Carlingwark - redhead Smew, 56 Little Grebe, Kingfisher, not many Tufted Duck. Auchenreoch - 83 Tufted Duck, 38 Goosander, 1 juvenile Scaup, 1 drake aythya hybrid. Milton - 123 Coot, 10 Gadwall, not many Tufted Duck. Gavin.

2 adult drake Surf Scoters at Rascarrel Bay. With flock of Common Scoter fairly close to shore off luxury lodges. Robbie Purdie.

October review posted today. awanderroundthewig.blogspot.com [ http://awanderroundthewig.blogspot.com ]

Drake amongst Tufties at the town end of Carlingwark Loch.

Take a look at this activity I've found on the RSPB website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/tell-the-uk-government-they-must-do-better-for-nature   DO IT NOW!!

Bro saw a chiffy at WWT Caerlaverock on 25th.

Recap. 25th. Greater Scaup (9), Surf Scoter (3) "3 adult drake: 1 Balcary Point, 2 Rascarrel". Common Scoter (600). Common Greenshank (1). Red-throated Diver (10). Grey Wagtail (1). Rock Pipit (8). Ross Ahmed.

Water Rail (1). Hen Harrier (1), "Ad male" today early doors. Ross Ahmed.

Redhead today seen at south-western end of Carlingwark Loch. 3x 1st-winter Gtr Scaup still & Kingfisher. Ross Ahmed. 

24th. Caerlaverock NNR, 20 Twite somewhere. Castle Loch, single Kingfisher. 25th - Auchenreoch Loch, Greater Scaup. Ross Ahmed. A ringtail Hen Harrier was on the merse & ad ♀ Peregrine sat on post at WWT Caerlaverock seen by Chris Baines. 

Auchenreoch Loch, drake Aythya hybrid still. Castle Loch, 2 GWE around the edge. Caerlaverock NNR, Brow Well, Curlew Sandpiper on Lochar Water & from presumably Hollands Hide, 1 GWE & 1 Ruff. Latter amongst lapwings. Also found 3 drake Surf Scoters today along the Balcary to Rascarrel coastline. One distant from Balcary and two together off the cliff tops west of Rascarrel. With Common Scoters. Ross Ahmed.

I've some mixed feeling about "Country Sports" but blood-sport it should be correctly accredited to be. I can understand shooting pigeons and corvids, given the majority of landscape just so happens to benefit them, but some duck and goose, and woodcock and snipe, certainly NOT. Rough Shooting – Galloway Country Sports [ https://gallowaycountrysports.co.uk/rough-shooting/ ]. Is this activity allowed on the Carse Bay merse north of Carse Pow? Isn't that area the SWT reserve of Drummains Reedbed? So do SWT allow it or do they have no say in this inappropriate activity for the location (IMO)? PJ

Large number of waders today & virtually no gulls. Usual Whimbrel, c500-1000 Dunlin, c500 Knot several Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Grey Plover, c15 Snipe. Carse Bay. Wandered to the bench at Carse Pow. No Shorelark or Snow Bunting! Fabulous male Merlin failing to catch a wader, 1 Greenshank, Peregrine over back fields, GC Grebe, plenty Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, couple of RBM, maybe up to 1000 Dunlin & probably a few Twite seen.

A bird reported at Lochar Water, Brow Well today. A Peregrine was at Southerness yesterday per Rosie Filipiak.

Checked through the flock of Teal between Garlieston and Rigg Bay but no sign of the GWT. Nice to see fly by Med Gull and hunting Merlin. Ivan Lang. 

22nd. Rosie Holdsworth reports; "Male Hen Harrier quartering over the marshes, viewed for approx. 10 minutes".

Forgot to mention 3 Purple Sandpipers at Southerness Point yesterday 22nd midday. Initially to the east of lighthouse before moving west. Gavin.

Green-winged Teal found in Rigg Bay, Garlieston this pm.

Today. Returning ♀ Blackcap. 

Hooded Crow on lampost at junc with Brownrigg Loaning today at 1050. Lorna Lomas.

A bird has been recently reported in the broad area linked. The Raiders Road is closed for the winter, not reopening until Easter 2026. Viewing is only possible by walking along the old railway track walk, passing Stroan Loch. Attempted to find the bird with Robbie P & Chris B today, but no bird found in the clear sunny conditions. Stonechats, Buzzard, a few Reed Bunting & a flock of Fieldfare being the few birds seen. General area of Airie Burn.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/wzPuhhuimfpAnGaVA

Report of a bird in voice at Castle Loch, Lochmaben. Heard on the western side of the loch.

3x 1st-winters still on town end of Carlingwark Loch. Drake Aythya hybrid on Auchenreoch Loch.

Singing Cetti's Warbler from Meida Hide, plus Water Rail, 2 leucistic Barnacle Geese & c.15k Starlings in to roost. Paul Massey.

1st-winter Scaup on Auchenreoch Loch, plus 2 drake Aythya hybrids, 35 Goosander & 16 Little Grebe. Nearby, 108 Coot on Milton Loch. Paul Massey.

A lovely winter's day at the Crook with 9 spp of raptors with 3 Hen Harrier, SEO, 2 Merlin, Barn Owl, Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 3 Red Kite and Peregrine. Ivan Lang. 

Green Sandpiper (2), Common Sandpiper (1), wintering for the third successive year. Great White Egret (1), a first for this route, large numbers of Fieldfares, with only 2/3 Redwing mixed with them, but the surprise was a remaining Chiffchaff at Upper Brydekirk. Bill Jamieson.

Flock of finches with Brambling Lochfoot to Lochanhead Road. Anna White. 

Well, if there's no black showing on the brown cap still coming to the Mainsriddle garden, we must have a wintering female taking the apples. PJ.  The male in our garden in Glencaple showed briefly on the 12th. I didn't post the information as it didn't stay for long enough for anyone else to see it. This definitely confirms that is is a wintering bird. Best wishes, Duncan Irving. 

Despite early report this morning, it's not been found 10am+.

Found again on the beach at RSPB Mersehead this morning. 

Shorelark has been found on the same beach but at the opposite end on RSPB Mersehead (which is now open after recent road flooding). This lunchtime at approx NX91525522. Park at reserve and walk down track to beach from corner of cottages. Gavin. 

Started with a walk down Southerness beach & found zip. Back road to Kirkgunzeon from Auchenskeoch, maybe 50+ mxd Redwing/Fieldfare flocks. Milton Loch, 2 GC Grebe, a few Tufted Duck, maybe 25 Goldeneye & c100 Coot. Auchenreoch Loch, 1 drake prob Scaup x Tufted hybrid amongst c30 Tufties. Loch Ken, 1 Kingfisher, c100 pfg. Carlingwark Loch, 30-40 Goldeneye & 3 juv/1st-winter Scaup, though looking small to me. However, staying together & part of group of Tufted Duck at the town end. PJ

3x 1st-winter Scaups, 74 Goldeneye & 35 Little Grebe. Threave NR: 94 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 131 Pink-footed Geese & 15 Whooper Swans in to roost on Blackpark Marsh at dusk. Paul Massey.

Barry O'Dowd reminds us that the reserve is now closed until the 19th November.

Chris Baines saw a Swallow hawking along the Southerness beach & a Water Rail, plus a Rose-ringed (Ring-necked) Parakeet around the Gillfoot Bay/Powillimount car park area.

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Male and ring-tailed Hen Harrier hunting over the field south of the car park. GWE briefly on merse at lunch then flew south. SEO also reported late afternoon. Ivan Lang.

A late Swallow west along the beach at Carsethorn, plus Whimbrel & Chiffchaff (collybita). Paul Massey.

A bird again in Carse Bay 3pm+, feeding with Redshank along rising tideline near Carse Pow outlet. Typically deeper wading with longer legs, sweeping head feeding pattern. PJ. 

Ambled beyond the original location of the Shorelark but nothing. Couple of Rock Pipit, several Stonechat on the golf course, 2 dead goose bodies & 2 live Barnies perhaps heading the same way on the flats. Carse Bay had a Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, Peregrine & hunting Merlin pre 3pm. PJ 

No sign of Shorelark at Southerness Point this morning, but flyover singles of Snow Bunting & Twite. Paul Massey.

2 Ruff in Lapwing flock, 4 GWE on the merse, juv Marsh Harrier & ad male & fem Hen Harrier, Merlin & Med Gull. Ross Ahmed.

2 GWE at Kirk Loch. 3 Kingfisher, 2 Gadwall, 4 Whoopers at Castle Loch. Ross Ahmed.

In the dry interlude c11am, found the bird just after the last cottage west of Southerness lighthouse on the beach. Had a good but gale-blown view of it. It was on its own. Returned to car for camera but soon the wind strengthened more & brought driving rain. No chance of a pic. It mosied along the beach west & then east but the weather defeated us both. The bird had linked up with a couple of skittish pipits & I lost it. Certainly needed the "waterproofs"! I wouldn't recommend trying to find it until after this spell of wet!! Glossy Ibis...?? Not with my luck. Ventured down the beach in the next dry interlude but no bird found. Diver spcs in Mersehead Bay but bins not that powerful!

2 Pochard at Milton Loch. 1 Kingfisher at Auchenreoch Loch. Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Snipe, Grey & 10 Golden Plover and a fly-by Kittiwake at high tide at WWT Caerlaverock. Ross Ahmed & Connor Fraser.

I dashed for Shorelark when I first heard of it. Got there at 16.30 in the gloom and did find it. The Ibis was reported while I was watching the lark and didn't get back before dark! Same observer as the Lesser Scaup finder. Gavin. 

This morning 2 Brambling and 2 Yellowhammer over at the Crook. This evening a 2-Owl dusk with a SEO and a Barn Owl. A Woodcock calling from the gloom. Ivan Lang. 

Shorelark on the beach between Southerness Point & RSPB Mersehead boundary (or near!). Plus Glossy Ibis?! 

Meida Hide, RSPB Mersehead - This afternoon, 2 Cetti's Warbler heard, male Hen Harrier, female type Marsh Harrier and c10k Starlings murmurating before roosting in reeds. Gavin. 

Connor Fraser reports ; Hen Harrier & 2 GWE from Avenue Tower hide plus a further GWE from Saltcot Merse Observatory hide.

WeBS at the Crook had a good selection of species with the highlight the first Woodcock of the season. Also a Great White Egret, Hen Harrier and good selection of waders. The Starlings putting on a good show with in excess of 10,000. Ivan Lang. 

Auchenreoch Loch. Lesser Scaup female still present giving excellent views through the trees at the car park next to Inn on the Loch. Ivan Lang. Ed. Is this what we have had at Auchenreoch Loch?  https://youtu.be/yscayzXKl6A?si=BhlV59f2ylC0n-D_

7th. Max & Ben Gibson have seen ; Short-eared Owl early doors from Castle Corner. Also 2 Stonechat. At WWT, Peregrine, Fieldfare & Redwing, Tree Sparrow, Grey Wagtail (& also around The Caul from Whitesands, Dumfries).

A Peregrine was mobbing a Short-eared Owl over the lagoon south of the car park. Ivan Lang. 

Castle Loch ; Very little & any Bittern present a no-show this pm to 4pm. Apart from a flyover GWE, 3 GC Grebe, c50 Wigeon, c40 Tufted Duck, about half a dozen Goldeneye, c12 Mutes, 2 Goosander. Kirk Loch ; probably the same GWE fishing well in town corner showing v well. Also c15-20 Tufties, c12 Goldeneye, c10 Goosander, 9 Mutes & a few Wigeon.

 

My first bird this season in the Mainsriddle garden. Splendid male👌. Brown cap & male Blackcap still too.

2 birds reported at Soulseat Loch (Stranraer-ish) last Saturday, 1st.

The usual Dumfries Hooded Crow in a garden along Annan Road, opposite Brasswell Car Sales (east of Brownrigg Loaning). Paul Massey.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Lady Bay, Loch Ryan, today. Initially calling in first large tree on right if walking back up track. Gavin pp Alyn Chambers. 

Browny still coming to the pears today in the Mainsriddle garden.

Bittern & Great White Egret both present, plus 26 Goldeneye, 94 Tufted Duck & a roost of c.1,500 Starling. Paul Massey.

Brent Goose (Pale-bellied). 211 reported Nov 02, 2025 10:42 by Dominic Mitchell at Soleburn, Loch Ryan. Ed. Dominic's been on tour & reported a pair of Greater Scaup on Auchenreoch Loch. I suspect they're one of the drake hybrids & what is surely the ♀ Lesser Scaup.

Followers etc. If you aren't seeing all the messages sent to Bluesky, follow the link and select 'Latest' tab.  https://bsky.app/profile/dgbirdnews.bsky.social/search

At least 40 Greenland Whitefronts at Threave Estate. Seen from Upper Marsh hide 1120-1300. Also 1 Willow Tit. Linda Gibson.

3 GWE still at WWT Caerlaverock & 1 from Drumburn viewpoint. A Marsh Harrier at WWT Caerlaverock & 2 at RSPB Mersehead seen from both hides. Reports by Elizabeth Olgilvie, Steve Milner & Geoff Begg.

Spotted Redshank remain at Barnkirk Point. 2 birds this morning, on the river opposite the steel works, still on site when I left at 1230. Bill Jamieson.

1st. Other than the confusion Aythya ducks, there were c20 Little Grebe, c30 Goosander, single Gadwall, a hybrid Canada Goose & c12 Mandarin flew in & swiftly disappeared behind the willows at the southern end. I understand someone breeds them beyond the southern end of the loch?

Auchenreoch Loch. I reckon there could be 3 birds. There's 2 with clean white flanks & 1 with dirty grey & also with a dirty grey/brown mantle. The 2 pictured are hanging out with what I thought was a Tufted & always a very close 3some. Due to the size difference, I think the o/a nicely chocolate brown female could well be a Lesser Scaup ♀. The 2nd clean white flanker is hanging out with a bigger tufty flock. All 3 males are identical otherwise, with principally green sheen but purply nearer the bill base & depending how the light catches the head. What do you think?

Late pm, very little & the few duck there were, were all at the western end with the swans. Very odd. However, a Kingfisher darted over the water & I got good close views of an Otter, swimming across the loch & into the Carlingwark Lane Canal & away.

20 seen at WWT Caerlaverock yesterday, 31st.

Marsh Harrier (1). Reported Oct 30, 2025 15:41 by Anonymous. From Bruaich Hide RSPB Mersehead. "Female, perched on a fencepost some distance from hide". Ed, def a female? Hen Harrier (1). Reported Oct 31, 2025 10:57 by Anonymous. WWT Caerlaverock, from Campbell & Avenue Tower hides.