15th am. Woodcockair, Hoddom. ♀️Pied Flycatcher showing well at woodland edge. ♂️Redstart a different proposition however, calling high up in the beeches & oaks. I lost my old records due to a recent house move, but I am sure the earliest I’ve previously had them here were the 23rd & 18th April respectively. Also notable were Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker a soaring Sparrowhawk. Bill Jamieson.

14th. For those who don't subscribe to the paid-for bird news services, one has been reported from along the towpath at Kingholm Quay today. 

Sizeable loose groups of Swallows and House Martins heading up the Cree and Penkiln today. Norman Fry. 

A couple of Black-tailed Godwits feeding in a shoreside field at Balyett. Still a few Scaup, Goldeneye and a Slav Grebe off Broadstone. Guillemots both Black and Common. Also Sandwich Terns. Nigel Willits. 

A very windy and, at times, very foggy morning at the Mull of Galloway. Meadow Pipits, Stonechat, Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake and Herring Gull. 1 Sparrowhawk and my first Wheatear of the year. RobW. Ed. We are grateful to Rob for some great images! Makes you want to be there  😊👌

Special offer on foot passenger ➡  Stena Line foot passenger flash sale . Well worth buying in advance... 

Dipper at Kirkhouse Fishery & Sand Martins back at the sandpit behind Kirkbean Comm Hall. 2 RBM & 2 Whimbrel on Carsethorn foreshore with 4 Swallow over. 6 Scaup (4 drake) & ♂️Aythya hybrid in Carse Bay. Also 500 or more strong flock of Linnet in muddy field at Arbigland. No Twite etc spotted amongst them. PJ

5 Willow Warbler, Blackcap & 1 Tree Pipit. Also present, pair of Nuthatch, pair of Buzzard & a pair of Red Kite, Mistle & Song Thrush & countless Chiffchaff. Rob Wadsworth. 

Male seen in the Langholm area on the 8th. 

A Greenland White-fronted Goose was with 15 pink-foots at Barnkirk Point this afternoon, also notable were 3 Common Sandpiper and 1 Wheatear. Bill Jamieson. 

Great White Egret still present at Castle Loch. Also 3 singing Willow Warbler & 35+ Sand Martin. Paul Massey. 

Paul Massey reports; Newbie (14:55-16:30 hours): c.65 Kittiwake E @ 15:30 hours & 2 Great Skua E @ 15:54 hours. 

Common Sandpiper (2), Wheatear (3 males), a small number of Twite, a Willow Warbler and a Tawny Owl. Bill Jamieson. ( Ed. A couple of weeks ago or so, I failed to report that Ian Irving had seen a Red-throated Diver there. 🙄 oops!) 

9th a.m.; Drizzly, dull & rather windy walk along the path from Garlieston to Galloway House. Amongst the usual woodland birds: The flooded fields on the approach to Garlieston yielded several dozen Swallows along with several Sand Martin. Many Chiffchaff were seen as well as 4 Blackcap on the shore path. 57 Pale-bellied Brent were on the foreshore in the village & 1 red-throated diver further out. Also present, a large flock of Redshank along with 4 Greenshank. Rob Wadsworth. 

Chris Sutton reports; Willow Tit seen & heard calling today at the Corridoo at NX68062970. I have recorded them at this end of the forest in August 2020 (2 birds) & Jan 2019 (not visited this spot much since). I suspect there is a small breeding population here. Supporting cast of Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Siskin & Chaffinch. But no Crossbill today (usually a good site). 

First Pied Flycatcher heard calling on the reserve this afternoon. Willow Tit singing near Otter Platform. Gavin Chambers. 

2 on the Stab Pool at Carnsalloch, Nith. Later moved to the river shingle, where 3 were seen. Also Little Egret, 2 Sand Martin, Grey & Pied Wagtail, Med Pipit, several Buzzard, several spinning-displaying Goldfinch. PJ

Pair of Willow Warbler at the Isle of Whithorn. Many Chiffchaff. Rob Wadsworth. 

First Osprey of the year on the reserve. Interestingly appeared to have a white wing tag on right wing. If anyone knows any tagging scheme, I would be interested to get information on bird. Too distant to see any lettering. Ivan Lang. Osprey overflew Whithorn area this day. 

Whimbrel and Peregrine on the estuary above Kirkcudbright yesterday 7th. Barry O'Dowd. 

7th. Common Tern reported present at Threave & yesterday (6th), 6 House Martin at Wigtown LNR, apparently. A Common Tern also seen over Palmallet Loch, Whithorn. 

There were 10 Scaup (6m, 4f) lingering offshore when I got back from Mersehead at around 1pm. The flock didn't include the drake hybrid but I did spot it yesterday evening with 5 Scaup. Suspect this weather is pushing a few more into the bay. Gavin Chambers. 

Very high tide but some interest; a few Swallows & Sand Martin over the bay. A small flock of White Wagtail through. Out on the bay a single Sandwich Tern & a couple of Gannet. Ivan Lang. 

Stopped by to see if the HT had come over the top of the sea defence with the wind but not quite. Birds marooned on what was left of the shingle spit above water. Maybe 25-30 Ringed Plover & a Turnstone plus Oyster's, c30 Bl-t Godwit in the air above Carse Pow, 1 Sandwich Tern on shoreline & 5 Scaup (3 drake, 2♀️) + poss ♂️Tufted hybrid. A couple of sub-ad Gannet flew by at Powillimount & a couple of windswept Rock Pipit. 

My view on this Hooded type is that it is a Hybrid. The apparent blackness of the rump/uppertail coverts and dark speckling of the grey mantle feathers are a typical sign of a hybrid. It's harder to see in the photos, but the undertail coverts also appear dark and they should be a nice grey colour like the mantle and breast. Photo attached hopefully shows what I mean, the upper photo being Rob's and the second borrowed from the internet. Gavin Chambers.

4 Scaup (3m, 1f) lingering off Carsethorn, a Swallow overhead & a Harbour Porpoise worryingly trying to swim up the estuary on the outgoing tide and only just offshore. Hopefully its found some good feeding and will swim out when needed. Gavin Chambers.