From Andy Riches.  The BTO is surveying Non-Estuarine Waterbirds this winter and we need your help. NEWS is a simple, single visit survey carried out between 1 st December 2026 and 31 st January 2027. Counts may be carried out at any time during the six-hour window that starts three hours before the advertised low-water time and ends three hours after. Top priority for this survey is recording waders on the intertidal habitat . If possible, also record wildfowl, seabirds, raptors and non-waterbirds, and mammals. Waterbirds should be recorded in all three habitats: a) Intertidal zone between the high and low water marks (essential). b) Sea adjacent to the coast, as far as you can see. c) Inland areas visible within 100 m of the high water mark (unless particularly difficult). Walk from the start of your site to the end. Walk along the intertidal area, making sure you can see birds feeding at the water’s edge. ...

40 Pale-bellied Brents on Loch Ryan at Stranraer. Garganey at RSPB Crook of Baldoon. Willow Tit along Lover's Walk, Carlingwark Loch. 68 Goosander notable on the Nith around Kingholm Quay.

Around 600 Barnacle Geese, c30 Whooper Swan returned, Hen Harrier, Kestrel & Peregrine, Willow Warbler & couple of Chiffchaff. 5 Redwing in Dumfries.

Data Centre proposal for Chapelcross From Laura Moodie MSP I wanted to highlight to you the proposed data centre development at Chapelcross. I have serious concerns about the extraordinary scale of this application, particularly what it could mean for Scotland’s energy system, our climate commitments and our communities in Dumfries and Galloway.   My position is simple: Chapelcross should mean regeneration, but this is not regeneration . I will be submitting my own formal objection to the application, and I have launched a campaign page that makes it easy to submit an objection, so that you can add your voice too. Please sign our e-action to object to Chapelcross If approved, the Chapelcross data centres development would have a potential capacity of around 1GW, making it the largest data centre campus in the world. At full operation, it could use around 7 million MWh of electricity a year, equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than two million Scottish homes. Demand o...

Garlieston Harbour/Bay. 15 Golden Plover, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit. Wigtown Bay LNR, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit & Kingfisher.

Female Merlin on cliff just below lighthouse, seen from foghorn viewpoint. Flew off when Raven landed nearby. Tom Saxon.

Published 5th;  https://awanderroundthewig.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-rich-diversity-wins-day-bird-report.html

In Garlieston harbour, on flats north of the tide line. Also 2 Pale-bellied Brents. Many Greenshank. "Yes, this is the bird. I had it from 6pm to 6.30pm in Garlieston Bay, though a Grey Plover had me slightly confused to start with. The AGP flew off with GP west inland at 6.30pm after all birds were spooked by something. Gavin"

American Golden Plover present in Garlieston Bay during Monday afternoon. Nigel Willetts. 

Still south of Garlieston & before Rigg Bay with Golden Plovers. Adult bird reported. 

Mandarin Duck in Town Wood, Dalbeattie, on the loch with Mallards. Bar-tailed Godwit & 2 presumably Lb Brents at Garlieston. 2 GWE from Glencaple pier.

RSPB Crook of Baldoon. Garganey still & pair Gadwall. Ivan Lang.

3rd. 2 Greenshank HT+ at merse head. Tens of Pied Wagtail all over the flats. Maybe 300 Wigeon or more, 4 Little Egret, c40 Lapwing. Probable Grey Plover juv but its behaviour didn't recall GP for me. Nor Golden P. Noticeable dark cap/crown, dark primary tips, whitish forehead & supercilium behind the eye.

Bird still today between Garlieston & Rigg Bay. Still present between at 14.45. Ivan Lang. Directions; Walk down the path from Garlieston (pier) towards Rigg Bay. About 5min past the second gate, it was on the left out on the shoreline (at low tide). The group of Golden Plover it was with was pushed up on to the rocks about 2hrs after low tide. You can park either in Garlieston or there is limited parking at the pier/jetty. Ivan Lang.

Hen Harrier from the Avenue hide towards Brow Well at WWT & suggestion of Cetti's Warbler on the NNR, possibly around the Back 'o Woods hide.

GWE around Castle Corner, Caerlaverock NNR today. 

A bird reported between Garlieston & Rigg today. 

Rather too far offshore for comfortable viewing, an ad Surf Scoter amongst a flock of c50 common. Also 3 RTD. Unfortunately the raft moved west & I lost the surfer to the swell & couldn't refind. 

Osprey overhead heading south. Findlay Ramsay.

RSPB Crook of Baldoon, Green Sandpiper, 2 GWE & 2 Garganey confirmed by TR. Garlieston, Green Sandpiper & 22 Greenshank. The Nith at Kingholm Quay, GWE. At WWT Caerlaverock, GWE & Marsh Harrier.

2nd bird reappears at RSPB Crook of Baldoon today. Or is it 1 seen twice 🤔 Check out the lagoon north of car park. Also GWE turned up. 

30th. Garganey overhead plus 2 Ruff & Snipe on the lagoon north of car park.

Wryneck on path south of car park at 14.00. Unfortunately taken by Kestrel at 15.30. Ivan Lang.  Ed. Must've been exhausted ?? 

Still at RSPB Crook of Baldoon on the lagoon north of the car park.

Reported seen 8:20am 28th east of Moniaive, here (if it works!); https://maps.app.goo.gl/LkU4LH9dacLptfif8 NB; The location would appear to be PRIVATE GROUNDS!!

A bird reported flying east over Kippford this morning.

Mid-pm, spotted the WTE poking it's head above what must either be a lower ground level or water channel. Immediately opposite the bench at Browhouses. Later seen nearer to the M6 motorway , on the ground, taking flight & circling. Clearly hunting as attacking geese on the ground. It found a sick or injured bird, landed on it & began to pluck & eat it.

3 Gadwall & Snipe at Cally Park. 30 Comm Scoter off Castle Point, + 2 Chiffchaff in subsong with pair Peregrine hunting waders HT. 4 Greenshank, 3 Sanderling, 6 Sandwich Tern, Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Sparrowhawk & Peregrine at Stairhaven,

26th. 18:43-19:23 Estimated total of 5600 Pink-footed Geese and a skein of approx 1200 Barnacle Geese moved south out of Dumfries & Galloway to roost on Solway Firth between River Esk & River Eden. Guillemot, 1 initially close in to Dumfries side of River Esk, Little Egret 5 feeding then flew west, Gadwal 6, Wigeon 49, Pintail 1, Teal 34, Goosander 6, Oystercatcher 7, Lapwing 230, Curlew 5, Redshank 13.

Hobby south over merse at RSPB Crook of Baldoon. Ivan Lang. Hoopoe at Moniaive, west of the town.