4 flocks of Crossbill, 60+ gathered together in trees by the boardwalk at Kirkconnell Flow 1.45pm. Robbie Purdie. 

At Corsewall Point around the lighthouse today. 

A pleasant afternoon out in the long awaited spring sunshine. First call a gentle stroll around the trails from the main CP. A good selection of warblers including Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler & Wood Warbler. Single singing Pied Flycatcher & Redstart, with fly-over Common Crossbill & Tree Pipit. A stop at Barclye CP & a walk up towards the small farm with good views of both Redstart & Tree Pipit. But the highlight was a Grasshopper Warbler in the rushes which after a 20 min patient wait, kindly sat up onto a fence post & sang it's heart out. Ivan Lang.

Popped down this evening to the hide after the report of a Garganey this afternoon. Spent an hour or so with no sign of the bird. However, a surprise was 3 Pochard, 2♂️ 1♀️. Popped over to the reedbed there & heard a couple of Reed Warbler. On the way back to the town a quick look across the lagoon back towards the hide & saw the male Garganey fly across the lagoon & landed in open water, giving excellent views. Also, a Common Whitethroat was singing close by. Ivan Lang. 

Cardoness - 3 Lesser Whitethroat singing, Sandwich Terns on the shore, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff. Ian Bainbridge. Wigtown LNR - ♂️Garganey on the lagoon north of car park.

Rumour of a MH at the marsh of RSPB Ken-Dee, which pig farmer corroborated as turning up on the 25th April every year, since he's been there I guess. PJ

Pr Marsh Harriers at the old hide (Ed. Meida?). Male carrying food or nest material to the female. 2 Leucistic Barnacles in the flock still there on the Merse. Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies. Also dreaded Mink seen! Anna White. 

Mabie Forest - brief view of Wood Warbler high in the canopy in usual place I see them there. No song. Then sleet! The Hills Wood - I think 2 singing ♂️Pied Flycatcher above the car park, 1 seen later with ♀️ off path above cp. Also ♂️♀️Blackcap. The Nith - 2♂️ LRP facing off, 1 flew east 1515hrs. Also 4 squabbling Common Sandpiper. Territory is everything! Castle Loch - brief visit, all waterbirds bar Swans & Mallard gone. PJ

Woodcockair, Hoddom. Redstart remains, still playing hard to get though, but after a bit of persistence managed to get a sighting with my bins. A lot of Nuthatch and Tree Creeper activity in here also. Bill Jamieson. 

Cuckoo calling in Grobdale area. Many Red Kite. Green Woodpecker calling in Retreat Wood. Willow Tit south of the kennels on way to RSPB Ken-Dee here; https://maps.app.goo.gl/oD2u9gjo8k6fCQzeA . No Willow Tit on RSPB Ken-Dee reserve, 4 singing Pied Flycatcher but no Redstart & seemingly a dearth of birds. No Wood nor Garden Warbler, certainly not singing but a possible sighting of GW. Pig family breakout & on the loose & met the farmer on their trail. PJ

Stunning views of 22 Golden Plover at Corsewall Lighthouse yesterday and 1000 flying around like Starlings. Anna White. 

Afternoon ebb tide. 29 Sandwich Tern on rocks. Flock c30-40 Knot hidden on sunny side of Point rocks + 2 Whimbrel. About 4 more Whimbrel along shore towards 13th golf tee HT roost. 1 Purple Sandpiper found & 2 fine ♂️Wheatear around 13th tee, one quite pale throated. 5 large late winter grey plum Dunlin caused me ID difficulties! PJ

Seen east of the Wigtown LNR bird hide, as well as reported 65 White Wagtail. Quite a number! 

Late survey indeed. Most regulars & winter visitors moved out but still a few. Passage of Whimbrel with c20 today. Also a low-flying fem Merlin collecting together what few small waders were present. Quite handy when it comes to counting! PJ

Early morning survey revealed a Grasshopper Warbler, female Pied Flycatcher and a couple of Swallow but little else. Ivan Lang.

First Wood Warbler of the year singing along the roadside at the Wood of Cree this afternoon, also my first Cuckoo heard distantly. Gavin Chambers.

2 Swift west over the lagoon south of Car Park this morning. A Common Sandpiper on the lagoon north of cp around lunch but moved onto the merse pm. A few White Wagtails around & later a summer plum Black-tailed Godwit present on the Lagoon to N of CP. Ivan Lang. 

Yesterday 20th, the Kingholm Quay birder saw 2 Common Whitethroat nearby. Today, a Garden Warbler's shown at WWT Caerlaverock. To find out, you just have to pay RBA et al money 💷 

Cuckoo calling at Kirkconnell Flow. Robbie Purdie. 

A single male Pochard on SW corner of Milton Loch at 3 30pm. Anna White. 

Message for Barbara Williams.  Thanks for the report; " Carlingwark Loch. We are not experts but there is what appears to be a Brent Goose at last years swans nest at the bridge at The Buchanan. Will try to get a photo ." Please do get a photo & submit. However, I think it's most likely to be a Canada Goose 😊. 

Report from John Miles; "A day for raptors covering the B7040 with several stops to scan. Total count was 21 sightings of Buzzard, 14 for Raven, Biggest surprise was 11 for Red Kite, 2 Hen Harriers, Merlin, possible Peregrine with 2 that got away. Other birds were breeding/territory Common Gulls, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Curlew, Oystercatcher & Lapwing. Of course the (Borders) boundary is just above Leadhills but most birds were moving, so there could have been double counting, just like sea-watching. No big birds but a Shepherd claimed birds seen last year. The sad news was more conifer planting to happen in good raptor areas of & loss of heather by over-grazing. 

Highlights today were Sandwich Terns, Fulmars, Razorbills, Kestrel pair, and a Red-throated Diver. Robbie Purdie. 

With the weather finally changed for the better headed to Loch Ryan & Corsewell Point. With a mill pond sea at Bishop Burn the birding was excellent with the highlight a group of 12 Long-tailed Duck in resplendent summer plumage. All 3 divers present, 2 Slavonian Grebes in summer attire, over 100 Common Scoter & 40 Scaup. The Wig, very quiet, but 3 Black Guillemot, nice group of 6 LTD & a BTD. Then a relaxing few hours at Corsewell Point but there was not much moving 27 Manx Shearwaters were great to see, some sat on the sea, a single Puffin, 4 Black Guillemot, a fly past BTD, a few Sandwich Tern. Offshore 4 GND one in summer plumage. On the land several Swallow & a single House Martin, a couple of Wheatear & a Greenland Wheatear. Ivan Lang. 

Cuckoo near Muil Farm road end above Glenkiln. Anna White. 

"Back at Eastriggs depot. Just through the gate and in the bushes on the left. 2 Whimbrel at Browhouses around 7am….tide right out." Ian Irving. 

Male Brambling under feeders in my parents Minnigaff garden this afternoon. 11 Scaup (5m, 6f) off Carsethorn yesterday evening. Sedge and Reed Warbler reported singing at RSPB Mersehead yesterday. Cuckoo being reported from several places over last few days. Gavin Chambers. 

Limited visit to both. CL had a few Willow Warbler, Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, 2 Siskin, 4 GC Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, singing Nuthatch. Threave a number of Willow Warbler, usual Peregrine & head of sitting Osprey. Also Tree Pipit. Not much visible nature on the flagship reserve atm. Oh, a few dogs actually on leads. PJ

With the brisk north westerly wind most things lying low. However there are a few sheltered spots where the sun makes it pleasant and the birds burst into song. Despite migration being on the slow side Willow Warbler are now heard around the site joined by the odd Blackcap. A half dozen White Wagtail moving through. The first Sedge and Garden Warblers in full song. Ivan Lang. 

Whinchat south of KQ along the Nith yesterday... 

A site I forget about since the trees were harvested a few years ago, but Robbie Purdie reports; "Pied Flycatcher this evening. The Hills, top of the blue route before you turn down the slope to the old railway line. Seen around nesting box 9".  In response, Duncan Irving writes; "If you are visiting the Hills Wood please stay on the paths to avoid unnecessary disturbance to nesting birds. The boxes are monitored by members of North Solway Ringing Group with permission from Forestry and Land Scotland. This will be the first year since 2002 that I have not been the lead ringer for this project. In 2023 there was a record number of Pied Flycatcher chicks fledged so there should be a good chance of seeing them without entering the wood. Most of the old boxes have recently been replaced by a NSRG member who is also an employee of FLS and I am hoping that 2024 will also be a record year for the flycatchers. The next few weeks when they are laying and sitting on eggs is the pe

Feeding over Milton Loch - Sand Martins & Swallows - 1 House Martin at Hardgate. 2 Pied Flycatchers in wood on right of track at RSPB (Mains of) Duchrae & 2 more in wood before 2nd hide there. Green Woodpecker alarm calling opposite Orchardton Tower on small road from Palnackie. Anna White. 

This wet and bedraggled male Sparrowhawk was in my Glenluce garden the other day. It had a lot of white feathers on the back and head. A form of leucism I suppose or some similar pigment aberration. Nigel Willits.

Blackcaps in song at Mabie + Nuthatch, Treecreeper, GSW, Chiffchaff. Good to see the woodland flora too. My first Willow Warbler in song at Carnsalloch + 4 Com Sandpiper on river. Also Little Egret. Com Sandpiper off Glencaple Quay & leucistic Barnie upriver there. Plenty geese still around. Willow Warbler singing near WWT turning. PJ 

One slipped through the birdwatching defences & turned up around Lochrutton Loch, yesterday. 

Green Sandpiper remains at Mein Water, 3 Common Sandpiper on the river between Hoddom & Brydekirk, Sand Martins in good numbers hawking over the river, Blackcap & Willow Warbler seem to be everywhere now. Bill Jamieson. 

15th. Crook of Baldoon : A nice flock of 31 sum plum Black-tailed Godwit present on the island on the lagoon north of the car park this morning. Later in the afternoon an Osprey headed west over the Bladnoch. Wood of Cree : About lunch time a ♂️ Pied Flycatcher near the main car park. Ivan Lang. 

15th am. Woodcockair, Hoddom. ♀️Pied Flycatcher showing well at woodland edge. ♂️Redstart a different proposition however, calling high up in the beeches & oaks. I lost my old records due to a recent house move, but I am sure the earliest I’ve previously had them here were the 23rd & 18th April respectively. Also notable were Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker a soaring Sparrowhawk. Bill Jamieson.

14th. For those who don't subscribe to the paid-for bird news services, one has been reported from along the towpath at Kingholm Quay today. 

Sizeable loose groups of Swallows and House Martins heading up the Cree and Penkiln today. Norman Fry. 

A couple of Black-tailed Godwits feeding in a shoreside field at Balyett. Still a few Scaup, Goldeneye and a Slav Grebe off Broadstone. Guillemots both Black and Common. Also Sandwich Terns. Nigel Willits. 

A very windy and, at times, very foggy morning at the Mull of Galloway. Meadow Pipits, Stonechat, Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake and Herring Gull. 1 Sparrowhawk and my first Wheatear of the year. RobW. Ed. We are grateful to Rob for some great images! Makes you want to be there  😊👌

Special offer on foot passenger ➡  Stena Line foot passenger flash sale . Well worth buying in advance... 

Dipper at Kirkhouse Fishery & Sand Martins back at the sandpit behind Kirkbean Comm Hall. 2 RBM & 2 Whimbrel on Carsethorn foreshore with 4 Swallow over. 6 Scaup (4 drake) & ♂️Aythya hybrid in Carse Bay. Also 500 or more strong flock of Linnet in muddy field at Arbigland. No Twite etc spotted amongst them. PJ

5 Willow Warbler, Blackcap & 1 Tree Pipit. Also present, pair of Nuthatch, pair of Buzzard & a pair of Red Kite, Mistle & Song Thrush & countless Chiffchaff. Rob Wadsworth. 

Male seen in the Langholm area on the 8th. 

A Greenland White-fronted Goose was with 15 pink-foots at Barnkirk Point this afternoon, also notable were 3 Common Sandpiper and 1 Wheatear. Bill Jamieson. 

Great White Egret still present at Castle Loch. Also 3 singing Willow Warbler & 35+ Sand Martin. Paul Massey. 

Paul Massey reports; Newbie (14:55-16:30 hours): c.65 Kittiwake E @ 15:30 hours & 2 Great Skua E @ 15:54 hours. 

Common Sandpiper (2), Wheatear (3 males), a small number of Twite, a Willow Warbler and a Tawny Owl. Bill Jamieson. ( Ed. A couple of weeks ago or so, I failed to report that Ian Irving had seen a Red-throated Diver there. 🙄 oops!) 

9th a.m.; Drizzly, dull & rather windy walk along the path from Garlieston to Galloway House. Amongst the usual woodland birds: The flooded fields on the approach to Garlieston yielded several dozen Swallows along with several Sand Martin. Many Chiffchaff were seen as well as 4 Blackcap on the shore path. 57 Pale-bellied Brent were on the foreshore in the village & 1 red-throated diver further out. Also present, a large flock of Redshank along with 4 Greenshank. Rob Wadsworth. 

Chris Sutton reports; Willow Tit seen & heard calling today at the Corridoo at NX68062970. I have recorded them at this end of the forest in August 2020 (2 birds) & Jan 2019 (not visited this spot much since). I suspect there is a small breeding population here. Supporting cast of Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Siskin & Chaffinch. But no Crossbill today (usually a good site). 

First Pied Flycatcher heard calling on the reserve this afternoon. Willow Tit singing near Otter Platform. Gavin Chambers. 

2 on the Stab Pool at Carnsalloch, Nith. Later moved to the river shingle, where 3 were seen. Also Little Egret, 2 Sand Martin, Grey & Pied Wagtail, Med Pipit, several Buzzard, several spinning-displaying Goldfinch. PJ

Pair of Willow Warbler at the Isle of Whithorn. Many Chiffchaff. Rob Wadsworth. 

First Osprey of the year on the reserve. Interestingly appeared to have a white wing tag on right wing. If anyone knows any tagging scheme, I would be interested to get information on bird. Too distant to see any lettering. Ivan Lang. Osprey overflew Whithorn area this day. 

Whimbrel and Peregrine on the estuary above Kirkcudbright yesterday 7th. Barry O'Dowd. 

7th. Common Tern reported present at Threave & yesterday (6th), 6 House Martin at Wigtown LNR, apparently. A Common Tern also seen over Palmallet Loch, Whithorn. 

There were 10 Scaup (6m, 4f) lingering offshore when I got back from Mersehead at around 1pm. The flock didn't include the drake hybrid but I did spot it yesterday evening with 5 Scaup. Suspect this weather is pushing a few more into the bay. Gavin Chambers. 

Very high tide but some interest; a few Swallows & Sand Martin over the bay. A small flock of White Wagtail through. Out on the bay a single Sandwich Tern & a couple of Gannet. Ivan Lang. 

Stopped by to see if the HT had come over the top of the sea defence with the wind but not quite. Birds marooned on what was left of the shingle spit above water. Maybe 25-30 Ringed Plover & a Turnstone plus Oyster's, c30 Bl-t Godwit in the air above Carse Pow, 1 Sandwich Tern on shoreline & 5 Scaup (3 drake, 2♀️) + poss ♂️Tufted hybrid. A couple of sub-ad Gannet flew by at Powillimount & a couple of windswept Rock Pipit. 

My view on this Hooded type is that it is a Hybrid. The apparent blackness of the rump/uppertail coverts and dark speckling of the grey mantle feathers are a typical sign of a hybrid. It's harder to see in the photos, but the undertail coverts also appear dark and they should be a nice grey colour like the mantle and breast. Photo attached hopefully shows what I mean, the upper photo being Rob's and the second borrowed from the internet. Gavin Chambers.

4 Scaup (3m, 1f) lingering off Carsethorn, a Swallow overhead & a Harbour Porpoise worryingly trying to swim up the estuary on the outgoing tide and only just offshore. Hopefully its found some good feeding and will swim out when needed. Gavin Chambers. 

Sat on the car park I'd hoped for something to be blown up the Firth. But no! There were possibly 2 Arctic Skua way off in the haze heading in but otherwise, just a single fly-by Common Scoter, Rock Pipit & a pair of Ringed Plover flight-displaying. Around 2pm 5ad Gannet past close inshore heading out. Swallow fled by 1445hrs. 

Green Sandpiper remains on the river Annan, flooded field at Luce mains farm, near Brydekirk. A Red Kite was also noted here,. Also worth a mention were 2 Blackcap with Chiffchaff, now turning up everywhere but still only sporadic sightings of Sand Martins (ones and twosome's). Bill Jamieson. P

5th April, Monreith. Motacilla cinerea, alba and yarrelli all foraging together. Rob Wadsworth. 

5th. 2cy Scaup still at WWT Caerlaverock & a Tree Pipit "sound-recorded" over-flying Isle of Whithorn last night (4th). (Ed. Not by Merlin I hope, given it's evidenced unreliability). 

The southerly winds have brought a small fall of Sand Martin onto the lagoon north of car park. Ivan Lang. 

A question for those more familiar than I with our Corvids. Is this a Carrion/Hooded hybrid? Photo taken this morning (5th April) at the Isle of Whithorn. Rob Wadsworth. rsvp. 

A visit to Tarras Valley, Langholm this afternoon was rewarded with excellent views of 2 Hen Harrier, including a sky dancing male, which to me was one of the finest sights of many years birdwatching. Bill Jamieson. 

Janis Fraser reports 2 Black-tailed Godwit in summer plumage. (Ed. presumably Folly Pond). 

4th. A brief trip to Corsewall Point this morning yielded my first Manx Shearwater & Sandwich Tern of the year. Also seen, several Razorbill, Guillemot, a Red-throated Diver, 2 Black Guillemot & streams of Gannet. Rob Wadsworth. 

Castle Loch; Great White Egret disappeared into reeds on east shore. No Bittern seen in a couple of hours. Maybe dozen Goldeneye, 2 dozen Tufted Duck, 4 Goosander, half dozen Teal, single Wigeon, half dozen Heron. Kirk Loch; c40 or more Sand Martin, c60 Tufted Duck, half dozen Goldeneye, 4 Goosander, 20 Wigeon. PJ

After a long time gap, Pete Berry's recently visited D&G & has placed his trip report on the Manchester Birding website. You can read it via the DGBN blog. 

Sandwich Tern & a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits at Bishopburn. 4 Long-tailed Duck off Innermessan. 2 Velvet Scoter off Marianport plus close to shore, a superb Slav Grebe in breeding finery. Nigel Willits. 

20-30 c1330-1400hrs at Kirkconnell Flow, not far off boardwalk & flying between trees either side. 

Osprey over the River Annan this morning carrying a fish. Bill Jamieson. 

3 House Martin above Cannee Farm, Kirkcudbright, 1st april. Chris Carter. (not of X Files)

2 Velvet Scoter, 1 Bl-t Diver, 6 Slav Grebe & 17 Brent Geese south at Stairhaven. 2 Velvet Scoter, 13 L-t Duck & 18 Slav Grebe in Wig Bay. 2 Sandwich Terns at Soleburn. (Per A. Chambers). Gavin Chambers. 

I had one today at RSPB Kenmure Holms, New Galloway, & a fly over Swallow. A couple of Mandarin was a bit of a surprise & a Green Woodpecker yaffling in the area was the first I've had around there. Gavin Chambers.

White Wagtail and SEO at RSPB Crook of Baldoon. Ivan Lang. 

One apparently at Loch Ken yesterday & one singing at Point of Lag, Monreith, this morning.