"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...

A birder seemingly burning rubber getting around, saw a GWE at Threave NTS fishing at 1320, a Marsh Harrier imm/♀ "quartering" at RSPB Mersehead at 1340 & GBBG & Red Kite at Landis Farm New Abbey at 1355. You'd have to run rather than walk when leaving the car & returning! The recorded times are "impossible" to achieve = surely inaccurate!

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.

From Bruaich Hide 1030-1215. Plenty of wintering ducks still. A juv Marsh Harrier was present most of the time which would occasionally lift the birds off the water. Which brought into view a Green-winged Teal at 1140 to the left of the hide. The Hen Harrier had been seen by the Visitor Centre at opening time, but not by me. Lorna Lomas.

Resurfaced at RSPB Mersehead from Bruaich Hide this morning.

Finally a spring lke day and the birds respond. The first singing Chiffchaff, singing Tree Sparrow and displaying Kite and Buzzard. Ivan Lang.

Kevin Hand reports a Chiffchaff singing just outside Langholm, 2 Tawny Owl calling midday from both Scots Pine woods on the Tarras River, on the reserve circular walk 13. Yesterday, Golden Eagle hunting over Carrifran.

John Perry reports a male Wheatear at the Wig.

Calling Cetti's Warbler in the reeds at the NNR reserve at Hollands Farm. Also a calling Willow Tit at Castle Corner Woods. Colin Bushell.

133 Greenland White-fronted Geese NW of West Freugh Airfield from High Mye this morning, though distant.

3rd. Threave NTS. There were 25+ Greenland White-fronted Geese, seen from Upper Marsh Hide 1300. Also saw both Peregrine on and around the castle. The female Smew was showing well at the south end of Carlingwark Loch around 1400. Lorna Lomas.

As of yesterday, a drake has been present for 7 DAYS at Whitefield Loch, Newton Stewart way. If there today, it's now of course, 8 days.

A bird heard only west of Barstobrick on the A762.  http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=54.9141189,-4.0611488&ll=54.9141189,-4.0611488

Female Merlin causing havoc to sparrows in my garden in Gatehouse about an hour ago, without success. David H.

Reported Mar 02, 2026 10:29 by Findlay Ramsay at Whitefield Loch, Newton Stewart.

5 probably 6 GWE mobile around the reed edge. 3 or 4 in Vendace Bay at one point. Also in Vendace Bay, a drake Scaup with Tufties.

Passing through West Freugh 72 Greenland's in the normal field. The 3 Tundra's still in with Pinks in the field next to the Drumore turning. No sign of Russians. Ivan Lang. 

For those who are unaware of this site no longer being an RSPB reserve.

36 Scaup and a hybrid drifting off Carsethorn and a single Guillemot drifting south with the tide. Gavin. c3:30-5pm. 42 Scaup (18 drake) & 1 drake Aythya hybrid. PJ. 

30 GWF & 1 poss Russian WF at Loch Ken. 2 Willow Tit seen well around the former RSPB Ken-Dee reserve. Also Woodcock, GWE & Snipe seen there. After a "great number of visitors", a Tundra Bean Goose seen near Barnacle flock on merse at WWT Caerlaverock. Also 3 Snipe & a GWE seen there.

I believe everyone should support this, but it's down to us all whether we want to hold politicians responsible for primarily assisting in trashing the planet. Berwick Bank threatens to be the deadliest windfarm for birds anywhere in the world. Please join me and take action now - tell SSE and Scottish Government to Cancel Berwick Bank. https://seabird.eaction.org.uk/cancel-berwick-bank-windfarm Every email sent to SSE and the First Minister increases the pressure on them to find a less damaging way forward. Please share the campaign with your friends and family and ask them to take action for seabirds too!

Latest here (link should work); https://awanderroundthewig.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-weather-affects-all-bird-report-for.html

WWT Caerlaverock opening day; 1 Peregrine, Great White Egret from Folly Hide & 2 Ruff flying over reported. At RSPB Mersehead, a ♀️Marsh Harrier.

5 Ruff this morning, (all carried a lot of white in the plumage). Also a single Greenshank, (present here for quite some time now) and 2 Red-breasted Merganser with all the usual suspects on show. (Ed. A bit of bright news from) Bill Jamieson.

A Russian White-fronted Goose amongst 86 Greenland White-fronted Geese just south of Mains of Duchrae, with a Willow Tit calling nearby. Adult (or almost, poss had black flecks on wingtips when it flew) Mediterranean Gull in flock of Black-heads just north of Glenlochar. Gavin. PS. Had c1000 Pinkies at Kirkbean but didn't pick anything out amongst them.