Sneaked up a bit higher this time in Scotland stayed just outside of linlithgow, so had good views of the Spotted sandpiper.
stunning flocks of Velvet scoter and Longtailed ducks by the dozen, also divers and waders.
but no other birders, great place is bonny Scotland for birding.

Just spent Xmas up there,managed to see the Cattle Egret,Little Egret,refound a Blue Snow Goose,Red Kite near my caravan,lots of raptors,Merlin,Hen Harrier,Spar,Peregrine,Kestrel,Red Kite.Several thousand Pinks,Brents,Greenland Whitefronts and Greylag.One day birding Loch Ryan produced 1 GND,3 BTD,30+RTD,8 Long Tailed Ducks(5males in full plum)25+Slavs,RB Mergs,Common Scoter,800+ Scaup,1000+Wigeon,Teal,Mallard,Pintail,Gadwall,Black Guillemots,Eider,Goldeneye,Brent Geese,Tufted Duck,200+ Twite,plus a nice selection of common waders,all in all not a bad days birding.

I'm fortunate to have an Uncle who lives on the Solway (and is also a birder) so a couple of days up there in blissful weather and a tour guide was great.
At Caerlaverock the bitterly cold weather (-8 overnight) had frozen over all the water but for one small circle which held a concentrated group of ducks and Whoopers. The Barnacles, 4000+ of them roamed the area providing a great spectacle as they searched for patches of slighty less frozen ground! The weather had forced a lot of birds further out onto the unfrozen stretches of water and a look over the estuary of the Nith confirmed this with 1000's of Dunlin and smaller numbers of other common Waders and seaduck. 100+ Twite roamed the near Saltmarshes putting on a great show as the tide came in, tumbling in a rising and falling flock low over the marshes.
I must thank you all for posting your sightings from the areas as I wouldn't have heard about the Red Kite feeding station which was another brilliant spectacle. It took a good half an hour for the birds to gain confidence and swoop in on carrion especially put out for them but the sight of 40+ Kites gliding lazily overhead like vultures was just great.
Thanks. Henerz.

Just come back from a weekend up there myself.Found a new Blue Snow Goose with 800 Pinks,and 90 odd Greenland Whitefronts at West Freugh,plus Merlin and male Hen Harrier.On Loch Ryan had 65 Pale Bellied Brents,900 Scaup,lots of Slavs,few Red Throated Divers,several thousand Wigeon,500+Twite, a Little Egret and several Toasties(Tysties),and Barn Owl were the pick of the bunch.

-- Edited by pete berry at 16:37, 2007-12-04

No unusual geese at Caerlaverock this weekend - many bypassed the reserve as it is quite flooded and spent the days inland - as are the Whooper Swans, less than 40 on the reserve at present.

Tried the Eagke site. Pulled up to see a large raaptor drift north across valley - by the time I got outr and on it it was very distant and briefly re-appeared behind a hill. I'm 95% certain it was an eagle but frustratingly we couldn't nail it.

40 + kite at the feeding station including birds from other release areas.

Othe highlights include male Hen Harrier at Caerlaverock and 50+ Twite at Glencaple.

Thanks again for the tip.

Could be three birds present. Birduides report a Lesser Canada on 22nd Oct and a Richardson's the following day at Mersehead RSPB..

Hi Jason,

unfortunately I don't allow photos on the forum and try to keep working links off too, basically there's too many websites and forums had problems with such things and I tend to find myself very careful about them now, coupled with the fact that I'm still pretty new to this stuff yet.

I would be more than happy to give the photos their own page on the website however and can add comments or produce a full article on it/them if necessary, just let me know as I wouldn't mind seeing the photos for myself although out of all birds, Canada Geese are not my best subject I have to admit

My email address/phone numbers are on the website either way.

I have checked the photos of the Taverners compared to the photo i took of the Richardson's and it appears there are 2 birds present. The Taverners shows a paler breast and longer neck compared to the Richardson's which has a darker breast and shorter neck.
I will try to post pic and your comments would be appreciated.

cheers
jason



-- Edited by jason atkinson at 18:39, 2007-11-26

Birdguides report a Taverner's Canada Goose with Barnacles by the approach road of Mersehead RSPB today.

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 23:25, 2007-11-25

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 23:26, 2007-11-25

Hi Jason,

It would be about 08:10 - 08:15 am.

K

Hi Kane.

At what time yesterday morning did you see the RBG ? we arrived at WWT around 9am checking the approach fields but only saw Barnacles.

cheers
jason

Hi Jason,

The Red Breasted goose was present yeseterday with around 350 Barnacles in field O5, the one that the Silver and Gold Hide looks over. I also saw it again this morning on my way into work again with Barnies just at the top of the lane. It turned up at the right time as we have got a girl over from Bulgaria, who is studying Red Breasts and is hoping to create a ''Caerlaverock'' over there!

Cheers K

Hi Rob

Went to Mersehead RSPB today and connected with the Richardson's Canada Goose with around 100 Barnacle Geese, it was in the field just before the end of the road and very easy to see.
Then went to WWT Caerlaverock but failed to find the Red-breasted Goose, also tried Kelton and the surrounding fields but just more Barnacles, 1 Pinkfoot broke up the barrage of black and white.
Good luck when you go ...

cheers
jason

Many thanks - might try it this year.

We went to Mershead last year - great little reserve and top marks to the warden who push started my car after my son flattened the battery listening to the football on the radio with the heater full on!!

Hi Rob,

The Golden Eagle site is on the minor road from Laurieston to Gatehouse Of Fleet.Park on the open road on the moorland and look north up the valley at approx.NX650 650.Its only worth going if the weather is clear and its worth giving it an hour or so as the Eagles are far ranging.Its only about 20mins away from the Red Kite feeding station.When I called a couple of weeks ago we had 40 Red Kites in the air at one time.Feeding time is 2pm,but the birds start gathering earlier than that,check out the trees around the farm.The area around Clatteringshaws Loch west of New Galloway has lots of conifer plantations along theA712 which can hold large nos. of Crossbills,worth checking if you have the time,the area just below the dam wall usually produces the goods.Pete

The RSPB reserve Mersehead is also well worth a visit - very close views of Barnacles and all sorts of other birds.

Mike

Pete,

Heading up to D & G for our annual trip to Caerlaverock in early December.

Would be interested in details of the Eagle site if possible as we usually have a trip out one day to make a change from looking for Lesser Canada's and the like.

There's also a good site for Golden Eagle not far from the Red Kite trail,if anyone is thinking of going up there I know the area very well as I have a caravan on the shores of Luce Bay and spend a lot of my time up there..There's a good Harrier roost,lots of winter divers,Slavs and sea duck on Loch Ryan,plus all the geese except Beans.Its well worth a couple of days up there in the autumn or winter.Also as Paul says its birder free,you've got the whole county to yourself.If anyone wants any gen feel free to contact me.Pete Berry

-- Edited by pete berry at 18:51, 2007-08-28

A great area in the winter for wild Greylag, Barnacle, Pinkfooted and Whitefonts.
Also Barn Owls and Red Squirrels near the hides alongside Loch Ken

Had a break north of the border but its hard work up there..especially in a caravan with two kids, not a great deal found but had dipper, kingfisher, grey wagtail, buzzard and raven every day. but had an excellent day out on the Galloway Kite Trail on the A762 near Laurieston take the B795 and a small farm on the left does a feeding station every day at 14.00 at least 25 kites seen on the day I went, views down to 20foot. also buzzard and ravens pus good views of merlin. worth a drop in if in the area never saw another birder the whole time i was there when out and about must be loads of stuff not seen, check out the New Naturlist book 101 Galloway and the Borders. more seen at spurn in one day then my whole holiday list sorry I missed out. stay happy and keep birding.