Brambling hunt around New Abbey to Loch Arthur was negative. LA virtually birdless apart from 2♂️ Goosander, half dozen Mallard & 4 Teal. Hawfinch hunt around Kirkconnell House grounds also negative. Couple of Red Kite circling over. Kirkconnell Flow pair of Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting & lots of winter thrushes in the wider area. Southerness Point had c30 Knot, a few Dunlin, 2 Little Egret, Heron & usual others, inc tame Jackdaw climbing scope tripod but didn't find a Purple Sandpiper. Gillfoot Bay had several Bar-tailed Godwit, possibly up to 20, c500 Golden Plover, several Grey Plover & usual others. Grey Squirrel seen off back road from New Abbey to Kirkconnell House😱. PJ

5 Waxwing flew south over RSPB Barclye this morning. Gavin Chambers. 

2 on River Annan between Hoddom Bridge and golf course, with a single bird sighted further upstream near Water of Milk, possibly one of the same two. Bill Jamieson.

Frozen ponds bringing Water Rail out. Seen skulking around bird feeders near Back Pond Hide. Robbie Purdie.

No Bittern for me today but Otter in Vendace Bay 14:30 made up for it 😊👍. Also a Red Fox, which a large gathered flotilla of mainly Mallard were shadowing as the fox walked the southern edge of the main loch. Most curious behaviour. Keep your eye on the danger I guess! Slavonian Grebe & GWE still present at 15:30 + Little Egret. PJ

1 Slav Grebe bowling green end still. Avoiding fishermens boats perhaps. Great White Egret still on southern fringe & Water Rail briefly flew across my position to disappear into the reedbed to my right. 😊 PJ

28th. Great White Egret still from Saltcot Observatory Tower hide. Via BirdGuides.

The feedback I got from Su Delve, on the ABA Fb page agrees with your assessment. "It is indeed a Common Sandpiper. Although a long-distance migrant there seems to be a few that hang around for most, if not all, the winter and - not surprisingly - it's becoming more frequently recorded. I agree there is a real chance of this being a vagrant Spotted Sandpiper, but the tail is the length I would expect of Common (longer than on Spotted), and heavily marked tertials" > On 28 Nov 2023, at 14:23, PJ wrote: > I've enhanced Robs image just on my phone, which seems to have revealed more information. That tail projection seems too long & wing covert markings not contrasty enough for spotted. Very interesting nonetheless. P. Found just a few metres north of the point where the shore path turns inland into Corsewall Farm and estate. Rob Wadsworth. 

I'm not very familiar with Common Sandpipers but isn't this a bit late for one at Loch Ryan? Rob Wadsworth. Ed. You're quite correct. It's not a Spotted Sandpiper is it?! I haven't checked the photo at time of writing ... 

27th. Trip down to Wigtown today to see the Cattle Egret. We located the bird in the field on the left going down Station Lane with the sheep. Apparently images of a Velvet Scoter on RBA yesterday at Loch Ryan, so well looking out for if you are down that way. Chris & Pat Baines.

RSPB Crook of Baldoon. 15:00 Cattle Egret just flown from favoured field over reserve eastward towards bay. 15:42 update; Cattle Egret on saltmarsh north of car park. Ivan Lang.

9 birds seen in Princes St, Lochmaben around midday. Via BirdGuides.

Cattle Egret still present in fields south of Station Road Wigtown. See screenshot for location. Flew in at 08.20 left 08.35 to east but will probably return. Ivan Lang. Ed. Many thanks again to Ivan for keeping us so well informed 👍. 

2 ♂️ Hen Harrier & Great White Egret from Saltcot Observatory Tower hide this pm. Via BirdGuides.

Wigtown. One in field off T-junction with Harbour Road. Via BirdGuides. See; https://goo.gl/maps/GYKnxLMB6c3WGDRP8

Red-necked Grebe still at Talkin Tarn near Brampton & ♀️ Ring-necked Duck at Longtown pools but which pool isn't given, though probably next to the A6071.

Short stop. Didn't hear a Cetti's Warbler from Meida Hide & encountered nothing unusual. Had to steer a Goldcrest out of a window which seems to have got itself trapped inside the hide! PJ

c100 Pale-bellied Brent Geese Loch Ryan ; 60+ Waxwing Dock Park Dumfries ; 1 Slavonian Grebe at Castle Loch from bowling green end. Via BirdGuides.

Still present Dock Park Dumfries this morning at least 54. Ivan Lang.

About 180 Pale-bellied Brent's at the south-eastern corner of Loch Ryan this afternoon. Nigel Willits. 

21st. Auchenreoch Loch; 42 Goosanders, 12 Goldeneye, 11 Wigeon, 17 Tufted Duck, 11 Little Grebe & 6 Long-tailed Tits near café. Townhead of Greenlaw; Several Tree Sparrows coming to feeders & Nuthatch. Milton Loch; small numbers of Goldeneye & Coots. Chris & Pat Baines.

Cetti's Warbler heard calling from Meida Hide, Mersehead RSPB this evening. Paul Massey.

Hooded Crow on lamp post opposite Dumfries Caravan Centre & 28 Waxwings in top of trees on Dock Park car park before they flew off NE. Paul Massey.

This morning (21st), 2 parties of Mute Swans, the breeders, 2 adults and 3 cygnets, plus another pair with 1 cygnet. In the garden, 6 Tree Sparrows on seed feeder on the last 4 days, Gatehouse of Fleet. David Hawker. 

21st. Ornockenoch Loch: 6 Whoopers with the 21 Mutes, 62 Wigeon and a rare Coot. Cally Lake: 100 Wigeon, 25 Gadwall, 28 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 15 Tufties. Bush Loch: 10 Gadwall, 35 Wigeon. Newton Loch: 2 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 30 Mallard. Ian Bainbridge.

Enjoyably found 2 Whimbrel, of course! Also, 1 ♀ type Common Scoter, several Bar-tailed Godwit, c20 Grey Plover & 1 Red-throated Diver perhaps the best of the bunch in disturbance-free, calm weather conditions. A miracle! PJ

GWE close in from the hide at Hollands Farm, plus ♀️ Merlin. Paul Massey.

Report of 17 waxwings in south side of Kirkcudbright yesterday, south of Castledykes. Ian Bainbridge.

16+ off The Wig, Loch Ryan. According to BirdGuides.

For those keeping a tally on numbers, there was 103 (precisely) Waxwings at Dock Park yesterday, according to BirdGuides 😊

Ringtail again near Caerlaverock Castle this pm. Male seen yesterday. Also GWE. Via BirdGuides. 

Around 80 Greenland White-fronted Geese, c40 Whooper, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine on the castle top, plenty Red Kite, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Mallard, Reed Bunting, Fieldfare. No Willow Tit, Kingfisher or Otter. Barely a passerine at all in actuality. PJ

17th. [Was] unable to locate the Jack Snipe. Just a few Redshank, Turnstone, Curlew, Golden Plover & a Little Egret with yellow & white rings. The tame Jackdaw was harassing a council worker putting up a barrier to stop cars driving down to the beach. On our return in fading light one Green Sandpiper on the flood at Islesteps. Chris & Pat Baines.

Ringtail c15:30 just east of Caerlaverock Castle plus hunting Peregrine & probably male Sparrowhawk fly-through around 16:00. Some interesting new wetland habitat in the area. PJ

Leucistic Barnacle Goose again opposite the quay plus imm/♀ Merlin on Kirkconnel Merse fence post 1415, before off a-hunting. PJ

3 Green Sandpiper remain at Mein Water with a 4th bird further downstream in a flooded field at Luce House. Also noted at Mein Water, a single Greenshank. Bill Jamieson.

A quick scan from the Balyett/Ryan Bay layby this pm produced 2 Long-tailed Ducks & 72 pale-bellied Brent Geese among numerous Wigeon, Scaup & Mergansers. Also Goldeneye, Scoter, Red-throated Diver, Guillemot, Slav Grebe. Nigel Willits. 

If you're not already fed up with the great pictures being taken, here's a couple of "unnatural" ones. PJ

Around 110 birds opposite Holm Pharmacy/St Michael's Medical Centre 1330. Temporarily moved to berries on Brooms Road car park before returning to Dock Park. Too many folk about keeping them on the move. PJ

Still opp Dumfries Caravan Centre according to BirdGuides.

Over 60 reported this morning by Holm Pharmacy. Via BirdGuides.

One on top of house opposite the Dumfries Caravan Centre at 7.30am this morning. Gavin Chambers. 

16th. 43 at Dock Park, Dumfries again. Acc to BirdGuides.

16th. A bird reported opposite Morrisons store on the A756 at 12:15. Via BirdGuides.

16th. A Cetti's Warbler was audible from the Meida Hide at RSPB Mersehead this afternoon. It gave a few bursts to the right of the hide from within the reedbeds. Gavin Chambers. 

What looked like a 2nd winter ♂️ Hen Harrier across fields heading Mersehead 1545. PJ. A male Hen Harrier (didn't get long enough look to see if it wasn't a full adult) flew over the Mersehead wetland around 12:30, flushing everything. Beforehand, a ♀️ type Marsh Harrier was over the reedbed area. 3 leucistic Barnacle Geese across the site also. Gavin Chambers. 

2 on Southerness Point rocks high tide 1300+. Also very tame Jackdaw literally sitting on my leg & pecking at everything! Also 1 RTD & 2 GC Grebe offshore. PJ. 

RSPB Crook of Baldoon ; 1st winter Glaucous Gull over southern fields going to roost out in bay. Earlier the male Marsh Harrier was hunting over field to north of CP. Ivan Lang.

GWE still in south eastern corner/southern shore of the main loch at Castle Loch, plus ♀ Common Scoter. Snipe at Kirk Loch & several Little Grebe at Mill Loch. No Slav 😕 PJ

Highlight of the day was a cracking ♂️ Brambling mixed with a flock of Chaffinch of the track north of the CP. Also a red headed Goosander present on the flash north of the CP. Large numbers of Fieldfare still present with a few Redwing. Ivan Lang. 

1 Slav Grebe & GWE on south side of main loch 1530+. Viewed from the car park on the A709. PJ

Tried this instead. Lovely morning & bumped into Colin K. What's not to like?! PJ

1 Greenshank & c20 Twite briefly opposite the quay 1.45pm. Imm/fem Merlin briefly 3.15pm. PJ

Birds have been seen & photographed early but 2 Peregrine on St Michael's Church spire likely to have driven them away. So not present at time of writing.  Dipper seen flying upriver coming from Kingholm Quay direction. PJ

Alyn has found a Water Pipit at Portankill, the bottom of Kirk Burn that runs east from the bottom of Auchie Glen this pm. I've counted 1100 Common Scoter & 80 Scaup off Castle Point, Rockcliffe. Gavin Chambers. 

About 25-30 still. Now feeding on the yellow berries adjacent Holm Pharm pharmacy. PJ

10th. An hour this afternoon at the end of Broadstone Road produced a nice range of seabirds. The highlight was a Great Northern Diver. Several male Goldeneye were present but no sign of the Barrow's allegedly seen a few days ago. Surprisingly no Slav grebes - I guess their preferred fishing grounds were elsewhere in the Loch today. Also seen: Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Scoter, Eider, Cormorant, Shag. Nigel Willits.

Great White Egret on wetlands just off path on Threave Castle estate walk. Very clear, close view. Robbie Purdie.

15 reported again via BirdGuides, in treetops probably, near the bandstand. PJ

9th. 42+ Greenland White-fronts at Threave castle area seen from Blackpark Marsh upper hide. Great White Egret below hide. Willow Tit near osprey viewing platform. Linda Gibson. Ed; Many thanks to Linda for the report 😊. Cropped image courtesy of Linda Gibson

Great White Egret on marsh by the river. Acc to BirdGuides.

9 found opposite the bandstand in treetops (naturally) on Dock Park 1pm+. Driven away by male Sparrowhawk but returned. Clearly they'll be mobile. 16 reported in a garden at Terregles. Also found a 1st-winter/female Blackcap behind St Michael's Church in walled garden briefly as well as a Blackbird SINGING in a fir tree! PJ

There's a flock reported at Dock Park, Dumfries, of course. Sure to be raiding the yellow berries yet again outside the pharmacy next to the car park at some point. Via BirdGuides.

8th. 1 Slav Grebe at The Wig & 253 Scaup off Bishop Burn today. Via BirdGuides.

8th. Good light but breezy. Almost all white leucistic Barnacle Goose just north of the Quay. 3 Greenshank together looking smart on Kirkconnell Merse side of the falling tide. 2-300 flock of Lapwing & Golden Plover + a few Dunlin. Couple of redhead Goosander. Light & distance defeated finding anything unusual. c100 Fieldfare, 2 Spawks, 1 Kestrel east of Caerlaverock Castle. PJ

Inner Solway Newbie & Barnskirk Point this morning. Spotted Redshank (1), Red-throated Diver (1, fly past). Also noted 4 Grey Plover and large numbers of Turnstone, Goldeneye & Wigeon. Bill Jamieson.

Female type Marsh Harrier over Folly Pond, male & ringtail Hen Harrier & 3 Great White Egrets from Saltcot Observatory Tower hide this morning. PJ

No sign so far this morning according to BirdGuides.

6th; Via BirdGuides, ad drake seen from the picnic site on the west side of Wig Bay. Seen at 11am but only put out around 8pm.

6th; 220 Scaup close to shore this afternoon plus a nice little selection of waders - Knot, Dunlin, Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatcher - until some guy allowed his Alsatian to chase them off. Nigel Willits.

A quick look this lunch was productive with a Purple Sandpiper on the rocks near the old ferry port. Also singles of Guillemot, Red-throated Diver, Slav Grebe & Scaup. Ivan Lang.

The Greater-White Fronted Geese recently reported; Q&A: "are the Greenland White-fronted Geese & they move around the Loch Ken area between the Threave Castle area and RSPB Ken Dee Marshes. There was at least 27 in the fields near the RSPB car park on Friday 3th Nov. Also, 91 flew from a stubble field at West Freugh (roughly NX1007152768) on Sunday 5th Nov". Gavin Chambers

Green Sandpiper on river Annan at Hoddom golf course this morning. Bill Jamieson.

Barn Owl in Gatehouse town at 03.30 this morning. David Hawker. 

Apparently photographed in a Glengap garden yesterday. See; https://goo.gl/maps/UvN9qUgxjQkZYMGK7 . Via BirdGuides.

Threave NTS, 17 here  https://goo.gl/maps/frRbhcmLUHFhRkm26 , according to BirdGuides. Anthony Swindells reports at least 29 Greater-White Fronted Geese in field just Northeast from Marshes of Threave Nature Reserve. Can be seen well from Blackpark Marsh Hide (Upper). These birds are surely our usual Greenland 🇬🇱 race birds. Goose experts may wish to speculate that their not Russian, as they are only usually found as singles to my knowledge. PJ. Pic courtesy Anthony S.

As well as the Hen Harriers at Wigtown Harbour, we saw a male Merlin and a Peregrine. Nigel Willits. 

A bright but chilly day brought the reserve alive with  birds. In the morning the Great White Egret was seen going south over the saltmarsh. The reserve was full of Fieldfare with a few Redwing and the odd Mistle Thrush. A small flock of Twite was seen a couple of times over the field north of car park, whilst around lunchtime a male Hen Harrier was hunting over the southern fields. At dusk two Barn Owls were hunting around the car park and two Hen Harrier over the southern fields. Ivan Lang. 

2 ringtail HH at Wigtown LNR this pm. Via BirdGuides. Nothing unusual at Castle or Kirk Lochs. 1 Whooper & GC Grebe at CL. 37 redhead Goosander at KL. PJ

RSPB Mersehead. I had it over the flood area at 1pm while lunching in the old hide also 4 Greenshank on the Southwick Burn. Anna White. 

Report of 3 at Farrell Court Dumfries is correct for this morning. Seen by Robbie Purdie & Chris Baines 8:30am. However, not since. 

Female type quartering over RSPB Mersehead wetland this morning. Gavin Chambers.

I failed to find the American Golden Plover at West Freugh on Tuesday due to a hunting Peregrine. More detail on my blog: https://nigelsnature.blogspot.com/ .  Nigel Willits. 

3 at Farrell Court opp Osprey Lane near Summerpark Road Dumfries. Seen with Colin K, Chris B & Robbie P. Birds eventually moved on. However, eyes to the skies & berry trees & bushes folks! 

Again reported around Summerpark Road Dumfries. See;   https://maps.app.goo.gl/z3GhRbhMgy7H4yCv5 . Via BirdGuides but believe seen by Chris Baines.

Short-eared Owl over the field north of car park 17:00. Ivan Lang.

1 reported over Summerpark Road, Dumfries today??! Via BirdGuides.

12:45 Great White Egret just landed in field north of car park out of sight at present. Ivan Lang.

31st Oct. Wheatear in the seaweed looking Greenland-ish. Mick Whitehouse and Nancy Harrison.

31st Oct. GWE & 2 ringtail HH reported today. Via BirdGuides.