8 still at RSPB Mersehead. Opposite field 16A! Thanks to Calum Murray for directions 😊👍 Approx location on 22nd. https://maps.app.goo.gl/4iqabvu7WEJ6sGZ89?g_st=am Some poor record pics. As per Calum, there's 2 families of 4. So 4 ads & 4 juvs. Adults were protective of the juvs, chasing Barnies away now & then.

Late pm visit. 63 Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel & 3 Snipe on the foreshore. Also a Greenshank on the sandflats pools opposite village. Quite a number of birds pre return tide. Usual others, lots of Redshank but couldn't spot anything xtra special. Fabulous flat-calm water conditions turned to a gale force wind within 15 mins. Startling!

Yellow Wagtail (Grey?) at Carstramon Wood & Tree (Meadow?) Pipit at RSPB Wood of Cree. Rather late for TP & a photo would be required to convince anyone of the YW. Otherwise, Redwing & Twite at Cairnsmore of Fleet NNR & Redwing at Raiders Road.

Report of a Hobby hunting along a line of fence on the merse. Plus GWE.

8 Russian White-fronted Geese at RSPB Mersehead this afternoon in the rain. In fields just south of the visitor centre.  Gavin. 

In my years of birdwatching, female-type post-breeding Hen Harrier, known as a ringtail, is used to identify a bird which is either a female or a juvenile, unless female can be confirmed. It is generally accepted that females ARE ringtails, as their tails have rings! However, when it comes to identification in the field, it is usually impossible to separate female from juvenile, so when seen, they are reported as ringtails. They are either/or, as can't be determined by the observer. A ringtail HH has been seen along the Caerlaverock NNR off Shore Road, on the way to Castle Corner, or thereabouts. 

Barn Owl off the A701 north of Moffat overlooking the Devil's Beef Tub. 100 Twite at Drummore. 4 Willow Tit & 13 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Mains of Duchrae. Cetti's Warbler still & Marsh Harrier at RSPB Mersehead.

18th. Still with the Goldies in Garlieston Bay area.

A notable 32 Gadwall, plus few Wigeon, Little Grebe etc. Ian Bainbridge.

16 Whooper Swan on Caerlaverock NNR somewhere & at Loch Connell. About 20 Scaup at Stranraer but the claim of a Lesser Scaup; "mxd flock of lssr, greater & Wigeon" sounds dubious to me (or we have an unprecedented arrival of lssr!). Knot, Eider, Turnstone, Golden Plvr, RBM & other usuals also reported. Gc Grebe, RTD & GND at the Wig. Whimbrel, Ruff & Purple Sandpiper allegedly at Luce Bay sands. Peregrine, Bonxie & Manxie off the Mull of Galloway. Manx Shearwater & Fulmar off Corsewall Pt. 4 Redwing at Kirkconnell Flow NNR.

A bird reported off the Wig amongst the pale no doubt.

Possibly same Marsh Harrier at both locations & 60 Twite at the Crook.

Cetti's Warbler heard & Willow Tit seen apparently in the Hollands Hide reserve area. 2 GWE & ringtail & ♂️ HH continue their presence at contiguous WWT.

Again with Golden Plovers in the Garlieston Bay harbour area today. 

Stairhaven, 22 Comm Scoter, 6 RTD. Luce Sands, 12 RBM, 13 Grey Plvr, 1500 Golden Plvr, 60 Curlew, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Greenshank, 15 Knot. 2 Dipper, 11 Redwing, Grey Wagtail at Moffat.

RSPB Crook of Baldoon, 27 Grey Plvr, 60 Twite & Marsh Harrier. Ken-Dee Marshes, a remarkable 7 Willow Tit reported. Kingholm Quay south, 52 Little Egret, 52 Goosander, Barn Owl & 12 Lssr Redpoll. WWT, 4 Gadwall, 40 Golden Plvr, Snipe, 8 Knot, GWE, Marsh Harrier, 2 ringtail & ♂️ HH, Merlin, Peregrine & Stonechat. Raiders Road, Peregrine & Redwing. Dumfries at The Caul, Kingfisher & at Crichton Park 3 Redwing.

Spotted the attached on Bluesky showing a Ruddy Shelduck with Barnies off the Northumbrian coastline earlier this week which has presumably now arrived on the Solway. Gavin. 

A bird reported at WWT with Barnacle Geese east of the Saltcot Tower Avenue, nearest the Peter Scott Observatory. Also ringtail HH. A ringtail HH over & a Kingfisher at, Whitefield Loch Wigtownshire. Kingfisher on the Annan at Annan. Peregrine at Rockcliffe. Hooded Crow reported west of Thornhill plus Redwing & Fieldfare. Redwing near the Nith at Drumlanrig.

White-tailed Eagle reported as if at Browhouses on 10th. 30 P-b Brents at Garlieston 11th. Kingfisher & Grey Wagtail at Milnfield Cottage, river Annan at Annan. Redwing around Thornhill. Dipper near the Annan distillery, seen falling about...

Garlieston towards Rigg Bay (between 2nd and 3rd gates), Sunday Oct 11th 12.45-13.30 just before high tide. American Golden Plover still present with 100+ Golden Plover, 200+ Dunlin, 30+ Redshank, 8 Greenshank, 25+ Curlew, 20+ Turnstone. The plovers dispersed at high tide, some remaining near the roost site, others over the far end of the town beach. Also pod of Dolphin around 2.30. Report & pics © Mike Smith.