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Scotland Dumfries & Galloway

Crested Tit Parus cristatus ©Nigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk/

Dumfries & Galloway is well known for the spectacle of over-wintering wildfowl along the shores of the inner Solway Firth. 40,000 ducks, geese and swans and more than 80,000 waders are present during the winter. However, this is by no means all the area has to offer and there are some excellent sites for birding at other coastal sites and inland too. The region has plenty to offer in a variety of habitats all through the year.

Wigtownshire

The Rhins of Galloway
This area is especially noted for seabird colonies and overwintering birds at Loch Ryan. The best autumn sea-watching site in Dumfries & Galloway is at Corsewall Point, at the northern tip of the peninsula.

The Machars
The best birdwatching in this area is along the rocky coastline and the mudflats and saltmarshes of Wigtown bay. Also worth visiting are the moors around Mochrum Loch.

Stewartry of Kirkudbright

There is a very varied range of habitats in this area ranging from high barren hills to fertile lowlands through remote lochs, tumbling rivers, conifer plantation, oak woodlands down to the rugged coastline. Virtually every habitat that Scotland as a whole has to offer in one compact area. This range of habitats means that a great variety of birds can be seen within a short period of time.

The Inner Solway

The Solway flats and marshes are internationally important for 10 species of wildfowl that overwinter, and nationally important for a further 8 species of water and shorebirds. It makes this area the best place in the region to see Scaup, Barnacle geese, Whooper swans, Bartailed Godwit, Knot, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper and Skuas.

Inland Dumfriesshire

The high hills in the North & East are terrific for upland species such as Peregrine and Raven. Numerous rivers and lochs are good for waterbirds and the oakwoodlands good for songbirds. The coast, as always, is the winter home of ducks, geese and waders.

This page brought to you in association with:
The Blue Peter Hotel

…23 Main Street, Kirkcolm Nr Stranraer. – Dumfries & Galloway 01776 853221 mailto:blu3p3t3r23@aol.com

The Blue Peter is a small family run hotel in a quiet sleepy village 5 minutes from the ferry port to Belfast and 8 minutes from Larne.

Home cooked food, real ales and a huge log fire guarantee a warm welcome! Ian & Ruth came because of the abundant bird and wildlife - red squirrel in the garden, a 10 minute walk to the shore for otter and waders via rough land full of warblers with barn owls, peregrine and buzzard all around. Dolphins, seal and whales locally with great walks as soon as you leave the hotel door…

click the picture for website

top sites

Caerlaverock - WWT

Habitats: Farmland & Ponds managed for Wildlife (+ nearby NNR Reserve Saltmarsh & Mudflats). Summer meadows.
Birds: Internationally important wintering Svalbard Barnacle geese. Ducks, waders, peregrine, merlin, hen harrier, short-eared owl, breeding barn owl.
Facilities: Hides and Towers, tea-room and gift shop. Good disabled access (I was allowed to drive to hides and towers - Fatbirder)
Directions: A75 from Dumfries (8 miles); From Carlisle follow Solway Coast Heritage Trail - B724 & B725. Open all year except Xmas day. Admission charge.

Castle Loch - LNR

Habitats: Freshwater Loch, willow and alder carr, oak woodland and grazed marshland. SSSI, SPA & Ramsar site.
Birds: Greylag geese, goosander, other wildfowl - ocassionally smew, Resident Kingfishers, willow tit.
Facilities: Information Boards and leaflets, one hide (no disabled access).
Directions: A709 Lochmaen - Lockerbie Road (Disable viewing from pier). B7020 Lochmaben - Annan Road.

Loch Ryan

Habitats: Sea loch, mudflats and shingle spur.
Birds: Wintering divers and grebes, wildfowl and waders, breeding terns.
Facilities: Information Boards, Toilets [Balyett].
Directions: A77 along the Eastern shore or A718 west from Stranraer and North to Wig Bay for Western shore.

Mersehead Farm - RSPB

Habitats: Lowland wet grassland, saltmarsh, low sand dunes and mudflats. Part of SSSI, SPA & Ramsar site.
Birds: Barnacle & pinkfeet geese, pintail, wigeon, teal, shoveler, hen harrier, barn owl, breeding and wintering waders.
Facilities: Visitor Centre, hide, signposted footpaths, Toilets.
Directions: Minor Road off the A710 at Caulkerbush.

Mull of Galloway - RSPB

Habitats: Coastal cliffs, maritime heath. SSSI, RSPB reserve beyond lighthouse wall.
Birds: largest seabird colony on Mainland Western scotland. Fulmars, Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Kittiwakes, shags, gannets and shearwaters. Breeding twite.
Facilities: Visitor Centre, information boards and footpaths.
Directions: A716 to Drummore then follow signposts on minor roads.

Other Sites

See useful information section for where to obtain very useful leaflet on sites which include: New England Bay, Southern Upland Way, Corsewall Point, Castle Kennedy & White Loch, Luce Bay, Burrow Head & St Ninian`s Cave, Garlieston & Cruggleton Bays, Wigtown Bay LNR, Kirroughtree Forest Papy Ha` Bird Trail, Carstramon Woods SWT, Threave gardens & Wildfowl refuge NTS, Loch Ken, River Dee Marshes RSPB, Milton Loch, Loch Arthur, Mabie Forest, Rockcliffe NTS, Glencaple, Powfoot, Seafield, Browhouses, Hoddom Estate, Glenkiln Reservoir, Whitesands, Ae Forest, Applegarth Wildlife sanctuary, Grey Mare`s Tail NTS. Etc.

contributor

Richard Mearns
Ranger for Dumfries & Galloway Council
Richard.Mearns@dumgal.gov.uk

county recorder

Paul Collin (Stewarty & Wigtown)
Gairland, Old Edinburgh Road, Minnigaff, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, DG8 6PL
01671 402861
paul.collin@rspb.org.uk

Steve Cooper (Nithsdale, Annandale, & Eskdale)
WWT. Eastpark Farm, Caelaverock, Dumfries
01387 770200
steve.cooper@wwt.org.uk

numbers

Number of bird species:?
There are no county birds as such but the obvious one for Dumfriesshire would be Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis

useful reading

The Birds in Wigtownshire

by R C Dickson - GC Book Publishers Ltd. 1992
ISBN: 1872350356
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Where to Watch Birds in Scotland

Mike Madders, Julia Welstead Paperback - 332 pages (May 1997) Christopher Helm
ISBN: 0713644877
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

Birdwatching Leaflet

Produced by Dumfries & Galloway Council Countryside ranger Service
Rae Street, Dumfries, DG1 1LW 01387 260184.

clubs

Scottish Wildlife Trust - Dumfries & Galloway

http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/scottish/www/d&g/whooper.htm
Biodiversity in Dumfries & Galloway - Dumfries and Galloway is largely rural, only around 1.3% of its area can be classed as urban and there is little major industry, other than farming and forestry, when compared to other parts of the British Isles. As a result it contains many areas of wildlife importance now rare elsewhere in the UK, from lowland grasslands to upland heaths and bogs, its rivers, streams and lochs to its woodlands and scrub pasture.

SOC - Dumfries Branch

http://www.the-soc.zenwebhosting.com/dumfries-branch.htm
Brian Smith, Rockiemount, Colvend, Dalbeattie, Dumfies, DG5 4QW 01556 620617

SOC - Stewartry Branch

http://www.the-soc.zenwebhosting.com/stewartry-branch.htm
Joan Howie, 60 Main Street, St Johns Town of Dalry, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, DG7 3UW 01644 430226

SOC - West Galloway Branch

http://www.the-soc.zenwebhosting.com/wgalloway-branch.htm
Geoff Sheppard, The Roddens, Leswalt, Stranraer, Wigtownshire, DG9 0QR 01776 870685 geoff_sheppard@line.net

reserves

Knockhardy - a cottage nature reserve

http://www.knockhardy.org.uk/knr.htm
Situated in Dumfries and Galloway, close to the village of Clarencefield, lies the small settlement of Knockhardy. The cottages are surrounded by field and forest, with the shores of the Solway Firth just a short walk away... ...During the winter months the countryside is dominated by huge flocks of winter thrushes: fieldfares and redwings join large groups of mistle thrushes to roost locally...

Forestry Commission - Dalbeattie Forest

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/wildwoods.nsf/
Dalbeattie forest is one of the most important sites in Dumfries and Galloway for nightjar...

Forestry Commission - Mabie Forest

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/wildwoods.nsf/
During the months of May to July it is possible to hear male nightjar churring near to the specially created clearings South of Dalshinnie Loch...

Forestry Commission - The Forests of Solway

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/wildwoods.nsf/
The Forestry Commission Scotland manages many of the Solway Forests with important species such as nightjar and black grouse in mind...

Nature Reserves in Dumfries and Galloway

http://www.dalbeattie.com/wildlife/reserves.htm
Dumfries and Galloway has many nature reserves. Whilst these are well worth visiting, the extensive Forestry Enterprise plantations of Ae Forest, Mabie Forest, Dalbeattie Forest, the Galloway Forest Park woods at Carsphairn, Clatteringshaws and Glen Trool, offer considerable and diverse birdlife. There are also many areas of cliff and inland crag used as nesting sites. The Reserves protect special or extensive areas, often of wetlands...

RSPB Reserve - Ken-Dee Marshes

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/k/kendeemarshes/index.asp
In spring, migrant redstarts and pied flycatchers join the resident woodland birds...

RSPB Reserve - Mersehead

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/mersehead/index.asp
It is important for wintering wildfowl including barnacle geese, teals, wigeons and pintails...

RSPB Reserve - Mull of Galloway

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/mullofgalloway/index.asp
The cliffs are home to thousands of breeding birds, including razorbills, guillemots and puffins. Visit nesting birds between April and July. Over 2,000 pairs of gannets breed on a small outcrop called Scare Rocks...

RSPB Reserve - Wood of Cree

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/w/woodofcree/index.asp
spring, the wood is alive with the sound of bird song, as the resident birds are joined by redstarts, pied flycatchers and garden warblers from Africa...

Wildlife & Wetlands Trust Reserve - Caelaverock

http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/caerlaverock/
Enjoy a marvellous wildlife spectacle of up to 24,000 Barnacle Geese in winter and daily wild Whooper Swan bird feeds. In spring you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of nesting Barn Owls via hidden cameras, along with Foxes and Badgers. In Summer enjoy the splendour of the wildflowers on the reserve.

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!

2006 [November] - Cygnus Bird Tours

http://www.cygnusbirdtours.com/Brochure/Dumfires%20Trip%20Report.doc
This trip was one for the hardy birdwatchers who like to see the spectacle of winter birds and enjoy evenings relaxing around a raging fire nicely satisfied with good wholesome Scottish cuisine. Because the days are growing shorter the birds tend to be more active as they need to feed more to stay alive during the colder nights. This proves to be better for us birdwatchers as we benefit from an increase in bird activity. We use our knowledge and experience to go to the best places to see the birds...

2007 [March] - Mike Graham

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/scotland/Galloway/Galloway-april-2007.htm
...Parts of the beach were very rocky and a maximum of 25 Oystercatchers, 6 Curlew, 4 Redshank and 2 Ringed Plover were seen on any one day. On the bushes around the bay, Yellowhammer, Stonechats and Linnets were common. A Redpoll was spotted one morning. There was a Wheatear near the lighthouse and Rock pipits were seen on the way up to the cliffs were a Peregine was hunting. There was a Raven and numerous Red Leg Partridges...

tour operators

Birding Pal

http://www.birdingpal.org/Unitedkingdom.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

places to stay

Bailey Holiday Cottage - Ardwell, Luce Bay, South Rhinns

http://www.reidsholidays.co.uk:80/
If you are looking for a complete get-away-from-it-all holiday where relaxation is the only thing on the agenda, then Bailey Holiday Cottage is just what you've been looking for...

Blackyett Mains B & B - Gretna Green

http://www.blackyettmains.co.uk/
Tucked away down a secluded road in its own grounds of fifteen acres, discover a haven of peace and quiet. This beautiful barn conversion has been transformed into a stylish bed and breakfast only four miles from Gretna Green. The individually designed rooms offer king size beds with luxurious bedding, television and hospitality trays. Minutes along the road is Gretna Green and its world famous Old Blacksmiths shop and marriage rooms, which makes Blackyett an ideal base for those planning to take their vows. We have a wild life area with a pond and two resident geese which attracts birds,so if you are interested in birdwatching you can try out our hide...

Blue Peter Hotel - Kirkcolm, Wigtownshire

http://www.bluepeterhotel.co.uk/index.htm
Now under new management for 2005. Ian and Ruth Murray - the new owners of the Blue Peter Hotel - give a warm and friendly welcome to all who wish to stay at the Blue Peter Hotel. This is a bird watchers and wildlife paradise...

Cowans Farm Guesthouse

http://www.cowansfarmguesthouse.co.uk
Kirkgunzeon, Dumfries, South West Scotland, DG2 8JY Telephone: 01387 760284 Fax: 01387 760602 - Centrally based in Southwest Scotland, Cowan`s makes an ideal location for a one-stop holidayor a stop over stay for those venturing further North. A family run business awaits you for a truly relaxing and tranquil break, our motto is to provide all guest with a stress free time to remember Lying in rural solitude the guesthouse is some 8 miles west of Dumfries, set in a beautiful natural landscape overlooking the gentle rolling countryside.

Crown Hotel

http://www.thecrownhotel.co.uk/
Owned by the McCall family since 1966, The Crown Hotel offers guests the best of modern comforts to compliment the features and tradition of the building.The hotel itself has a wonderful location in the heart of Castle Douglas, directly opposite the Markethill Park and car park. This central position provides the ideal base for anyone visiting the area, whether on business or purely for pleasure. - They are setting up special deals for groups and Birdwatchers are one of the Interest areas they are catering for.

Glen Caple Cottages

http://www.glencaplecottages.co.uk
Glensone and Pitcairns cottages are 18th century traditionally built self-catering holiday cottages, situated in the picturesque village of Glencaple, Dumfries & Galloway. Both of our cottages have been refurbished to an excellent standard...

Mill Cottage - Shawhead Nr Dumfries

http://www.millcottagehol.co.uk/
Mill Cottage is a charming, detached cottage in attractive rolling countryside near Dumfries. The cottage sits on the banks of a stream in the garden grounds of Old Mill House. It has its own fully enclosed garden with access to a picnic spot at the foot of Barnsoul Bridge. There are attractive rural views across the surrounding countryside... Contact: Chris & Mike Hughes. Old Mill House, Irongray, Dumfries, DG2 9SQTel: +44(0)1387 730417

Orroland Holiday Cottages

http://www.orroland.com
Situated in wooded farmland overlooking the Solway Firth with access through ancient woodland (SSSI) to rocky seashore, home to a range of migratory birds. Location: Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway, SW Scotland

Powfoot Holiday Cottages

http://www.powfootholidaycottages.co.uk
Purpose-built at the turn of the 20th Century as a holiday village, we offer a choice of two lovely late-Victorian cottages in the picturesque village of Powfoot, on the Solway Coast, for either weekly holiday let, or short break rental. Both properties are directly on the sea front, and have uninterrupted coastal views, as well as offering very stylish holiday accommodation...

Radcliffe Cottage

http://www.radcliffecottage.co.uk
Radcliffe holiday cottage offers spacious and comfortable accommodation in a quiet rural village setting close to the Solway Firth and makes a great base for touring Dumfries and Galloway...

Steamboat Inn B&B - Dumfries

http://www.bedandbreakfast-directory.co.uk/info.asp?id=883
Coachloads of visitors come from as far away as Liverpool to watch the birds here and at nearby Nature Reserves...

The Douglas Arms, Castle Douglas, Kirkudbrightshire

http://www.scottishholidays.net/client/001-001-500.html
Once an old coaching house situated in the heart of the historic market town of Castle Douglas the hotel provides a warm welcome, comfortable rooms and tasty food. The superb location gives easy access to the RSPB nature reserve of Ken/Dee Marshes, an area of stunning woodland and managed wetlands. Bird watchers can hope to see spotted woodpecker, pied flycatchers, redstarts, spotted flycatchers, willow tits, wood warblers in the spring and summer. The winter attracts Greenland white-fronted geese and various species of duck, also mammals including otter, roe deer and red squirrel. Red kites have been reintroduced to the area and the clearly signed Galloway Kite Trail can be followed from the town. The Douglas Arms is offering Fat Birder website visitors a special discount from October to March of £29.50 per person per night bed and breakfast, subject to availability.

The Old Exchange

http://www.theoldexchange.com/
The Old Exchange is nestled in the heart of the beautiful National Trust Threave Estate, set on the nature trail that links the internationally renowned Threave Gardens to the magnificent historic ruins of Threave Castle. Our luxurious, newly converted apartments in the old exchange building are close to Castle Douglas and the A75 making it the perfect place for touring the region and for a peaceful country break in South West Scotland...

mailing lists

Dumfries and Galloway birding

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DumfriesandGallowayBirding
To post to list:DumfriesandGallowayBirding@yahoogroups.com
List contact:DumfriesandGallowayBirding-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:DumfriesandGallowayBirding-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
This group is designed for the sharing of Dumfries and Galloway bird sightings, Dumfries and Galloway birding discussion and anything bird related that is relevant to Cumbria!

Birdwatching on the Solway Firth

http://home.freeuk.net/margaretwalker/Pages/birdwatching.html
The glories of the Solway are many fold - but the reason most birders (and it still really is undiscovered) come here is for winter watching of geese, barnacles particularly, and its wildfowl (scaup a speciality!). Read below an extract from Birdwatch magazine extolling the wonders of the birds of the Solway Firth...

Mull of Galloway

http://members.tripod.com/Eric_V/scotland/fauna3.html
The Narrow peninsula of Mull of Galloway, leading to the Irish Sea and the Isle of Man. Its very rocky end is famous for the rich ornitholigic fauna (see the sea birds page) that lives here.

The Solway Firth

http://www.snh.org.uk/scottish/dumfries/solwayfirth.asp
The Solway Firth can be a wild and sometimes treacherous place, and only recently have people looked on it as a place of quiet contemplation and pleasure. Previously, the firth`s shifting sands and muds were more or less known only to those whose livelihoods depended on them such as the wildfowlers and the fishermen. The poke nets and haaf nets that you can still see catching salmon on the Solway today are unique to these shores and together with the stake nets, have been used by local fishermen for almost a thousand years.

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