Goshawk (male), this morning, otherwise pretty quiet. Crossbills only notable by their absence. Bill Jamieson.

19th/20th. A Barn Owl and 11 Grey Partridge at Priestside (ed. well worth checking out). Also 80 Whoopers at Bankend (usual fields, saw myself + c50 off the Loop. PJ). Paul Massey. PS. Having checked images & texts on the Bean Geese seen yesterday, I believe those I saw were Taiga's. PJ.

A Merlin & GWE reported.

21st. A couple of Kittiwake, a GND & about a dozen Black Guillemot seen by William Oswald.

20th. 6 Scaup (4 drakes) in Auchencairn Bay, at high tide, this afternoon. Paul Massey.

Of some strain near border with Powfoot golf course, as seen from Moss Road on the Cummertrees Loop road. Possibly several+ but my ID skill of the Bean's is limited.

Are we to solely rely upon AI Merlin to tell us what bird's are present? A bird potentially (bird previously reported?) around Luce Bay, somewhere. Also 5 Stonechat & 3 Red-throated Diver. At WWT Caerlaverock a Peregrine again seen. 

9 Scaup and an aythya drake hybrid out from Carsethorn this morning at low tide. Gavin. 

Tree Sparrows very active today (yesterday) at 6 birds. Also Russian WF recorded on WeBS. Ivan Lang. 

 Male seen in the West Freugh airfield area.

Redhead still on Carlingwark Loch, Castle Douglas. No info on where on the loch but probably the S/SE shoreline. 

Tree Sparrows can be regularly found there as confirmed today by Paul Davies. 

For the presence of 62 GWF Geese at Threave NTS, redhead Smew at Carlingwark Loch, CD and Water Rail from the Bruaich Hide, RSPB Mersehead.

Redhead Smew still on Carlingwark Loch, Castle Douglas. 9 Russian White-fronted Geese in fields close to Annan town again. 

The Richardson's Cackling Goose is still present in a field off the WWT access road, itself off Bankend Road, just north of Shearington.

13th. A 1st-winter Russian WFG on the closed WWT Caerlaverock reserve reported. 14th. 3 GWF with pinks, north of the B721 at Dornock. 11 GWF again off Watchall Road Annan, with pinks.

Red-head Smew at Carlingwark Loch, CD. Richardsons Cackling Goose with Barnies in field near WWT access road & Bankend Road.

Late pm report yesterday of a bird near Kirkcowan, Wigtownshire. Apparently first seen/reported Fri 13th.

5 reported off Balcary Tower yesterday. Ivan Lang reports "Was out at Balcary Heughs yesterday & observed a flock of 17 Scaup off the island out in the bay as well as c1000 Common Scoter, 7 Tystie, a Guillemot and 6 Razorbill. Dalbeattie Town Wood; Lesser Redpoll, Crossbill & 3 Mandy on the Loch." 

Auchenreoch Loch ; 48 Goosander, usual other mix. Milton Loch ; 800 Canada Goose, 150 Tufties, 70 Goldeneye, 4 Shoveller. Coul, Dumfries ; Kingfisher, 2 Goosander. Skyreburn, Gatehouse ; 100 Wigeon, 50 Greylag. Ian Bainbridge.

Mandarin Duck still on Plantain Loch Dalbeattie. A Marsh Harrier over the Bruaich Hide, RSPB Mersehead yesterday & another over the Dee View Hide at Threave NTS today.

1420-1610, Merlin (female), Hen Harrier (male), Kestrel (male). Bill Jamieson.

Great White Egret over & Kingfisher along the river yesterday.

Mandarin Ducks (1 drake 2 hens) showing well this morning at Plantain Loch, Dalbeattie Wood. Robbie Purdie.

Unacceptable wildlife photography behaviour; https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/photography/nature-and-wildlife-photography/photographer-chases-owl-around-field-and-refuses-to-stop-this-is-why-we-need-to-talk-more-about-wildlife-photography-ethics

I never thought I'd see a treecreeper on peanuts! I've seen it feeding on the home made fat cake which was a surprise but not outlandish. New for me.... Seen on both this morning but only managed to grab it on the nuts. If you know what I mean...🫢

Through a shaky-imaged scope spotted at least 3 White-fronts at distance here;  https://maps.app.goo.gl/owSx2CQWS7U4cjnp9 . One at least looked pale when thinking of the Greenlanders of Threave & Loch Ken I've seen. Russians? In a field mostly of numerous Barnies. There were Pink-footed Geese in the area but they were too far away through a gust-blown eyepiece to make out anything rare 🙄

The latest Wig installment has been published today. See;  https://awanderroundthewig.blogspot.com/2026/01/bird-report-for-december-2025.html

Waterloo Cottages Carsluith: 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Greenshank, 1000 Oystercatcher, 3000 Dunlin, Turnstone, Redshank, Shelduck, Wigeon etc. Wigtown hide: 19 Whoopers, Pintail, Shoveller, Teal, Wigeon, Coot. Crook of Baldoon: 1700 Barnies, 150 Pink-feet, 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, male Goshawk, Teal, Shelduck, Mallard, Wigeon, Pintail, Little Egrets, 150 Lapwing, 1000 Golden Plover. Garlieston Bay: nothing of note. Ian Bainbridge.

1330-1515, Marsh Harrier (male), Hen Harrier (female), and Great White Egret, birds showing on and off the first hour I was there. Bill Jamieson.