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.

3 at Southerness HT, just passed the defence boulders bulge west of the lighthouse.

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. 

35 at Loch Ryan & 2 still (♂️&♀️) at Castle Loch.

4 Rock Pipit at the Isle of Whithorn, 3 sumplum Slav Grebe & 1 Sandwich Tern + Red-throated Diver at Loch Ryan.

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

A Green Woodpecker & Hooded Crow (🤔?) in the Barstobrick area. 5ea of Fieldfare & Redwing east of Kirkpatrick Fleming.

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. 

A bird with Barnacles from the Martyr's Stake at Wigtown. https://maps.app.goo.gl/mmJSHiKUBpaEqTRy9

" 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.

Nearly 250 Whoopers moving north through Wigtown Bay today. Also GWE, Merlin & Jack Snipe. Ivan Lang. 

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.

A bird sadly flushed this pm from the River Nith at Carnsalloch. https://maps.app.goo.gl/QBzHc11VvqooLBxS9

Probably same dozen Sand Martin that overflew Castle Loch hawking over Kirk Loch. Maybe 30 Tufties, 50+ Wigeon, c25 Goldeneye, 2 Mute Swan.

Drake & I think imm ♀ Scaup, 5 probably 6 GWE. c12 Sand Martin over at 1555 flying north. 300+ Wigeon, c50 Tufties, c20 Goldeneye, 4 Little Grebe, 1 GC Grebe, c20 Shoveler, c15 Goosander, Reed Bunting, Buzzard, at least 31 Mute Swan, uncounted Heron but at least 5, Teal, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard.

60 Scaup, Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot at Stranraer end & 6 Bar-tailed Godwit at the Wig. All a reminder of some of the delights to be found there.

Started at Southerness but all winter visitors bar 1 Turnstone gone. Just Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher & gulls. No migrants. A better 3hrs at Meida Hide at Mersehead. Good views of ♂️ & ♀️ Marsh Harrier. A Chiffchaff half way to the hide with metal ring on right leg was my first this season. Another found along the main track back to the farm. About 5pm spotted the Green-winged Teal out dabbling in line with the "road liable to flooding" sign. Would've been a closer view from the Bruaich Hide. However, I decided to stop by that hide after 6pm & had a good view of it in sleep mode not too far away. Record pics att. Not a bad few hours 👍

3 Avocet this pm on ebbing tide, showing well but conditions cold and blustery. Bill Jamieson.