Mainsriddle : I've never seen a yellowhammer use a tubular feeder, until today. It's even in a cage thing which even the chaffinch find hard to get through! The yellowhammers are all very reluctant to use any kind of feeder, even a table platform. Very wary. So, a real surprise!  10 yellowhammer  6+ tree sparrow 4 siskin 1 redwing - still 1 gsw, though m&f regular Treecreeper & nuthatch still making appearances. A jay stopped by last week, a rare visitor. Usual others. However, no goldcrest nor blackcap, yet? PJ

27/02 16:46 : Crook of Baldoon : Drake still on lagoon just north of car park (15:20). Per BirdGuides.

Highlights: multiple red throated divers & slavonian grebes, numerous common scoter, scaup, eider & RB merganser & at least 8 long tailed ducks close inshore, near the Wig. Steve Matthewman. @RareBirdAlertUK

Tues 22nd Feb; Loch Ryan 12:40-13:40; V windy but sunny periods. 35 Eider nr railway station + small nmbr Scaup. Oy'catchers roosting on jetty inc 1 Leucistic bird. Bishop Burn good nmbrs Wigeon, a few Turnstone & 2 Knot + Rock Pipit. Chris Baines

Seen yesterday at Crook of Baldoon. Still. Per BirdGuides.

Quick visit. 13:00 c200 black-tailed godwit.  8 rbm - head throwing going on by resplendent males. PJ 

£30,000 Boost For Galloway Forest Black Grouse Breeding Site; https://t.co/fljujOv12f  

Message received from Martin Harris.  FYI, I'm 90% certain I relocated this juvenile Iceland gull again on Carlingwark yesterday afternoon, but as I'd only gone out for a bit of air after work I only had binos with me and it was at an awkward distance. Obviously by the time I'd walked home to get the scope and back it had gone. I'll have another look this afternoon if it's not too horrible out. Martin Harris Anyone else in CD should check out the loch.... PJ 

From the 14th. 1 leucistic barnie amgst lrge mxd flck barnacle & pfgs in fields beside path frm village to Torr Point. Good nmbr sheldck, oycatcher curlew some lapwing redshank on foreshore in front of hide. Peregrine buzzard red kite o/head. Martin

19/02 16:33 Dumfries & Galloway : Wigtown Bay LNR : 1 on saltings near the hide (14:30). Per BirdGuides.

19/02 16:32 Dumfries & Galloway : Crook of Baldoon : 1 on salting just north-east of car park with Rock Pipits and Eurasian Skylarks (12:29). Per BirdGuides.

19/02 16:28 Dumfries & Galloway : Crook of Baldoon : Drake still on lagoon just north of car park (12:25). Per BirdGuides.

19/02 14:35 Dumfries & Galloway : Stranraer : 4 off old terminal; also 2 Greater Scaup (12:50). Per BirdGuides.

Good to know that the 2 female RND's are still present today on Longtown ponds adjacent Gretna Road, A6071. Just over the border 👍. Per BirdGuides. 

It was reported somewhere at Mersehead (this winter, this year?).  It's perhaps hanging around with a small dunlin flock that I sometimes see feeding on the sand/mud just off the beach even at low tides. I've not scrutinized these small flocks before on the beach. Gavin

From the cliff top A710, looking down over Lot's Wife. Small flock waders on the 'spit', mostly dunlin with  a few knot & ringed plover + 3 sanderling & LITTLE STINT @RareBirdAlertUK. Gavin

15/02 13:22 Dumfries & Galloway : Crook of Baldoon : Drake still on pond north of car park (12:30). Per BirdGuides. 

Road passable this morning and hopefully only going down! Gavin

Courtesy of Chris Baines 😁  Many thanks for the great pictures Chris 👌⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

12 Bramblings also Siskins in garden. Lbb Gulls back in the felds with the Herring, Common and Black headed Gulls. Regards, Chris Baines

Seen 13th ; Todds/Lesser Canada Goose frm Bruaich Hide 13th pm with Barnies. Access Rd flooding ➕ 150 Pintail, 12 Gadwall, 3 Whoopers, good murm'tn of starlings +6 Little Egret to roost. Gavin. @RareBirdAlertUK

Grief, someone's on tour.... thankfully!  10/02 14:51 Dumfries & Galloway : Slav Grebe, Loch Ryan : two viewed close inshore near St Mary's Croft; also 4 Long-tailed Duck (14:00). Per BirdGuides.

10/02 12:24 Dumfries & Galloway : Stoneykirk : 103 in field west of village (12:00). Per BirdGuides.

10/02 11:53 Dumfries & Galloway : West Freugh Airfield : 14 in field viewed from minor road off B7084 north-west of Luce Sands (11:00). Per BirdGuides.

FYI : This has been updated for January 2022 , viewable via the DGBN blog or directly, should you choose; DGBN blog here ➡ dumfriesgallowaybirdnews.blogspot.com PJ

08/02 14:19 Dumfries & Galloway : Water Pipit : Crook of Baldoon : one on saltmarsh E of car park with Rock Pips & Skylarks; also ringtail Hen Harrier on marsh edge & 3 (1 drake) Scaup on pond (13:30). Per BirdGuides.

08/02 13:50 Dumfries & Galloway : Crook of Baldoon : Drake still on pond north of car park (11:30). Per BirdGuides. 

8 tree sparrows, 2 yellowhammer, 6 lt tit, 1 nuthatch, 1m siskin, 1 gsw & our very own redwing! today's highlights. 2 redwings yesterday. Very welcome they are too. PJ

60+ redwings in nghbour's Gatehouse of Fleet grdn this pm behind cold front. First real flock this winter. Almost daily visits by the hooded crow & her carrion crow mate, over past few mths. Tidal reed-bed roost of c250 starlings past wk. David H

Drake American Wigeon still present at Crook of Baldoon RSPB, on pool N of car park. Also drake Scaup on pool & 21 Twite on merse.  Regards, Paul Massey

A brief look at Carlingwark Loch no sign of Iceland Gull but Drake Pochard at the west end. 10 Bramblings and 4 Siskins visiting garden feeders at Kirkgunzeon. @RareBirdAlertUK  Regards, CBAINES

No sign of Glossy Ibis at Wigtown Bay @13:15 hrs but Great White Egret distantly from hide & female Merlin. Regards, Paul Massey

Courtesy of Chris Baines 😁👍 Hi only just found your great site. Regards Chris Baines

Our small party of 6 on Southerness beach. PJ 

Still Crook of Baldoon ; pool north of the car park. Per BirdGuides.

Strangely, what appeared to be a pfg riding the waves. 3 rt diver fly-bys. Harbour porpoises. Lots of wind but no passage seabirds. PJ 

Juvenile Iceland Gull  back on Carlingwark Loch today (lunchtime). Martin Harris @RareBirdAlertUK 

Mersehead : flying up Southwick Burn 1300. G.Chambers @RareBirdAlertUK 

Southerness. HT has flushed out the princely number of 6. Just west of the shore cottages, on beach opp Driftwood cottage. PJ 👍@RareBirdAlertUK 

Viewable from hide Wigtown harbour 12pm. Colin Kinnear @RareBirdAlertUK

Singing dipper + mate on stream in Dalbeattie from the car park downstream of Colliston Park this morning.  Yesterday, Merlin chasing passerines over RSPB Barclye by old water filter station.

No willow tit. 22 Greenland WF's on the water, then flew back to shore & out of sight. Pochard still on Carlingwark Loch south/west end. Caspian Gull? See pic. 

02/02 17:23 Dumfries & Galloway : Glossy Ibis, Wigtown; one showing well in last field on the right before Wigtown Harbour NR (14:30). Per BirdGuides.

A nice party of 3 Crossbills about 40 Goldfinch 30 Siskin a few Redpoll and a GSW at Mark Hill quarter ml from Rock Mount entry. AW

01/02 13:25 Dumfries & Galloway ; Carlingwark Loch ; juvenile early afternoon before flying off south (12:30). Per BirdGuides.  My word! Nice 👍