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BTO D&G Spring 2026 Newsletter

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Birds in D&G need your help! Message from Andy Riches; Please find bulletin link to BTO surveys in D&G. Feel free to pass it on to anyone that you think might be interested. BTO Surveys : SPRING 2026 If you have any questions about BTO surveys, then do not hesitate to get in touch. Long link ;  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DLpfy8ibbz1ADI79tEs57oB48-Lle8M4/view?usp=drivesdk

Rhins

Hooded Crow reported at Grennan Lochan ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/iZ6jcVYjiNm7C5cb7?g_st=ac ). 2 Spot Flycatcher at Logan Botanical Gardens.

Support for Greenland ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฑ

Defeat morally & environmentally bankrupt Trump. https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/trump_hands_off_greenland_2_1/

Out in the East

Golden Eagle at Grey Mare's Tail NR, also Red Grouse calling, Osprey, Peregrine and Scotch Argus. Ivan Lang. 

Recent Sightings

3 Quail still around Glasserton nr Whithorn village. Ross Bay, 70 Sandwich Tern. Castle Douglas Carlingwark Loch fringe, Lesser Whitethroat claimed. Barn Owl evident around Kingholm Quay, walking south. Red Grouse in the Moffat hills.

About & Around

Portpatrick. Kittiwakes, Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Fulmar, Raven, Rock Pipit, 2-6 Stonechat, 63-220 Manx Shearwater & 44 Gannet. Cairnryan to Belfast ferry seabirds virtually as Portpatrick. Kingholm Quay. Barn Owl & Grasshopper Warbler. WWT Caerlaverock. Water Rail, 3 Snipe, Grey Wagtail.

Quail

More Quail than you can shake a stick at. 3 calling birds in fields around Kingholm Quay.

Aug 9th

Counts of 15 & 32 Swift over the river Dee, Kirkcudbright, with 14 at Threave NTS. Also over/on the Dee in Kirkcudbright, an Osprey, 8 Little Egret, 5 Heron & Tree Sparrow. Brighouse Bay, Kingfisher, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff, 11 Rock Pipit, 4 Stonechat, GSW, Raven. Hirundine gathering so where's the Hobby folks!?

Barn Owl & Avocet

6th. A tidy 3 seen in the environs around Kingholm Quay, Dumfries. Still 4 Avocet at Browhouses. 

WWT Caerlaverock

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7th. Brother saw Water Rail, Green Sandpiper at Whooper Pond, Spot Flycatcher, Sparrowhawk & mating Southern Hawker. Back Pond water level down to ground now.

Quail, Quail & more Quail

7th. A calling bird close to the Wigtownshire County Golf Club. Today, 2 reported off the river Bladnoch walking south along the river from Wigtown LNR. A bird still around RSPB Crook of Baldoon & Glasserton nr Whithorn village, now has 2 calling birds. 

The Wig June Report

Overlooked this, published on July 26th. https://awanderroundthewig.blogspot.com/2026/07/quality-not-quantity-bird-report-for.html?m=1

Little Stint

7th. Newbie Barns & Barnkirk Pt. 1620-1830, incoming tide, Little Stint (3), in with a few Ringed Plover. Showed well for quite some time, feeding in short bursts before resting then repeating the process, brilliant viewing. Also a single Bar-tailed Godwit, a single Golden Plover, with a few Whimbrel. At Barnkirk Point, 11 Greenshank were counted in with the Redshank army that’s currently here. Bill Jamieson. Ed. Top news from BJ.

Rhins

Alyn had a calling Quail in crop field opposite entrance to the Wigtownshire County Golf Club, Glenluce, this morning & a Snow Goose of very suspect origin in harvested field by Kirkmabreck farm off the A716 between Sandhead & Ardwell. It was amongst Greylags & Canadas and included multiple leucistic &/or farmyard type white/beige Greylags. Gavin. 

Lost Parrot

Carol Oz from Gretna has been in touch. "Lost…African grey from Gretna she is ringed and tame I am disdraught lost 7/8/26 she went heading north , please call 07817361313 carol". Can you help??

Luce Bay

1ea of Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit & Greenshank, 120 Curlew & 2 Grasshopper Warbler near Whitefield Farm east of Auchenmalg. Swift over Dumfries.

Bankend - Glencaple

Bankend Road & back road to Glencaple 1530-1700 ; 3 at least calling Quail in barley fields. 1 here; https://maps.app.goo.gl/N9nbaxQVVDLgiHdY9 , 1 still here; https://maps.app.goo.gl/aZZv8GvtRJwk3CqX7?g_st=ac & 1 still here; https://maps.app.goo.gl/HjXFLJCWmS8oj3ELA?g_st=ac . Along Nith from Glencaple quay, 6 Greenshank far shore inc at least 2 juvs. Further along Shore Rd south, 3 Black-tailed Godwit. Loads of gulls, c200 Greylag, plenty Lapwing & Curlew, 25 or more Goosander.

Bits

Quail still at Glasserton. 5 Black Guillemot at Stranraer old terminal. 2 Swift over Craigs Rd Dumfries. 3 Sand Martin at Applegarthtown Wildlife Sanctuary & a Tree Sparrow at Eskrigg NR.

1st August

1 Glossy Ibis still at WWT Caerlaverock on new dig ponds. Yet another Quail, one heard at Glasserton, west of Whithorn village.

Corsewall Pt

31st July pm. 75 Manxies west in 45 mins, plenty Gannets, Guillemots with chicks, tysties, Kittiwakes, Razorbills, juv Wheatear and c3 harbour porpoise. Ian Bainbridge.

Quail & Med Gull

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c1445-1500. A calling Quail in both barley fields to the right off the road to Glencaple heading from Bankend Road. Possibly 2 in one of them.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/NpbSAw6vB2ZkFRW69 https://maps.app.goo.gl/HpwFBApGdW1B2mCg6?g_st=ac During the fruitless search for the Ruddy Shelduck, a Med gull was found resting on Kirkconnel Merse, opp side of the Nith from Shore Rd. Apols for the poor image of the distant bird!

Browhouses

1430 - 1730. To the distant east, 6 Avocet, 12 Greenshank, 10+ Comm Sand & 1 Black-tailed Godwit. In front of the cottages, 1 juv Ruff, c500-1000 Dunlin but no Curlew Sand spotted ☹️, c30 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, several Little Egret inc the ringed H4 bird again. 22 Avocet on the English side! 

Merlin

Bird seen in the vicinity of Hollands Hide, Caerlaverock NNR.

Wildfires : Wildlife is to Blame ๐Ÿคฃ

Is this the kind of small-minded, low IQ nonsense embedded in the farming "industry"? Job required - environmentally sensitive farming practices manager to run team of Conservation Farmers. Essential Skills - Brains. "Buzzard blamed for cereal crop fire" https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/buzzard-blamed-for-cereal-crop-fire#:~:text=Buzzard%20blamed%20for%20cereal%20crop%20fire,-Philip%20Clarke

Browhouses

1900-2020. Curlew Sandpiper (2), Ruff (2), Greenshank (4), Common Sandpiper (3), huge numbers of Dunlin, lots of Redshank, 2 Avocet (adult and juvenile) and a few Golden Plover. Bill Jamieson.

The Ruddy Shelduck

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Ruddy Shelduck this morning close by road - observed from 4th lay-by past Glencaple. Robbie Purdie.

Browhouses

Saturday 25th. Shelduck 8, Goosander 15, Avocet 45 (already noted), Ringed Plover 1, Lapwing 100, Curlew 50, Black-tailed Godwit 13, Common Sandpiper 5, Redshank 75, Dunlin 50, Little Egret 1.

Threave Castle

A Willow Tit in the vicinity recently. 

Browhouses

25th. 45 Avocet feeding on the falling tide & presumably straddling the border with England to whatever extent.

Ruddy Shelduck

Apparently seen earlier at Kennethbank nr Glencaple. Current location unknown. Probably escapee I'm told. 

Quail & Ibis

Quail year continues with a bird calling still at RSPB Crook of Baldoon. Has a WWT Ibis jumped ship & turning up at RSPB Mersehead lunchtime today? Also, another Quail heard there mid pm. 

Birdwatching Sites 
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