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.

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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. 

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 ]