Andy Riches has forwarded the latest report. This can be viewed via this link;  C&HL Report 2022 . Anyone requiring a copy just needs to download it, or contact Andy for same. PJ

Two pair of Wheatears displaying at Carsluith. Kevin Peace.

For anyone who isn't aware & is interested in obtaining a copy. Peter Swan has messaged the following ;-  Hello All, I am pleased to advise you that 'Birds in Dumfries and Galloway' Bird Report (No.32) 2021 is now available. Should you wish to purchase a copy then I would be pleased to post you one on receipt of your order and address. We have managed to decrease the cost for this report to £8 + £2 p&p (probably not a great help to the cost of living crisis!) which is payable by cheque to: 'Scottish Ornithologists Club Dumfries & Galloway Branches' and sent to me: Peter Swan, 13, Robb Place, Castle Douglas DG7 1LW, or by Bank Transfer to our account :  Scottish Ornithologists Club  Dumfries & Galloway Branches. Acc.No: 06041606. Sort Code: 80-11-60.  Best wishes and let's hope the spring brings fine weather many good birds to our shores. Peter Swan.

RSPB Mersehead. Ringtail briefly this pm from Bruaich Hide. Via BirdGuides.

First Osprey of the west over the fields south of the car park. Ivan Lang.

Only 1 pr of Avocets at present but they are mating ! anna white

One singing this morning along River Cree to north of Otter Platform, Wood of Cree. Gavin Chambers

Male singing this morning along River Cree near Barclye car park. Gavin Chambers. 

2 Kookaburras in the Tongland (Kirkcudbright) area in last few days. Presumably escaped from the nearby wildlife park. David H. Ed. Someone's Laughing? 😆 ♂ & ♀ ? 😟. Female Sparrowhawk fodder?

About 850 Barnacle Geese in fields adjoining Auchencairn Bay 25th March, after being forced off the estuary by the very high early afternoon tide. David H. Ed. Also a great number of Pink-feet seen there 10am yesterday, 27th. PJ

Late report from yesterday. A single Sand Martin at 5pm. Ronnie Graham.

Wonder if it was the flock of 80 heading north over Wigtown Bay? Ivan Lang. 

A good day for moving Whooper Swans. Had c70 fly north up Loch Ken early morning, what a great sound, followed by another 14 and 3 later in day. Got home to Carsethorn to find about 70 on the Nith just south of Glencaple and a further c80 on the mudflats by WWT/NNR Caerlaverock, both distant in the haze. They later moved around and last seen on water getting closer to Glencaple. My first Wheatear of year seen from living room on the shoreline. Osprey seen 3 times over Ken Dee, assume one of the Threave birds, but could be a wanderer. Gavin 

Just a couple of Bar-tailed Godwit & Little Egret of note on a fine afternoon. PJ

4 Avocets 3.30pm. Rob Purdie 

The regular Gatehouse female has again paired with a Carrion mate and is busy nest-building in our tall fir. David Hawker

Gatehouse: 2 chiff-chaffs and three pairs of greenfinches around. David Hawker

Another sighting of a bird at WWT Caerlaverock, from Avenue Tower Hide today. Via BirdGuides.

A singing Chiffchaff north of Southwick Church (Caulkerbush). Sparrowhawk, Buzzards, 3 Red Kite along the B795. Jay, GSW & pair Goldeneye & another Chiffchaff I think at hidden Loch Fern. Kirkgunzeon Lane at Dalbeattie a raging white-water, white-knuckle ride for any Dipper but I found a bird in sanctuary, at the confluence of the "small" equally raging tributary adjoining the Lane, opposite the park, by the small footbridge. It retreated further up the tributary & I enjoyed good close views. Also an eye-popingly fresh pair of Bullfinch there👌. Between B793 & Sandyhills, 30+ Meadow Pipits alighted near the road & disappeared into the grass. PJ

11.15 - 11.45. White-tailed Eagle in Galloway Hills, just north of Black Loch (over Poultrybuie & Fell of Talnotry). Repeatedly mobbed by pair of Buzzards (see pics for size differential if not ID). Appeared to head east so may reappear over Clatteringshaws. Also, pair of Peregrine, calling Tawny owl & small flock of Crossbill. Mike Smith. 

There were 8 of them this morning to the east of the cottages at approx. 9.30am. Also 2 Sand Martins flew through. Plus 1 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank and 1 Little Egret. Stephen Kings 

Chiffchaff also present this morning here on the east shore of Luce Bay. Rob Wadsworth.

Again this morning briefly 11am in the Mainsriddle garden. Plus GSW, 9 Tree Sparrow & 6 Yellowhammer. PJ

2 Red-throated Divers, in Stranraer Harbour. Maisie Welsh.

6 Avocets, left of the cottages looking towards Redkirk Point. 07.30. 11 Whoopers and Chiffchaff. Ian Irving. 

Awful litter at Hogus Pt 😩. Despite humanities damning detritus; 2 Whimbrel, 8 Grey Plvr, c8 Rngd Plvr, 1 Dunlin, 5 RBM, Redshk, T/stone, Curlew, 1 Heron, c25 Scaup, 1 Aythya ♂️ hybrid, c100 Wigeon & c200 Oy/catcher.

♀️ RN Duck still present at 5pm. Enjoyed watching her for quite a while from Bruaich Hide. Continues to work the deeper channel fairly centrally on flash, retreating occasionally into the "finger" of water on the merse. Leucistic Barnacle Goose in the mix. PJ

The first Sand Martin battled it's way across the bay to join 2 Wheatears which were on the main path to the north of the Car Park. As the tide reached its peak a Razorbill flew northwards, a Whimbrel was heard from the marsh. 13 Ringed Plover with a few Dunlin & a Sanderling took refuge on the merse before the tide pushed them off, & a pair of Mergansers were close in. Also as the tide started to recede a pair of Scaup were on the Bladnoch near Wigtown Harbour but followed the tide out. Ivan Lang.

Ring-necked Duck ♀️ again reported from RSPB Mersehead this morning. Distantly from Bruaich Hide, so probably better viewed from Meida Hide? Via BirdGuides.

Guesting in the Mainsriddle garden from 12:45👍. Also a small flock of Redwing & 2 Roe Deer in adjacent field early a.m. PJ

A fast moving airborne twig was later identified as 2 Alpine Swift at Corsewall Point, between Damhouse Farm & Old Barnhills this morning. They then flew with the flow, north-east. Via BirdGuides, no less.

Highlight on the high tide was an adult Kittiwake initially moving north up the bay soon to turn back and headed back south. Also plenty of Barnacles and Pink feet, a Jack Snipe flushed from the rising tide and a flock of 100 Golden Plover. Ivan Lang.

Sat out extremely HT at 13th golf tee. A windblown "white arse" Wheatear shot by so fast I could only see it's, white arse! Didn't re-find it sadly. Found 4 Purple Sands, 1 Sanderling, 1♂️ Stonechat, singing Skylark west of lighthouse on way back. In Gillfoot Bay c20 Golden Plvr becoming summer plumage on receding tide. A couple of Grey Plvr at least still in East Mersehead Bay. Everything else was literally, blown away! PJ

Hooded Crow (looked to be a pure bird), just flown north over Carsethorn just now. Being chased by Carrion Crow as it was carrying what could have been bread. Wonder if its been blown here from Isle of Man in the strong winds?! Gavin

Not a great visit to WWT today & nothing at Brow Well in blustery conditions. 204 Whooper in fields around Barngarth Cottage east of Bankend & some still at WWT.

The "worn 2CY Iceland Gull" of ystrdy & today's "Juvenile still between Point of Lag & Monreith beach this afternoon" has apparently been re-ID'd as leucistic Com Gull? Presumably the bird seen around the west, including Stranraer. Also 2 Wheatears there. Via BirdGuides.

2 Wheatear on stone groyne on tidal saltmarsh today. Via BirdGuides. 

A worn 2CY Iceland Gull briefly at Point of Lag this morning before heading south (no sign of it around Isle of Whithorn this afternoon). Also 5 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Wheatears, 2 Shelduck (not common here) and some Fulmars back on the cliffs after returning from their weird pre-breeding holiday. Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail numbers are shooting up, much to the annoyance of the local Rock Pipits and Grey Wagtails! Paul Donald.  Images courtesy of Paul Donald.

First Wheatear of the year, nice male. Ivan Lang

The ♂️ brought the fish supper in at 17:45 & I'll be getting mine in c15 mins! 😊👍 PJ

Good to see the Osprey again, ♂️&♀️ returned now I'm told. Peregrine pair on the castle top too. Sand Martins through yesterday I understand. PJ

At least 87 Greenland White-fronted Geese still. 2, maybe 3 with tracking devices & 5 at least with neck ID bands. Poss inc VAZ, VOY? Single, distant Crossbill btw New Galloway & Clatteringshaws. PJ

2 sand martin over back garden in Carsethorn this morning. Gavin. 

4 sand martin over the lagoons today. Via BirdGuides. March... of the avian migrants. PJ

Wheatear at Point of Lag today, plus 1 Purple Sand, Eider, RT Diver. Paul Donald.

8 or 9 sand martin at Buccleuch Street bridge at 10am. Colin Kinnear.

Friends of Threave Ospreys reported a single osprey at the nest site yesterday with updates that it was still there this morning. Colin Kinnear.

The February report was released on 15th March. See here; Loch Ryan Blog .  PJ

For interest value & unless I'm mistaken, Osprey has returned to the SWT nest site. See SWT YouTube channel; https://goo.by/bcP6c Have the Threave birds returned & is the nest site suitable this year?🤔

Andy Riches has issued the invitation for any & all transect surveyors to choose their survey weeks for the season. Anyone wishing to contribute to the survey effort for the first time of this key monitoring site, please get in touch with Andy or reply to this message ASAP. However, get in touch at any time if interested 🦋

Carsethorn & foreshore towards Hogus Pt; 2 blk-tailed godwit, 3 bar-tailed godwit, 1 whimbrel, 15 scaup offshore. Carse Bay; 3 blk-tailed godwit. PJ

Bittern & 2 GWE still, same place as yesterday. Via Twitter

2 with 300 pinks & 101 Greenland White-fronts still at West Freugh, north of airfield. Ivan Lang

Slavonian Grebe & Scaup today. Via BirdGuides.

1 Bittern showing well mid pm, on castle spit in Vendace Bay frm Sacred Loch info board viewpnt. Also 2 Great Egret. 1 bird flew frm western Vendace Bay shore to displace 2nd bird on far eastern shore, sth of ranger cottage. PJ

Birds in D&G need your help! Message from Andy Riches; Please find bulletin link to BTO surveys in D&G. Feel free to pass it on to anyone that you think might be interested.  https://bit.ly/3K57AW4 If you have any questions about BTO surveys, then do not hesitate to get in touch.

1 Great Egret reported at Moffat Community NR today. Via BirdGuides.

Historical records from Mancunian visitors can be read, with some interest, via the link below. Since I connected with the MBF, visitor reports from Manchester have seemingly discontinued.🤔 https://manchesterbirding.activeboard.com/mobile.spark?p=subforum&subForum=520766&page=1

3 Black-tailed Godwits sleeping off the village this morning at low tide and a Harbour Porpoise in the last half hour on the incoming tide. Not as many Scaup recently (c15 this morning) though one of the drake hybrids has still been about. Hooded Crow was in its usual location in Dumfries on Thursday, early afternoon. Gavin

"Apparent" Lssr Canada Goose + 2 Tundra Bean Goose still. Via BirdGuides. "Apparent" must mean there's doubt about the ID. Therefore, +ve ID required.

4 between Browhouses & Redkirk Point today. Ian Irving

If I haven't mentioned it already, the latest installment for wandering round the Wig in January was published on 27th Feb. See blog page;  https://goo.by/Pi8tS

Green Sandpiper flushed from the middle of one of the fields. Ivan Lang

2 with pfg reported at West Freugh Airfield today. Via BirdGuides.

"Apparently" 1 with pfg at West Freugh Airfield. Richardsons again? Via BirdGuides

Black-throated Diver, 2 Red-throated divers & a Great Crested Grebe off Innermessan Point. Maisie Welsh

A couple of links which incl. some historical books on the birds of D&G... https://amzn.eu/d/9IXm8LD http://www.booksaboutbirds.co.uk/BAB_Dumfries_Galloway.htm (technically not secure but you may be able to view if you know how). Birdwatching Trails -  2023 Best 10 Bird Watching Trails in Dumfries and Galloway | AllTrails

3 offshore at Ardwell today. Via BirdGuides. 54°46'14.1"N 4°55'46.8"W https://goo.gl/maps/bHUysW99za3kT1fAA

First Greenfinch giving out that nasal call. Two pairs of Goosanders on the river. Chris and Pat Baines

1 at the ferry terminal (Cairnryan), Loch Ryan today. Via BirdGuides

For several days now up to 4 Song Thrushes have been singing in the village. At this time of the year it is usually Mistle Thrushes. The local Rookery is now occupied & the birds are nest building at the back of the DGERC offices. Siskins have stopped visiting the feeders for the first time this year. But other than this very quite on the birding front. Chris & Pat Baines