3 ♀️ Scaup & single Greenshank hanging around the Carse Pow inlet low tide.

Rogun Wolhuter has seen a Kingfisher at the caul as well as the usual waterbirds there, inc Grey Wagtail.

FYI the November update was issued on Dec 21st. https://awanderroundthewig.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-gift-of-birds-report-for-november.html?m=1

Steven Cooper has got a Marsh Tit coming to his garden feeders at Langholm. Single Brambling too. Very good news 😊👍. Lucky Steven! Images © Steven Cooper. Question is, how do we explain the pale wing panel if it's a Marsh? The tail end is obviously forked, a Willow feature.  Other features do indicate Marsh. Lack of an obvious bull-neck (though I think there's a partial bull), blending cheek into breast. Is it possibly a hybrid?  Are the pale wing panels an aberrant Marsh feature? Responses received say that the guide books aren't reliable & Willow features, in particular pale wing panels are NOT exclusive to the Willow. Other features suggesting Willow are also considered variable, so given the overall elements for ID, MARSH TIT is what it's considered to be. 

No, not Goose Drones but the UK-wide influx of the Russian White-fronted Goose continues in D&G with at least 2 still off Watchall Road, Annan. Chris Baines has a picture or 2 of some.

Rogun Wolhuter has seen a GWE preening in the reeds there today.

27th. Ross Ahmed has found ; Greater White-fronted Goose 10 (Ed. Russian?), Pink-footed Goose 400, Common Goldeneye 5, Red-breasted Merganser 3, European Golden Plover 40, Northern Lapwing 300, Ruff 1 - In fields with Northern Lapwing and European Golden Plover, Peregrine Falcon 1, Meadow Pipit 6, Rock Pipit 2.

Seen half-past midnight off M74 by Gyorgy Szimuly. https://maps.app.goo.gl/yXJ3pngbyUh1g3KGA

27th. 6 reported seen from Watchall Road, Annan. Fields south of the Tesco supermarket or thereabouts. 

Christmas Day. Female type Scaup, 40+ Goosander, 15+ Goldeneye, 40+ Tufties, 22 Cormorant at west end usual Canada's and Greylags, Redwings feeding in roadside hawthorns. Ian Bainbridge.

Great White Egret seen there today by Mark Humphreys.

RSPB Mersehead. Due to a lucky flushing of the duck onto open water,  I saw the American from Meida Hide. All too briefly though, as it resited itself out of sight in the rushy grass! Approx here; https://maps.app.goo.gl/mtaabo5XgYzdiUz26

Weekend-style golfer & fishermen presence. Maybe 20 Goldeneye & under 10 Wigeon. 1 GWE here;  https://maps.app.goo.gl/eyenbUVPgcqwkmrF6

Rather dire today for c1-2hrs. 1 GWE in Vendace Bay, 3 Whoopers, c30 Canada's, c100 Wigeon, c20-30 Tufties, c15 Goldeneye, possibly 20+ Teal - some hidden amongst reed edges, 1 Goosander + Mallards, Cormorant, couple of Coot or so inc Heron, several Swan. Anything else hidden or elusive.

Alyn has had a Snow Bunting over the Mull of Galloway heading for lighthouse (not sure if it stopped or not). Gavin. 

RSPB Mersehead. Drake allegedly seen today but eluded my eyes yet again. Not in plain sight.

Just 1 Purple Sandpiper seen on the point with a couple of Grey Plover & Little Egret. 13th golf tee, c500-1000 Dunlin, a dozen or 2 Sanderling, several Knot, Rock Pipit & at least 22 Grey Plover. Huge amounts of timber washed up & usual trawler/farmer plastic etc. Appalling. 

Carlingwark Loch still. Presumably the SW swan corner nearest to Threave Gardens entrance.

Long-tailed Duck on Loch Magillie - unusual (locally) to see away from Loch Ryan. E.Grover.

Green-winged Teal on wetland, seen from Meida Hide but it's much closer to Bruaich Hide if its visible. Also 2 calling Cetti's Warbler from Meida Hide. Gavin.

Last visit for this year. Saltcot Merse Observatory Tower hide. Marvellous male Hen Harrier perched up to give extra fine view in front of the hide. Pair Peregrine hunting together I think as in close proximity. Just 1 GWE also in front of the hide. c50+ Golden Plover. Nothing unusual but apparently a Black Redstart seen at "the Avenue (Loaning)". On the board but no date shown. Very well publicised, not (AFAIK). 

8 Green Sandpiper are currently at Mein Water. No sign of wintering Common Sandpiper this morning but was noted here last week. What I'm not getting, however, is the numbers of Fieldfares and Redwing usually associated with the time of year. Bill Jamieson.

GND still at CL today.

13th. If the bird's still here at Mersehead, it's hidden in the snoozing throng. Nice Greenshank from Bruaich Hide.

12th. In roadside trees, Simon Pinder saw a Little Owl along the B725, Hetland to Clarencefield road. Mr Baines saw an imm GND at Castle Loch. Also 4 GWE there. 

On wetland at RSPB Mersehead. Seen from Meida Hide but flew towards Bruaich Hide and still visible from Meida. Gavin. 

An imm seen off The Isle of Whithorn today.

2 Greenshank, 1 ♀️ Scaup, 1 Merlin in the chase over the merse. Usual Whimbrel off Carsethorn, several Black-tailed Godwit, a few Knot & the leucistic Oystercatcher which has been there a few weeks now or so. Oystercatcher seem wary & skittish, broadly keeping together.

Charles Bennett has seen 2 Marsh Harrier put up a load of geese on the merse from the Saltcot Merse Observatory Tower hide.

RSPB Crook of Baldoon. Grey Phalarope flying south on high tide. Ivan Lang.

1 bird still present at least at Rascarrel Bay today.

Auchenreoch. Drake Aythya hybrid still. 57 Goosander. Maybe 30-40 Tufties but no Wigeon or Teal at all. Goldeneye & Little Grebe yes. Milton. No duck at all apart from Goldeneye & lots of Coot! Too mild in D&G?

Garlieston. Flying around the bowling green and near-by houses. Ivan Lang. 

14 Tree Sparrow in stubble field at Glenlochar, by cross roads. Gavin

Carlingwark Loch. Redhead still but hanging out in the calm SW Swan corner. Under 10 Tufties, c50 Goldeneye & Dabchick. High water levels everywhere. https://maps.app.goo.gl/YCzgo6xTghBNwfTt6?g_st=am

The wow-billed drake duo still appearing at Rascarrel Bay today. For the local circular walk route, see here;  Balcary Bay and Rascarrel, near Auchencairn - Route Map Arrived at 10.30am to find the c300 flock of Common Scoters off the luxury lodges slightly off to the west. No surfs obvious. I walked west up onto the cliff top and watched from there and it wasn't until 1pm until they miraculously appeared together within the flock. They and the flock moved around quite a bit afterwards but they all returned to their favourite spot close in before I left close to 3pm. Kingfisher below the cliffs zipped past and an Otter was feeding off the rocks. Gavin. 

Male & female again today in Mainsriddle garden. Male & male GSW taking fallen fruit.

Jock Hughes nearly ran one down on Birset Road, Dalton. Rob Wadsworth; "We did similarly on B7005 on Tuesday evening".

2 drake still at Rascarrel Bay west end. Birds came in at 1315 on the falling tide. Clearly low tide is when the scoter feed on the mussel bed at the western end of the bay. Note all. Prior to this I spotted an Otter at the eastern end on a rocky promontory. I thought I had the American Black again but one of the harassing gulls sent it under & I lost it to the wind driven waves. Difficult viewing conditions to say the least.

Alan Ritchie says there's a Red-throated Diver on Castle Loch, Lochmaben this morning. Ed. Rare there!

2 Surf Scoter still present. Ivan Lang.

See here; Climate Resilience Fund Appeal | WWT

2 birds still present at Rascarrel Bay but Black Scoter not found. No report of the Grey Phalarope either.

Here's a pic which shows 1 bird with & 1 without the white forehead. 1 bird without a sub-adult perhaps??

Rascarrel Bay. The 2 surfers and what I believe, a (American) Black Scoter.  Note that there's NO available parking space at the end of the road to "Farhills". Roads are PRIVATE. There's a forest access path half-way down the road and space for a couple of cars there. See; https://maps.app.goo.gl/6p79WtYqExpoawC28 The path takes you to the rocky shore I believe and it's a fairly short walk once you arrive at it. Alternatively, having parked there, walk along the road & turn left for the 5 ⭐ lodges. PJ.

Male & (I suggest) ringtail Hen Harrier from Saltcot Merse Observatory Tower Hide, plus GWE. Reported by Jock Hughes today.

Report from Paul Massey.  Loch Kindar: Tufted Duck (51), Goldeneye (male) & Little Grebe (7). Balcary Point: Velvet Scoter (male). Loch Mackie: Teal (67). Rascarrel Bay: Surf Scoter (2 male) with Common Scoter (350+) flock close inshore off new cabins. Grey Phalarope (1) on sea off original cabins. Peter: I had the phalarope after you left!

Paul Massey found a Velvet off Balcary Heughs. The 2 ad ♂️ Surfs remain at Rascarrel Bay. I left Paul Massey to check what I believe may be an American Black, due to the bulbous yellow bump on the upper mandible, right down to the lower. PJ 

5 ♀ Scaup low tide. 1 of them in Carse Gut. PJ.