Again seen at RSPB Crook of Baldoon. The male Osprey showing well at Threave NTS & a Goldcrest seen carrying nesting material. Peregrine on the castle. Great birds but overall an underwhelming visible wildlife visit.
Redhead still in wintry conditions at southern end of Carlingwark Loch. 4 GC Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, c25 Tufties, maybe 30 each Wigeon & Goldeneye. A return visit inc a darting Kingfisher from Carlingwark Lane, where around 20 or more Sand Martin appeared & were hawking amongst the trees in just that location. Another dozen or so were hawking over Auchenreoch Loch late pm. Most waterfowl moved out.
A Simplified Birdwatcher’s Code of Conduct The welfare of birds must always come first. Do not damage habitat. Keep disturbance to a minimum. Never disturb birds at the nest. Keeps sites of rare breeding species confidential. If you feel protection is necessary, inform the SOS; we have close co-operation with the RSPB Regional Office. Do not harass rare migrants. Consider all the circumstances very carefully before making the sighting known. If necessary keep the sighting secret until the bird has moved on. Abide by the legal requirements of the Wildlife & Countryside Act and other legislation at all times. Respect the rights of landowners. Obey the Countryside Code . Respect the rights of other birdwatchers and other countryside users. Keep records of important ...
Still at RSPB Mersehead this pm. Duck busy dabbling in the open. Fem Marsh Harrier plunged into the resting waders hoping for a catch but failed except in scattering the birds.
Best birds 10 Scaup. A bit offshore being drawn in with the tide from Southerness way, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit & 1 Grey Plover. Numbers well down but may also be due to the goose cannon! In the village shore gardens a Chiffchaff & at the North Carse defence boulders, a smart ♂️ Wheatear gave me great close views. My first this season.
22nd. Caerlaverock NNR; GWE, 6 Chiffchaff & 150 Golden Plover in Castle Corner merse zone. Cetti's Warbler showing very well from the Back 'o Woods bird hide, accessed from the Castle Corner car park. At Browhouses, 5 Avocet & 25 Whooper Swan on the Scottish side. 14 Whooper near Brow Well. Grey Plover at Newbie Barns. Stonechat at Glencaple.
Mr Osprey of course sorting out the nest at Threave NTS. 5 GWE still & a Gadwall at Castle Loch. Cetti's¹ Warbler, 350 Golden Plover, 5 Chiffchaff at least at Caerlaverock NNR & a Cetti's² at Castle Corner. Footnotes, Q: ¹"Right at the end of the track & start of the boardwalk loop." ²"Seen very well just off the path in reeds immediately north-east of the Back o' Woods hide."
Luce Bay, east shore near Shore Cottage, 8.50am. Rob W. Location; WhatThreeWords ///cakes.decoded.udder https://maps.app.goo.gl/GXGagbSwcF3nEPtZ6 DG8 9RT
The Cackling Goose just flown overhead with group of Barnacles at Martyr's Stake Wigtown, but visibility bad. Also one Purple Sandpiper at IoW (Isle of Whithorn). Ivan Lang.
" Ring-billed Gull still present off the Scar. A brief sighting of an Osprey today was a delight. Some Red-throated Divers, Slavonian Grebes & Long-tailed Ducks are looking stunning in full breeding plumage, with many more transitioning. A pair of Goosander were unusually at the Wig this morning. The woods are alive with birdsong (including several Chiffchaff & my first Blackcap yesterday). Still some Redwing present, and some of those have started singing as well! Oystercatchers & Ringed Plover displaying on the beach. Pied Wagtail passage is occurring, with mostly males so far & my first White Wagtail of the spring at the Wig Fields today." E.Grover.
I can only hope that Natural England's delight in putting more people in the way of sensitive coastal wildlife is mitigated by the coastal paths AVOIDING the same.