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.