Likely hybrid Scaup X Tufted Duck in among Scaup flock at Loch Ryan. Tom Garner.

Ring-necked Duck still on Carlingwark Loch Castle Douglas. East end with Tufties. Still present 13.10. Ivan Lang. Image courtesy IL.

Ring-necked Duck drake with Tufted Duck flock, Carlingwark Loch (town end) 2pm. David Henshilwood. 

Dec 27th 2024. A Great White Egret seen somewhere there...

Dec 26th 2024. Although generally quiet in overcast conditions, a little surprise was a Green Sandpiper calling from the River Bladnoch. Ivan Lang.

25th Dec 2024. A quiet couple of hours at the hide resulted in an excellent view of the male Hen Harrier as it hunted across the pool. Also fly-past Kingfisher. Ivan Lang.

24th. Am Wigeon still present this morning. Lots of Pinks and Barny as well as a couple of White-fronts. Ivan Lang.

The Sept, Oct & Nov reports were published yesterday, 22nd.  http://awanderroundthewig. blogspot.com/

True? Disgraceful if so. All those involved in the chemical destruction are shameful in their culpability.  https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2024/12/22/stobo-hope-did-gwct-advice-help-avoid-an-environmental-impact-assessment-on-the-destruction-of-black-grouse-habitat-guest-blog/  

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

22nd. 65 Greenland White-fronted Geese from the (probably) the Blackpark Marsh hide. Also ringtail Hen Harrier. 

Bird still present today on the White Loch of Myrton, Port William. 

Still present at RSPB Mersehead from the Bruaich Hide today. 

The (probably same) Dark-bellied Brent from Stranraer moved to the fields by the Wig this morning (22nd). A colour-ringed Pale-bellied (as yet not completely read!) is in amongst the regular flock - likely a bird from the NI scheme. E.Grover. Gavin Chambers informs; The/a Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Loch Ryan has been reported with a colour ring which was originally ringed in North Wales in 2018 and more recently associated with Pale-bellys, including in Ireland.

A late set of records from 19th December - 1 Crossbill singing Criffel Forest. Below Drumburn view point - 400+ Pintail, 60 Pinks past, 30+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Red-breasted Merganser. No sign of Scaup! Kinder Loch - 48 Tufted, 56 Greylag, 6 Goldeneye & 5 Little Grebe. Bank End 90+ Whoopers. Brow Well - 2000 Barnacle Geese, 1300 Golden Plover, 200 Lapwing, 300 Dunlin, 4 Goldeneye. John Miles. 

On 14th Nov Pete Berry visited D&G & his report can found via the Mancunians page link but for convenience, it is given below; https://manchesterbirding.activeboard.com/t13255103/dumfries-and-galloway/?page=1#comment .  Sorry for not spotting it sooner! PJ

1 seen on Loch Ryan, off Agnew Park Stranraer. Also a Dark-bellied Brent Goose. 

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

Best birds; 1 Whimbrel, c40 Black-tailed & several Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 RBM. A Peregrine caught an Oystercatcher giving a great display. Awful plastic litter, mainly in the beach "compost". Great weather for a survey 😊. PJ

Greenland White-fronted Goose reports. 16th, 1 at RSPB Crook of Baldoon for the 6th day ;18th, 97 at White Loch (Castle Kennedy 🤔), 4 at West Freugh Airfield, 82 at Blackpark Marsh Threave NTS. 

At Cowcorse Farm fields, 5 Little Egret + ♂️Stonechat around the feeding line of cattle. Southerness, 2 Purple Sandpiper ducking the wind amongst waders on beach just past the boulder promontory heading west. Huge gathering of Knot & Dunlin on east Mersehead Bay sands HT, maybe 10-15K strong. 30 Grey Plover at least & 1 Bar-tailed Godwit & 50+ Shelduck. Many of the Knot later moved to the scars in Gillfoot Bay, c7K carpetting the ground grey. P

Approx 29,000 gulls south down the River Nith past Kirkconnell Merse, to roost on the Solway. At dusk: Herring Gull (c.13,000, of which at least 10% appeared to be argentatus race), Common Gull (c.8,500), Black-headed Gull (c.7,500) & GBB Gull (c.40). Paul Massey. Also Peregrine, c.2,000 Barnacle Geese & c.800 Pink-footed Geese on the Merse. Earlier, 72 Whooper Swans in field near Brow Well. 

Great Northern Diver still present on the White Loch of Myrton, Port William. 

Green-winged Teal still at RSPB Mersehead viewed from the Bruaich Hide. 

Great Northern Diver still present on White Loch of Myrton, Port William. At least 1 ringtail HH at WWT Caerlaverock today. 

16th. 1 seen on the White Loch of Myrton, Port William, 1300. 

4 Twite, 204 Shelduck and 9 Bar-tailed Godwit were the highlights. More detail on my blog:  https://nigelsnature.blogspot.com/ . Nigel Willits. 

2 maybe 3 GWE, c15 - 20 Goosander, 100+ Tufted Duck, maybe 50+ Goldeneye, c30-40 Wigeon, 20-30 Teal, 2 Pintail drake & a good sized murmuration. PJ

RSPB Mersehead. Spotted c150m centrally from Bruaich Hide before flushed to an area nearby but obscured by rushy grass. Also probable ♂️ HH east of Meida Hide. PJ

RSPB Mersehead. Female type to right of Bruaich Hide turning hopping off & on fence posts around gravel store/dump. After reporting at centre, returned to find it gone/moved on 🙄. Same bird as recently perhaps & has stuck around the area. PJ

3 Purple Sandpiper west of Lighthouse, initially among Turnstone but later Redshank, along with 3000+ Knot and 2000+ Dunlin around high tide this morning. Gavin Chambers.

One currently sleeping on wetland from Bruaich Hide at RSPB Mersehead. Male Hen Harrier also flown through. Gavin Chambers. 

84 in fields south of West Freugh Airfield reported. 

Late report of 487 exactly counted on Loch Ryan. 

58 Black Guillemot counted (including two in full breeding plumage), despite it being very hazy. Also Razorbill and Black-throated Diver. E. Grover. 

After going for a wander yesterday, the drake American Wigeon back on the lagoon this morning. Also Great White Egret and Marsh Harrier. Ivan Lang. 

Hooded Crow on lamppost at Annan Road/Brownrigg Road junction. Robbie Purdie. 

3 Brambling were singled out amongst a large finch flock. Large numbers of Crossbill & Siskin, all showing well. In the case of Crossbill, ♀️s seem to outnumber ♂️s. Also noted, Redwing (large flock), Bullfinch (2), Sparrowhawk & Red Kite. Bill Jamieson. 

SEO south across entrance track. Ivan Lang. 

Still present as well as GWE this morning. Ivan Lang. 

1 seen Blackpark (Marsh?) Pool, Threave NTS today. David Hawker. 1 also seen on the merse from the Saltcot Observatory Tower hide, WWT Caerlaverock. 

RSPB Crook of Baldoon. AW returned to the lagoon north of car park. Ivan Lang. A GWE seen there yesterday 5th.

33 seen around Threave Castle yesterday 4th. 

3rd. A female-type Merlin was the highlight at Piltanton Burn estuary this afternoon. Also a Grey Plover and some Bar-tailed Godwits. More detail in my blog. https://nigelsnature.blogspot.com/ . Nigel Willits.

Any gull fans or those hoping to improve ID(!) might be interested in the Gull Guide for North American birds. Have a look via the link for a good price & you can use the code NEW5 for 5% off. https://booksplea.se/the-gull-guide-north-america-amar-ayyash-9780691195896/  

A bird has been seen from Browhouses hanging out with Barnies on the Cumbrian Rockliffe Marsh. So it may jump onto the Scottish side of the Solway at some point... which would be nice 😊 

2 seen from the hide at Wigtown LNR. 

1 bird remains at Mein Water. Bill Jamieson.