Carlingwark Loch starling roost. Good murmuration this evening, I find it really hard to estimate numbers but I guess 5000-10,000? Best viewed from Buchan Bridge as the starlings are roosting in the reeds at the far corner. Regards, Martin Harris

Carse Gut rising tide : 1♀️ scaup (3 off Carsethorn - 1 drake) =4 ttl, 2+ black-tailed godwit, 1 rt diver fishing the Gut, 1 possibly juv peregrine stirred things up (looking too small for fem), sitting offshore for a while, several little egret spread widely. PJ

WWT Caerlaverock : still present from Saltcot Observatory Tower. Per BirdGuides

Yep, smallspotted catshark, also known as lesser-spotted dogfish. Adam Murphy https://www.sharktrust.org/blog/creature-feature-smallspotted-catshark From: Nigel Willits Sent: 27 October 2022 20:22 Spotted Catshark perhaps. Nigel

c.40 little grebe, 1 GC grebe, 2 goldeneye, some teal and tufted duck, plenty of mute swan, coot, moorhen, mallard, cormorant. Quite a large wagtail roost in one of the reed beds. Starling murmuration, maybe 1000 birds? Female sparrowhawk overseeing proceedings from the top of a tree. Regards, Martin

WWT Caerlaverock from Saltcot Observatory Tower 15:00. PJ

From Saltcot Observatory Tower ; ♂️ & ♀️ peregrine together on stranded flotsam log. PJ

13:15+ ; Fabulous male hen harrier from Saltcot Observatory Tower. Other birders report ringtail too plus merlin. PJ

Sadly not present at 12:30pm+🙄

Whooper Pond WWT Caerlaverock, via Lucy Mortlock, Twitter.

4 Whooper Swans flew over the village west towards Beeswing. Small numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares. Flock of 15 Long-tailed Tits, Sparrowhawk & single Goosander on the river at the old railway bridge. Chris Baines

Very windy and choppy so difficult to view anything on the water -- the best was a female type Long-tailed Duck initially close in but soon flew off into the loch. Red-throated Diver, RB Merganser, Eider, 3 Common Scoter and a Razorbill. Ivan Lang

Late again but nothing unusual. 2 whimbrel, 3 snipe, 2 little egret, 7 bar-tailed godwit, 7 grey plvr, 5 scaup. Popped to Southerness but too late for any exposed rocks & too rough around HT for anything to be there. 2 rock pipit west of lighthouse. Mersehead Bruaich Hide - winter duck, 4 little egret & several snipe, at least 1 hybrid goose. PJ

27/10 20:25 : Twite, c40 feeding above strandline opposite jetty (17:00). Per BirdGuides

Visited last 2 days but poor timing & rough weather producing nothing unusual plus distant birds. A stonechat was west of the lighthouse yesterday in v rough conditions, plus golden plover. Typical wader mix but impossible to get a steady view of anything. Grey plvr, Bar-tailed Godwit, sanderling & usual winter others inc little egret. Same today but found washed-up dogfish? (small-spotted catfish, among other names ) in Mersehead Bay. Probably should've gone to RSPB Mersehead to sit in the hide. P

Another image of bird at Point of Lag today courtesy Paul Donald👌

25/10 15:47 ; Maryport, Mull of Galloway ; 1st-winter off caravan site this afternoon. Per BirdGuides

One Purple Sandpiper still at Point of Lag this morning, now in with the flock of Turnstones and Ringed Plovers. Paul Donald

2 Blackcaps seen at Baldoon. Maisie Welsh

2 Purple Sandpipers at Point of Lag, Monreith this evening as well as the Jack Snipe there this morning. Paul Donald.

Point of Lag, Monreith, one Jack Snipe flushed from long grass by the golf course. Paul Donald

2 imm. from Meida Hide Mersehead. G.Chambers

23/10 11:58 : Wigtown. One at Wigtown Wetlands; also 2+ Jack Snipe. Per BirdGuides.  Ed. Is that Wigtown LNR?? PJ

In Carse Gut falling light; 3 greenshank, 25+ black-tailed godwit, several little egret. Also, calling whimbrel on Carsethorn foreshore, per normal. PJ

From West Lodge to Arbigland House & return via road. Looking for eastern migrants but nothing found. 1 1st winter/female blackcap, 2 chiffchaff, 3 jay, 1 sparrowhawk imm/fem, grey wagtail over, bullfinch, nuthatch, crests. Hedgerows & sky full of winter thrush, about 5:1 fieldfare to redwing on the ground. 3 buzzard, lapwing in number in the fields plus some pfg. 2 bartail & a little egret on the beach as well as an illegal? quad-bike. PJ

Possible Pacific Diver at the Wig, Loch Ryan, seen this morning, 21-10-22.  Distant views, hence possible.  Is this the returning bird from the last winter period? Regards, Stephen Grover. Ed. Calling Paul Donald! Or any birder in the vicinity, any chance of getting to The Wig for a look-sea!? And get a pic!!

Thrushes moving again today, probably in their 1000s, mostly Fieldfare but plenty of Redwing too, heading east.  6 Whooper swans just headed for wetlands and a Brambling flew over calling. What else could be out there I wonder... Gavin

A work day at the Mull of Galloway yesterday had me distracted by the migrating birds. Large numbers of redwing flying through Minnigaff before hand and then more heading over the Mull. Later a couple of large fieldfare flocks went through along with several Mistle Thrush, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Pied Wagtail. A Merlin was keeping them busy. Ps. No further sign of the snow goose. Gavin

The first Fieldfares of the Autumn at Kirkgunzeon this morning with 200 birds in two separate flocks flying east towards Beeswing.  A few Blackbirds in the garden stripping the berries from the Rowan tree. Chris Baines

Flock of 10 Cattle Egret confirmed near Girvan. Probably flew up over Dumfries and Galloway and could return this way. Keep yours eyes peeled and check them distant egrets. Colin Kinnear

Per Rob McQueen; St Michael's Dumfries 14:30, 3 Peregrine : 2 adult, 1 male juv. Dumfries 08:30, 1 Sparrowhawk male juv ripped across the river. Kirkconnel Merse 15:30, 2 Red Kites over boundary trees with Maxwellbank Steading. Via Ken White

Glencaple - R.Nith opp. the Quay 2 Greenshank very much together. Keltonbank NX988713, 30 Whooper Swans grazing in field east side of Glencaple road. Keltonbank Merse NX984714, 160 Barnacles. Kelton R.Nith 100+ Teal, 8 Wigeon. Ken White

Just when you thought you could go to bed...  18/10 22:16 : Logan Botanical Gardens, one. Per BirdGuides

18/10 15:57 : Stranraer : Greater Scaup 362; also 5 Slavonian Grebes (15:52). Per BirdGuides

Brother has just had a possible snow goose distantly (i.e. white goose with black primaries - viewed from Mull of Galloway) drop into fields by Cardrain Cottages at the end of road past Auchie Glen, with pink-footed geese. Not seen on ground yet. Gavin

Received from & courtesy of Chris Baines. 

500 Golden Plover on the intertidal near the Wig....However, numerous irresponsible dog walkers flushed everything away inc 5 Swallows, sev Twite & a few Light-bellied Brents. At the Stranraer end 140+ L-b Brent, 30+ Scaup, 100+ Mute Swan & too many Wigeon to count. Ken White via Twitter.  Ed. Is it (beyond) time to restrict or ban beach access to activities incompatible with, or negatively impacting upon, wildlife & birds? If we're serious about wildlife protection & its recovery, surely our important to wildlife beaches cannot be excluded from the "rewilding revolution"? My view is that this assertive approach to mitigating the ongoing decline generally in wildlife populations in my lifetime, should've been adopted back in the 1970's. Selfish depletion of the environment or selfless renaissance & mutual sustainability? PJ

Female type Marsh Harrier been seen last few days, I saw it over Saltmarsh towards Southerness yesterday, also a Merlin over the main track. Little Stint also been seen on beach again @RareBirdAlertUK.  Wetlands filling up now with all the usual duck species back. Gavin

My first Redwings this Autumn with a flock of 70 birds moving through Kirkgunzeon this morning. Chris Baines

14 Whooper Swans flew low over the village at 1130 in the direction of Dalbeattie. Chris Baines

Yesterday; Brow Well at high tide: Blackwit, Guillemot & GC Grebe. Browhouses on falling tide: Common Sand, 2 Ruff, 8 Greenshank, Brambling & Peregrine. Paul Massey

4 Greenshank, Knot, 2 Pintail, 600+ Barnacle Geese, 1,300+ Pink-footed Geese, 5 Little Egret & juvenile female Peregrine. Paul Massey

An imm. male Hen Harrier at 16:30 flying north across the lagoon north of the car park was the highlight. Also, a single Whooper on the lagoon this morning alongside a female Aythya spp which did a disappearing act before I could get a good look. There was 2 Ruff amongst the Lapwing flock briefly & a Green Sandpiper flew out over the marsh. Yesterday (11th) a Merlin was hunting the marsh, flyover Brambling & Twite & 4 Whoopers heading north. Ivan Lang

07.30 Curlew Sandpiper 1 imm, Dunlin 300+, Greenshank 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 60, Black-tailed Godwit 5, Ruff 1, Snipe 2. Ian Irving. @RareBirdAlertUK

A look this evening (4.30-6.30pm) didn't produce any harriers. A kestrel, sparrowhawk and 3 buzzards the best of the raptors and a small flock of twite on the beach. Gavin

Highlights: 8 Brent Geese on shore opposite carpark west of Powfoot. These are the first I have seen there in over 50 years. Powfoot village: 26 Black-tailed Godwit 1 Sandwich Tern 1 Greenshank Duncan Irving

Late report from yesterday, Sunday. Bird still present at St. Medan golf course, Point of Lag. Via BirdGuides

12:00 to 15:00; Good day at Caerlaverock pm. Saltcot Tower.  Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier ringtail, Kestrel, 2 Swallows, Golden Plover, 2 Great White Egrets, Natterjack Toad (young toadlet).  Folly Pond.  Whooper Swan, Black-tailed Godwits.  Track down to Avenue Tower Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit flock. Also Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, Common Darter &  a few Red Admiral butterflies.  Chris and Pat Baines

Sunday, 11:00 to 13:00. No seabird passage despite the strong SW Winds. A Guillemot was close inshore and small numbers of Dunlin, Curlew, Turnstone and Knot. Chris and Pat Baines

Bike ride to do my Bird survey for Killimingan Farm. 37 Skylarks feeding on the Barley stubble and lesser numbers of Meadow pipits. There seems to have been a influx of Blackbirds  after not seeing any for a couple of weeks. Up at Glaisters farm the farmer has planted Kale in the opposite field this year and already over a 150 Linnets present but no Bramblings yet. Chris Baines

Friday pm, no pallid harrier, just 4 ravens playing in the wind, pair of stonechats and a white wagtail. David H

Due to "questions" received by RSPB staff about the timing of releasing the news of the probable RTP by RSPB staff, I've received the following RSPB response. My considered belief as publisher of the news via DGBN, is that there's NOTHING to be "questioned" at all. The intention is to publish the RSPB response via the platform Ivan Langs sighting was released, DGBN. Pete Jeavons, DGBN The RSPB's comments are as follows. Date: 7th October 2022 In connection with: Possible/probable Red-throated Pipit sighting recently reported by Ivan Lang, released via D+G Bird News Following a query over the way in which information of wildlife sightings is released from RSPB reserves, local RSPB staff would like to clarify that there are many factors to consider when disseminating this type of information, including the welfare of the animal, access rights and sensitivities, and the safety of our visitors. These factors will dictate when and how we publish our sightings...

One at Ardwell, Mull of Galloway peninsula. Via Paul Massey Twitter.

Juvenile still present at St. Medan golf course, Point of Lag, Isle of Whithorn. Via BirdGuides. What a star bird👌

05/10 14:27 : Lockerbie, two reported at Eskrigg NR this morning. Per BirdGuides

05/10 11:22 : Point of Lag, (not really Whithorn), juvenile again by 6th green at St Medan golf course, viewable from car park. Via BirdGuides

Short-eared Owl at Caerlaverock WWT showing down to 20 metres from Saltcot Observatory tower. Regards, Colin Kinnear

Still present today. Per BirdGuides

Late news, due to the sensitive location of observation, from yesterday, a probable Red-throated Pipit @ RSPB Crook of Baldoon. Regards Ivan Lang. ( Ed. Visitors check those pipits! )

Should anyone want to advertise relevant birdwatching items for sale on the Blog and/or the Twitter a/c, I'm happy to place your prepared Ad. If you would want me to help with that, LMK. Cheers, P

Trip to Caerlaverock to see the reported Snow Goose today.  Was present  with Barnacle Geese from the Avenue Tower but looked like a Snow/Barnacle Hybrid to me (see photo). Also a Leucistic Barnacle Goose and a Female Marsh Harrier. Salcot Tower 2 Merlin ♂️&♀️, 2 Great White Egrets. Folly Pond Several Black tailed Godwits and Snipe. Chris and Pat Baines

16:30 : 2 female looking in Carse Bay, Carsethorn rising tide plus 4 greenshank, c12 black-tailed godwit, at least 6 little egret. PJ

03/10 09:36 : Whithorn : juvenile still over gorse by car park at St Medan golf course at Point of Lag (09:34). Per BirdGuides & PJ! 

02/10 11:12 : Snow Goose, Caerlaverock : one with Barnacle Geese (11:10). Per BirdGuides.  NOW CONSIDERED A HYBRID AFAIK. PJ. 

02/10 10:09 : Point of Lag, Whithorn ; juvenile still over beach at St Medan Golf Club clubhouse (10:00). Per BirdGuides. Currently frequenting the gorse ridge south of the Gavin Maxwell otter monument. Also, peregrine, a wonderfully sunlit goshawk frequenting same ridge, plus merlin, sparrowhawk & 2 kestrels. Also, stonechats & at least 1 white wag on the beach. What a superb bird & fabulous day! PJ

02/10 07:57 ; Whithorn : juvenile still showing well at golf course at Point of Lag as viewed from car park (07:30). Per BirdGuides

All the sanderling to be found there, c2-300. PJ

01/10 17:22 : Whithorn ; juvenile still at golf course at Point of Lag as viewed from car park (16:50). Per BirdGuides

Peregrine just struck & away with an oystercatcher. Had to happen. P

Too blustery to find anything unusual I'm afraid. Needs a hut or windbreak of some kind here plus into the sun. Weekend walker & human coastal disturbance has brought the waders together at this roost point. Nothing in East Mersehead Bay today. Good or bad? Or people just "making the most of the coast" inevitably at wildlifes expense? c 300 golden plvr, c3000 dunlin, 38 bar-tailed godwit, some sanderling plus usual others. Quite a lot altogether. P

Some fabulous images courtesy of the lucky Paul Donald, local birder ("our man") on site. P

01/10 10:13 ; Whithorn ; juvenile still showing well at golf course and along beach at Point of Lag (09:30). Per BirdGuides

01/10 10:32 : Ltl Stint, 2 at Browhouses. Per BirdGuides

01/10 09:07 : Whithorn, juvenile still at golf course at Point of Lag. Per BirdGuides. We are being honoured. PJ