Today was spent driving up to Dumfries and Galloway and visiting a couple of sites as the start of a trip to West Scotland. Like most of the UK it was bright, sunny and dry.
Our first venue was a short stop at Mabie Forest, a Forestry Commission area south of Dumfries. Common woodland birds and a stretch of the legs was all that was required and we then moved on to Southerness Point. Here it was high tide and the pick of the waders roosting on the rocks were a couple of Whimbrel. Good numbers of Arctic and Sandwich Terns were fishing in the Solway here and passing birds included Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, Puffin, Guillemot and Razorbill. A small pod of Harbour Porpoise were relatively close in.
After dawdling around the emerging sands and rock pools, we headed off a little to the west to visit the RSPB reserve at Mersehead, generally a winter venue for the Barnacle Goose. No Barnies today though, and common birds showing well included Lesser Redpoll, common warblers and small numbers of waterfowl and waders.
The weather forecast looks OK for tomorrow, and we hope to spend some time in the Stranraer area.
Regards
E & N
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull Southerness |
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| Ringed Plovers Southerness |
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| Sandwich Terns Southerness |
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| Chaffinch Mersehead |
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| Lesser Redpoll Mersehead |
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| Lapwing Mersehead |
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| Rook Mersehead |
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