31st. Single Sandwich Tern at Isle of Whithorn harbour at lunchtime. No sign of Iceland Gull. Colin Kinnear. 

Seen overflying Kirkconnel Flow yesterday 29th. Colin Kinnear. 

Some possibly interesting & certainly curious & if true, excellent sightings of noteworthy birds. For example on 10th March, there were 2 Pochard & 2 Great Northern Diver on Castle Loch, according to;  https://ebird.org/checklist/S164305293 PJ

John Miles reports; Osprey Mochron Loch, female Hen Harrier Skata Moss, Red Kite Elrig and Merlin at Palmallet. All on 28th.

Barry O'Dowd reports that yesterday 29th, a bird flew over Kirkcudbright at 6pm. 

28th. Thanks to Robbie P, I stopped by Kirkconnell Flow & stumbled upon his reported flock. About 15 were in flight but they proved elusive, disappearing in the topmost foliage. Eventually I got a reasonable view of 1 male & a female or 2, but not for long! When on the forest edge, they would drop down for water. Located where the direct path into the merse turns into the wood, where the stump fence says no access due to peatland restoration. Map location ;  https://maps.app.goo.gl/RHkSkmQ6FciDw7mm6

One at Laurieston, on Wednesday , apparently. 

Ring-necked Duck still present at Carlingwark Loch this morning on Lovers Walk/cemetery side. Great Crested Grebes showing well close to old boathouse too. Robbie Purdie. 

27th. Ring-necked Duck again on Carlingwark Loch. Hooded Crow on the HT tideline at the Teapot Café near Skyreburn, Gatehouse of Fleet. 

28th.Scaup still present, either Whooper or Folly Pond no doubt. House Martin at Brydekirk, Annan.  

27th. Great White Egret seen flying "downriver" at Templand.

Drake back on Carlingwark Loch. 

Flock of 12 Crossbills At Kirkconnell Flow late morning. Heard on Saturday - spotted today. Robbie Purdie. 

Late survey & done in a brief dry window, meaning rather rushed with the tidal state. Best birds were the usual 2 Whimbrel & 5 Scaup offshore, 4 drake + duck. Not much of not much. Farmers goose cannon may have been a factor 🤔. Kirkhouse Fishery, Kirkbean - 3 maybe 4 Chiffchaff, ♀️ Goldeneye, Little Grebe, pair Reed Bunting. PJ

26th. Late pm from the car-park: single Black-throated Diver & Long-tailed Duck, my first Gannet of the year, several Slav Grebes, Red-throated Divers, Razorbill & lots of Common Scoter & Red-breasted Mergansers. One Oystercatcher was the only wader! Nigel Willits. 

26th. For those not using paid-for info services; Bishop Burn - 1st-winter Little Gull still. Also 330 Scaup, 30+ Slav Grebe, 4 Velvet Scoter off Marian Cottage. Offshore at Stairhaven, 1 Black-throated Diver. 

26th. Single House Martin among the many Sand Martin over Carlingwark Loch. No sign of RND. Gavin Chambers. 

26th. 2 Purple Sandpiper, & 40+ mostly ghostly Sanderling on the point rocks. Along shore & off 13th golf tee, another 3 Purple Sands, c6 Knot, 4 Little Egret & 2 slatey ♂️ & 1 buffy ♀️ Wheatear, 1 Rock Pipit. Pair Ringed Plover flight-displaying. A movement of medpips off the sea with a number along the beach. PJ

26th. 2 Whimbrel on the foreshore & 2 drake + ♀️ Scaup on the tideline a welcome surprise. PJ

I recently received these reports. Make of them what you will. Views welcome.  On 23rd, WWT reception said a visitor saw & heard a Redstart🤔. On 24th, Mike Smith reported; "Black Loch (west of Clatteringshaws); First Cuckoo of the year seen sunning in a tree (seems early though, usually hear them a few days before getting first sighting). Chiffchaff has also arrived". 

25th. Apparently a 1st-winter Little Gull, Swallow, 4 Slav Grebe & 13 Lt Duck. 

25th. No sign of the Am Wigeon this afternoon but 2 Sand Martin over the Lagoon, unusually 4 Tufted Duck & a Wheatear on the entrance track. Ivan Lang. 

24th. 11 whooper swans Boreland of Borgue Kbt, chiffchaffs in Kbt and Anwoth, Green Woodpecker in Anwoth. Ian Bainbridge.

24th. Adult at Whithorn harbour again today. 

24th. After just shy of 200 miles including driving the roads of the Moffat & into the Borders Tweedsmuir Hills, not a single bird sighted. Beautiful scenery everywhere & the best bird was a Peregrine WNW of Bentpath on the B709. 

John Miles reports; 2 different Green Woodpeckers - 1 by Loch Kindar, Criffel on 22nd & 1 at Gallow Hill, Moffat today 24th March. Ring Ouzel & Wheatear along Moffat Water (NT 14575 10330) today as well. 

24th. With the fair weather headed to Loch Ryan. First stop Bishop Burn but the wind made the viewing very difficult in the choppy conditions but there were a few Scaup & Eider visable. On to the Wig, most of the expected suspects but great to see Slav Grebe & Black Guillemot in summer plumage. Highlight was a Black-throated Diver off Cairnryan. On to Corsewell Point. A slow stream of Gannet out to sea. A single Kittiwake being harassed by the local gulls. Guillemots & Razorbills on the sea were briefly joined by a single early Puffin. Ivan Lang.

24th. 3 Green Sandpiper & Common Sandpiper remain (surprisingly good views given the footfall here this morning). Kingfisher also worth a mention. Bill Jamieson. 

23rd. Best pic my brother captured of the bird over Folly Pond today. 

23rd. 1st-winter/2cy Greater Scaup on Folly Pond snoozing on southern shore & obscured by grassy promontory. Displaced from Whooper Pond by site works. Also seen were a ringtail HH over Folly Pond giving a great display at close range. No GW Teal nor Ruff found. 2 drake Pintail. Still good nmbr of Whooper on site. Chiffchaff along Avenue track. 3 Stonechat, pair & ♂️ - pair from Avenue Tower hide + 2 Skylark. PJ

23rd. Walked along the B736 in front of Carlingwark House but didn't find the Ring-necked Duck around 1pm today. Gavin Chambers. Spent a couple of hours looking for RND this lunch but no sign. Lots of Sand Martin present, a few Chiffchaff & an Osprey. Ivan Lang. 

23rd. Red Kite at Sorrysike Moor this morning. Also seen 2 hrs later on the way back down over Water of Milk (probably same bird). Chiffchaffs now appear to be all over the place, 9 calling birds in a 4 hour circular walk. Bill Jamieson. 

22nd. Thanks to Anna White we connected with the RND at Carlingwark Loch. Pat & Chris Baines.

Many thanks to Anna for alerting us to the duck on Carlingwark Loch. Bumped into CB who has probably got better pics than me! PJ

On Carlingwark - opposite the gates to Carlingwark House a male Ring-necked Duck with 16 Tufted Duck this lunchtime. Anna White. American Wigeon still present at RSPB Crook of Baldoon. 

A flock of Sanderling (counted 8, but probably more), with Redshank, Oystercatcher & Wigeon at high tide roost. Went there hoping to get my first Wheatear for the year but no luck in that department. Bill Jamieson. 

At least 3 Chiffchaff singing in Garlieston (Rob Wadsworth). 4 at Threave Gardens (David Hawker) & a ♂️ Ring-necked Duck with Tufted on Carlingwark Loch (Anna White), both Castle Douglas.  Wheatear, ♂️ at Grey Mares Tail NR today.  21st. Wandering WT Eagle being mobbed by Corvids near Beeswing. 

21st. Paul Massey reports 1 GWE still & a singing Chiffchaff. 

20th. American Wigeon still at RSPB Crook of Baldoon. Female Wheatear at Port Logan. Iceland Gull at Whithorn harbour, seemingly been present at least a couple of days. The secret is out! 

19th. First Chiffchaff of the spring here in Summerpark, Dumfries today. Also a party of Siskin feeding on the Ladypark reserve. Two Oystercatcher feeding on park so must be nesting close by. Chris Baines. 

First 2 Sand Martin through this morning. Am Wigeon still present. Ivan Lang. 

18th. American Wigeon showing well on the north lagoon. Good numbers of Redshank also present along with a brief Ruff. On the south lagoon a pair of Gadwall. Ivan Lang. Ed. Many thanks to Ivan once again.

18th. WWT this morning, Great White Egret viewed from the Saltcot Hide, Hen Harrier (ringtail), hunting over open country near Bankend. Best of the rest were Black-tailed Godwit (Folly Pond). Also this morning my first summer migrant in the shape of a Chiffchaff at Hoddom Castle. Bill Jamieson. 

18th. Long-tailed Ducks & several Slavonian Grebes in gorgeous breeding plumage off Marianport. About 135 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at The Wig. Nigel Willits. 

After a walk round the nature reserve this morning I thought I would check out the 3rd stage of the building development which is flooded with all the rain. Several LBB Gulls were present, 2 Oystercatchers several Pied Wagtail & what looked like at a distance, a LRP. After going back for the scope it turned out to be a Ringed Plover. A bit disappointing but a good inland record. Chris Baines. PS Site looks good for LRP.

17th. 9am on a lamppost outside Kirkcudbright Fire Station, a Kookaburra being mobbed by noisy Herring Gulls - they were successful sending it off eastwards. Anna White. Also a Sand Martin seen yesterday on the River Dee at NTS Threave NR. 

Mein Water ; 3 Green Sandpiper this morning also Common Sandpiper, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow and Bullfinch. Bill Jamieson. Loch Ken ; Sand Martin spotted from the Goose Viewing Platform this morning. 

15th. In pile the vanguard of harbingers. 9 Sand Martin at Black Loch as we anticipate the D&G arrival of this years summer residents. 

3 Great White Egret viewed from A709 car park. 1 more in winter plumage as majority grey bill. Others majority yellow. After relocating to Vendace Bay, 4 GWE were counted with possibly 5 being present but the birds were a bit mobile now & then. PJ

AW still on the lagoon north of car park at RSPB Crook of Baldoon. 80 Scaup seen off Innermessan, Loch Ryan. 

2 allegedly off the Soleburn or near today, south of The Wig. (not akin to another AW we hope🤞).

13th. A total of 16 Long-tailed Duck & 3 Slavonian Grebe coming into summer plumage this afternoon. CB & CK. 

13th. Some will be aware of a bird heard at Caerlaverock NNR down from Hollands Farm track, off the boardwalk today, according to the map link provided on X/Twitter. Also Chiffchaff singing at Bankend. PJ

13th. Still present at the Crook of Baldoon on the lagoon north of car park. Also, Greenshank at Wigtown harbour this morning reported by Kev & Sue Richardson. 

My visit yesterday was the first in calm conditions for a while. Nothing unexpected seen. Great Northern Diver was the perhaps the best bird, but the highlights for me were very close views of Slavonian Grebe & Razorbill. More details on my blog:  https://nigelsnature.blogspot.com/ . Nigel Willits.

12th. Three Purple Sandpiper this morning amongst a group of turnstone. Kev & Sue Richardson. 

Ist w drake Scaup still on Whooper Pond at WWT Caerlaverock. 8 Avocet reported on the mudflats at Browhouses. 

At Woodhouse today good views of Crossbills seen from the Park Bench above the slope where the ruins are. In the past I have found they favour this area. Anna White. 

Just the 1 drake duck still at the Crook of Baldoon on the lagoon north of car park. 

Photographed on the 3rd March at the Crook of Baldoon? Great news if we get to see the pics! 

9th.Stairhaven 08.00-09.45. Long-tailed Duck (m), Slavonian Grebe, 2 Great-crested Grebe, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Eider, Common Scoters, 2 Gannet, 40+ Dunlin. Auchenmalg 10.00-11.00. 5 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot, 3 Red-throated Diver, 5 Common Scoter. Also 32 Whoopers grazing by High Barness. A scattering of Fieldfare & Redwing throughout the journey. Kev & Sue Richardson. 

Still present at the RSPB Crook of Baldoon, lagoon north of car park. 

John Healey reports; "Willow Tit seen at Ken Dee. In the Beech stand by the fallen tree that blocks the pass" (path?). Ed. Shame my plan ystrdy didn't allow for staying to find WT! Well found JH 👍. 

Surprisingly few shorebirds but amongst them were 3 Purple Sandpiper. Mick & Nancy Harrison. 

Kev & Sue Richardson report; Greenshank, 2 Purple Sandpiper. Also Oystercatchers, Ringed Plovers, Turnstone, Redshank, Curlew. On the foreshore, Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Starlings, Linnets, Stonechats. Out to sea 4 Black Guillemot, 2 Razorbill, 2 Red-throated Diver Cormorants, Shags, Fulmars passing. Wonderful 4hrs. 

8th. Not a good return for the 88 mile journey for sure. No diver on LK. 43 at least Greenland White-fronted Geese in fields opp Ken-Dee car park. "Hundreds" of Red Kite. No Golden Eagle at Grobdale B796, lots of Red Kite still but not much else. Male Stonechat on way to GoF. c30 at least mxd Fieldfare & Redwing flock at High Barlay. Nothing unusual on the Fleet Estuary at the Teapot Café. Stopped by Threave Castle for the pair of Peregrine atop battlements. Probably the male chasing away another male on the way down to castle. No Osprey as yet AFAIK. Another unlucky day out o/a. PJ

7th. Another trip to Caerlaverock WWT today & no sign of the GWT on the Folly pond, but the RUFF was showing with the Redshanks & the Scaup was still present on the Whooper Pond. The Teal was relocated from the Avenue Tower hide in the afternoon but still rather distant. Other sighting of note was several hundred Golden Plover. Pat & Chris Baines. Ed. The complete information from C&PB. Many thanks once again. PJ

Still at RSPB Crook of Baldoon lagoon north of the car park. 

Fortunately seen again but from Avenue Tower hide. Beyond that, no more precise location given by the likes of BirdGuides.  

Anyone who is interested in helping with the Mabie Butterfly Survey transect please get in touch with Andy Riches at  slioch69@aol.com . Survey weeks commence 1st April to end September 2024. Help always required & makes a reasonable walk too! 

4 Avocet at Browhouses today. Moved on the Caerlaverock WWT & found a male Green-winged Teal on the Folly Pond. Drake Scaup still on Whooper pond. Pat & Chris Baines.  Ed. Thanks as usual to C&P. That GWT must have been hiding on Monday! Typical! However, great find 👍. 

Chiffchaff singing, albeit quite softly, at RSPB Kenmure Holms, New Galloway this morning. Presume an overwintering bird enjoying a bit of sunshine. Gavin Chambers. 

5th. Fulmars, Guillemots, Razorbills on Balcary Cliffs & 50 Common Scoter north of Balcary Point. Lots of ?Rock Dove? around but no Kittiwakes. Anna White. 

Finally caught up with the elusive White-fronted Geese at West Freugh yesterday. nigelsnature.white-fronts-at-west-freugh . Nigel Willits. 

Good walk but few birds, especially passerines. Redshank, Goldeneye, Teal, Goosander on the river. Redshank, Curlew, Kestrel & Oystercatcher on the shore. Maybe 100 PfG in field. Nothing on the outgoing tide. Welcome to the future.

One soaring and gliding in a thermal southwards over Gatehouse the morning of 4th March. Fine view in bright sunshine. David Hawker. 

4th. Immature Peregrine on Kirkconnell Merse from Glencaple Quay. Typical birds for the location. WWT; Peregrine worrying the Corvids, c300 Golden Plover on the merse, 2 Little Egret back of Whooper Pond & several others on the merse, Meadow Pipits, Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows near the centre, apart from the Scaup in prior message.

4th. Summer Park Dumfries; An early Sand Martin over the estate at 1345. Kingholm Quay 1745 to 1800; Barn Owl hunting, Sparrowhawk, 2 Ravens & 11 Little Egrets flew up river. Pat & Chris Baines. 

Chris Sutton reports; Golden Eagle. Orchardton 4/3/24 12:05 I had one of my best ever views of a Golden Eagle today in good weather at Horse Isles Bay, Orchardton. Totally took me by surprise to see one in this location. I noticed a large Raptor flying at tree top height coming towards us along the northern bank of the bay. I immediately noted its size and my companion the fingered wings. It veered over the wood giving good views of the underwing (adult I think) . It was then mobbed by 2 buzzard and a raven and the size difference to these birds was obvious. It turned and flew directly above us (C. 60 ft up) and headed south across the peninsula with a raven in hot pursuit. Amazing close view in a unlikely setting. (I have a very grainy picture of it disappearing into the distance being mobbed by the raven). Chris. 

Gtr Scaup is on Whooper Pond. Currently roosting with a few Tufted. Rumour of a Ruff on Folly Pond but not present between c1130-1600. No raptors in evidence so looking like birds have moved to breeding grounds. 

Still at RSPB Crook of Baldoon, gracing the lagoon. 

2nd. Male at West Freugh Airfield reported, per traditional winter roost. 

Greater Scaup still somewhere on the reserve 🤐😳

Somewhere on Loch Ryan still. 

1st. Spotted Redshank still plus Greater Scaup..... Folly &/or Whooper Pond? We have to guess. 

Stopped by yesterday but found nothing unusual. Lots of gulls inc a few LBB. Tufted, a few Wigeon still, Goldeneye, about 5 Goosander, c12 or more Little Grebe, 2 Gc Grebe, 2 Whooper with Mutes, maybe 30+ Greylags, a few Canada. Not an exhaustive visit. PJ

2 Avocet at Browhouses 0730 this morning. Close in to the east of the cottages, but flew off. Last year I only saw them from 9th March. Ian Irving.