Page 4 - Out Birding Spring 2023

Event Reports
Please send reports as a Word a􏰁achment or in the body of an email to Pat: pat.cro􏰀on@b􏰃nternet.com
Dumfries & Galloway weekend 29-31/10/2022
For this weekend event we stayed at Craigadam, c.10 miles west of Dumfries. As we arrived on the Friday evening nine Red Kites were circling over the car park, which provided a nice welcome. A􏰀er various travel issues we all eventually arrived and got se􏰁led in.
Despite the forecast, we were up early on the Saturday morning. Maureen joined us and in two cars the seven of us headed first to Loch Ken. This RSPB reserve has Green- land white-fronted geese in the winter but, unfortunately, we were too early for them. The highlight here was a Marsh Harrier, but it flew off low out of view before most folk had seen it. There were lots of small birds in the hedgerows to look at though, including one Brambling amongst the dozens of Chaffinch. We kept walking, in the hope of finding a Willow Tit (we didn’t), despite the rain steadily ge􏰂ng heavi- er. But we were hardy souls and even though we were ge􏰂ng a good soaking we s􏰃ll stopped to look at a Raven calling from a treetop and to enjoy the Goldcrests and Redwings by the track.
We then took a drive through the Galloway Forest Park en route to Wigtown. A􏰀er a warm up in a café we went to Wigtown harbour. Parking our cars carefully so they wouldn’t get submerged by the rising 􏰃de, we made for the cover of the bird hide. A couple of Whooper Swan took off just as we arrived. Out on the saltmarsh there was a good sca􏰁ering of Li􏰁le Egret and some distant Pink-footed Geese. Most of the waders were a long way off, but some came closer as the 􏰃de rose, including a nice flock of Dunlin. A group of seven Greenshank amongst the Redshank was also note- worthy.
Driving back east, the rain became proper stair rods but happily it had stopped by the 􏰃me we reached Castle Douglas, so we nipped to Carlingwark Loch for a final stop. The usual waterbirds were here, including nearly 30 Li􏰁le Grebe, one Great Crested Grebe and some distant Goldeneye. We then headed back to base before enjoying some well-deserved pub grub.
We were up and away early again on the Sunday morning. The clocks had changed but no extra hour in bed for us. First stop was Dalbea􏰂e Forest, with Crossbill our target. We managed to get a single bird flying over. As well as the woodland birds, Neil got us looking at the fungi and the spiders, though the red squirrel we saw was hard to beat. We then had a short stop at scenic Rockcliffe village, before con􏰃nuing round to RSPB Mershead.
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