle Douglas. Peregrine; on Threave Castle, Threave NTS & a Grey Wagtail nearby on the River Dee. Red-legged Partridge; 2 birds hiding amongst mole hills plus several Hare at Priestside, Cummertrees Loop (no Grey P seen). Probable Goshawk in the Ruthwell area plus lots of Hare.