A tad wet around Threave today. Still plenty of wildfowl in the extensive floods, including 76 Greenland Whitefronts on the hill east of Blackpark Marsh. Mr Whippy doing good business in Rockcliffe today. Colin Bushell via Twitter

A bit mobile at times but generally fishing not far from or sometimes amongst, the reed edge of Vendace Bay. Had to come away or get soaked. Not the best viewing conditions! P 55°06'54.4"N 3°26'06.1"W https://maps.google.com/?q=55.115108,-3.435031&entry=gps

31/12 Loch Ryan ; one from small car park on south shore; also 2 Great Northern Divers and 200+ Greater Scaup (09:31). Per BirdGuides

Drake Smew is present in Vendace Bay at Castle Loch, Lochmaben still. Great find by Gavins bro. PJ👍

Waxwing briefly trying to get to Mistle Thrush guarded rowan at north end of Maxwell Park (dead end), past entrance to golf club, Dalbeattie. Gavin

Reported as seen from the hide at Castle Loch this (yesterday) afternoon. Per BirdGuides

30 scaup on the incoming tide at Carsethorn along with the drake Tufted X Scaup hybrid (which I believe is a regular...) & 2 female Tufted Duck (don't think they're hybrids). Gavin

Drake(!) reported via BirdGuides at Castle Loch, Lochmaben. Ed. Usually found in the area of Vendace Bay.

4 Purple Sands, a Greenshank and a RB Merganser at Point of Lag yesterday. 12 Greenshank & 36 Pale-bellied Brents in Garlieston Bay. Paul Donald

Ring-tail Hen Harrier. RSPB Ken-Dee, flew from rush pasture on west side just before forestry entrance. Steve Hunt

Possible male Hen Harrier Saturday, Christmas Eve, according to BirdGuides

The Oct & Nov updates for the wandering Loch Ryan Wig blog have been published. I understand that there's a number of rosehip shrubs along the back road off the Carsethorn to Kirkbean road, heading to Nethermill of Arbigland. Waxwing hunters might be wise to check them out. Merry Christmas to you all & many thanks for all the contributions to the effort of sharing bird sightings in D&G during 2022. Cheers 🍻 🎄

Image taken by Michael Marko on 17th December. I've taken the liberty of tweaking & cropping it which hopefully doesn't cause upset 🤞. Another great pic from Michael 😊👍

Showing very well from Bruaich Hide Mersehead from 1445hrs. P

Forgot to mention the 12 scaup offshore Carsethorn first thing this morning. P

Scanned through a few thousand Barnies & found the leucistic bird but nothing unusual. P

Best birds in frustrating lighting through frustrating eyes; 2 whimbrel, c15 bar-tailed godwit, 1 black-tailed godwit, c20 grey plvr, c50 knot, c30 ringed plvr. PJ

Arrived Carsethorn 8:45am to do WeBS & found a single bird around the "bad corner" into the village. PJ

Following Gavin putting the news out spent about 1½hrs watching the female Ring-necked Duck from the Bruaich Hide but distant for photos. Did not see any other birders apart from dog walkers. (I guess Gavin came back for another look in the afternoon when I had departed). Looked for the goose flock this morning between Castle Douglas, Gelston, an Kelton but only saw some Pink-feet in flight & distant. A couple of birders looking for the Waxwings but had failed to see them when we left at 1300. Chris and Pat Baines

All I've heard is second hand info: "A water pipit, put up from water edge by reeds (beyond Bruaich Hide) by a crow." Gavin

13 Scaup currently drifting south past the village on the ebbing tide, 19 on Wednesday. On-going tide seemingly the best time to see them. Gavin

Report from yesterday. Two Waxwings still in Castle Douglas, mostly at St Andrews Drive near the large white house at top of hill , sometimes at St Andrew Street at the usual place... Michael Marko

Late report from yesterday. One found at RSPB Mersehead. Presumably seen from a hide but no further information. Via BirdGuides

A Snow Goose with 340 Pink's west of Loch. See attached map area marked in blue. Also the 2 Waxwing still present in St. Andrew's Street. Ivan Lang Snow Goose (map link)

RSPB Mersehead. Female type Ring-necked Duck from Bruaich Hide at back of wetland this morning. Gavin

The American Wigeon was back on the lagoon north of the car park this morning. Also 60 Twite in car park. Ivan Lang