Dumfries & Galloway

• Caerlaverock - WWT

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  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

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  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

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  Habitats: Sea loch, mudflats and shingle spur. Birds: Wintering divers and grebes, wildfowl including sea ducks 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

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  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

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  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, 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.

• Paul Collin

• Paul Collin

  Gairland, Old Edinburgh Road, Minnigaff, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, DG8 6PL

  pncollin@live.co.uk

  01671 402861

• Number of bird species: 319 (+ 32 escapees)

• Best Birdwatching Sites: The Solway: Cumbria/Dumfries and Galloway

  | By John Miles | Buckingham Press | 2010 | Paperback | 240 pages, maps | ISBN: 9780955033933 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Where to Watch Birds in Scotland

  | By Mike Madders & Julia Welstead | Christopher Helm | 2002 | Paperback | 297 pages, b/w illustrations, maps | ISBN: 9780713656930 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birdwatching Leaflet

  Produced by Dumfries & Galloway Council Countryside ranger ServiceRoss Gemmell - Annandale and Eskdale Ranger, Planning and Environment, Militia House, English St, Dumfries DG1 2HR - Telephone

• Mersehead Moorhens RSPB Wildlife Explorers

  Information
  Join the Mersehead Moorhens for loads of wildlife fun around this coastal reserve with its own working farm. Most suitable for children aged 8-12, under 8's welcome but should be accompanied by an adult. Contact: Sherrie Bintein 01313174177 rudyandsherrie@aol.co.uk

• RSPB Galloway Local Group

  Webpage
  This is the website of the Galloway Local Group. RSPB local groups are a great way to meet friendly, like-minded people in your area while learning more about birds and wildlife.

• SOC Dumfries Local Group

  Webpage
  Venue: Cumberland St Day Centre, Dumfries (off Brooms Rd Car Park), DG1 2JX. Contact: Lesley Creamer, Braeside, Virginhall, Thornhill, DG3 4AD, 01848 330821

• SOC Galloway Local Group

  Webpage
  The Scottish Wildlife Trust Galloway Group has 300 members throughout Dumfries and Galloway in southwest Scotland. Our main objective is to promote local wildlife and habitats by engaging with our own members, the general public, local landowners and local planning authorities.

• SOC Stewarty Local Group

  Webpage
  Venue: Kells School, New Galloway, DG7 3RU Contact: Joan Howie 01644 420 280

• SOC West Galloway Local Group

  Webpage
  Venue: Stranraer Library, North Strand Street, Stranraer, DG9 7LD Contact: Geoff Sheppard 01776 870 685

Abbreviations Key

• BFT Carrifran Wildwood

  WebsiteSatellite View
  The 1500 acre valley in the Moffat Hills was bought through the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers and the help of many generous supporters. On 1st January 2000 the purchase was completed, entry to the land gained and the first tree was planted at Carrifran. Since then over 600,000 native trees, all from local provenance stock, have been planted in the valley.

• BFT Corehead

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  Corehead is a 1,580 acre (640 hectare) hill farm in the Southern Uplands, Dumfries & Galloway. The iconic Devil’s Beef Tub, Hart Fell Shoulder and the source of the River Annan sit within its boundaries. The Devil’s Beef Tub, a cavernous hollow in the hills where the notorious Border Reivers once hid their stolen cattle, is one of the most iconic landmarks in the South of Scotland.

• FC Dalbeattie Forest

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  Dalbeattie forest is one of the most important sites in Dumfries and Galloway for nightjar…

• FC Galloway Forest Park

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  Galloway Forest Park is a paradise for wildlife watchers. Its a colourful place - look out for red squirrels amongst the trees, red deer silhouetted on the skyline and golden eagles soaring overhead. There is even a viewing platform for black grouse beside the Carrick Forest Drive.

• FC Mabie Forest

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  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…

• NT Grey Mare's Tail Nature Reserve

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  Grey Mare’s Tail is a superb example of a hanging valley and is important for its rare upland plants and wildlife. The area boasts a rich human history as well, dating back to at least the Iron Age. It has strong links to the 17th-century Covenanters, who used Watch Knowe as a lookout point in the valley to keep an eye out for government troops.

• NTS Threave (Blackpark Marsh)

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  During winter flooding the marshes can attract large numbers of waterfowl including Greenland White-fronted Geese, also good area for raptors, deer, otter. In summer breeding Osprey and Peregrines.

• Nature Reserves in Dumfries and Galloway

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  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 Crook of Baldoon

  WebpageSatellite View
  (SW side of Wigtown Bay) The Crook of Baldoon is a coastal reserve of 196 hectares lying within Wigtown Bay. Since buying the reserve, the RSPB has restored farmland and a willow crop to wet grassland. This provides a breeding habitat for lapwing and redshank, as well as increasing the richness of other wildlife. Saltmarsh, grazed fields, lagoons and extensive mudflats. An intergral part of Wigtown Bay important for wintering Pinkfooted Geese, Barnacle Geese and Whooper Swans (Dec-May) best viewed after the shooting season (21st Feb onwards) when they become more settled. Migrant and wintering waders.

• RSPB Ken-Dee Marshes

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  In spring, migrant redstarts and pied flycatchers join the resident woodland birds, Greenland White-fronted Geese in winter and resident Red Kites

• RSPB Mersehead

  WebpageSatellite View
  It is important for wintering wildfowl including barnacle geese, teals, wigeons and pintails…

• RSPB Mull of Galloway

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  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 Wood of Cree

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  In spring, the wood is alive with the sound of bird song, as the resident birds are joined by Common Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers, Wood Warblers and Garden Warblers from Africa…

• SWT Blackcraig Wood

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  Blackcraig Wood is a rich woodland of oak, birch, ash and wych elm clinging to a sea cliff. Buzzards soar overhead and the oak canopy supports the elusive purple hairstreak butterfly. In spring, bluebells, ivy and great wood-rush carpet the ground beneath hazel, rowan, holly and hawthorn.

• SWT Carsegowan Moss

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  Carsegowan Moss is one of the best examples of a lowland raised peat bog in Galloway. Cranberry and bog rosemary grow in the Sphagnum carpet; the large heath butterfly lives here and adders bask in the heather. Hen harriers, merlins, short-eared owls and barn owls can be seen occasionally hunting across the bog.

• SWT Carstramon Wood

  WebpageSatellite View
  Carstramon Wood is one of the largest semi-natural broadleaved woodlands in the area. The oak trees were once used for making charcoal and supplying the local mill with bobbins. Nowadays, the trees provide lush conditions for ferns and lichens and breathtaking bluebells in spring.

• SWT Drummains Reedbed

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  Coastal reedbed, saltmarsh and mudflats with wildfowl and waders on the Solway Firth. The reserve is part of the Solway Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

• SWT Fountainbleau Ladypark

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  Situated on the site of the old Black Loch and within walking distance of Dumfries, Fountainbleau Ladypark is a low-lying wet birchwood. The reserve is a haven for birds, including woodpeckers, willow tit, willow warbler and teal, which visit during winter.

• SWT Knowetop Lochs

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  Knowetop Lochs is a small, diverse upland reserve. Two small lochs are separated by a ridge of birch woodland fringed by reed-swamp, bog and willow scrub, with areas of wet and dry heath. Much of the reserve is marshy with willow thickets and conifer shelter belts are slowly being converted to broadleaved woodland.

• SWT Southwick Coast

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  Southwick Coast is a stretch of coastline with wooded cliffs and extensive saltmarsh. A viewpoint in the meadow provides breathtaking views over Mersehead and the Solway. A path leads through the Needle’s Eye, a natural wave-cut arch, to the saltmarsh.

• SWT Stenhouse Wood

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  Stenhouse Wood is an ancient deciduous woodland of ash, wych elm and oak lining the side of Shinnel Glen. The ground flora includes mosses, lichens and wildflowers. The unusual white flowers of toothwort, which grows on the roots of hazel and elm, are visible in spring.

• WWT Caelaverock

  WebpageSatellite View
  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.

• D&G Bird News

  Website
  Welcome to this simple bird sightings information reporting platform. Please submit your sightings for others to share in the joy & experience of seeing birds (or other wildlife) in Dumfries & Galloway. Go to the hidden side-bar menu link (≡) top left of screen to 'Submit a Sighting'. 😎Thank you😎 © D+G Bird News (DGBN)

• D&G Bird News Mailing Group

  Mailing Group
  Not set up as public access so all enquiries from interested & essentially active birders, via email

• D&G Birding

  WhatsApp Group
  Contact via Alan Tilmouth's website

• Dumfries & Galloway Wildlife & Birding

  Facebook Page
  For all those interested in the wildlife of this beautiful Scottish county. Report sightings and get help with identification.

Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…

• 2007 [03 March] - Mike Graham

  Report
  …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…

• 2010 [05 May] - David & Amanda Mason

  Report
  …Whilst driving we also came across Wheatear, Stonechat, Yellowhammer, a single Hooded Crow, 3 Whimbrel, a pair of Curlew and a lone hunting Peregrine…

• 2010 [06 June] - David & Amanda Mason

  Report
  On 8th & 9th June 2010 we returned to Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway to visit several of the gardens we had seen earlier in the year, to enjoy the early summer colours. Glenwhan Gardens in particular are stunning at this time of the year and are still ringing with the song of Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Several pairs of Yellowhammer are resident here and Buzzard are regularly seen drifting overhead. Whilst visiting Dunskey Gardens we popped in to nearby Portpatrick harbour for Black Guillemot…

• 2015 [03 March] - Christopher Hall

  Report
  ...More glorious sunshine for our visit to the Ken – Dee Marshes RSPB reserve, not far from Castle Douglas, where early sightings include Red Kite and a couple of Goosander. Deeper into the reserve, we enjoy close views of Bullfinch and Nuthatch, followed by Blue, Great, Coal and Willow Tits on the same feeder, right in front of the hide! Meanwhile, a really cute Red Squirrel is waiting for us on our way back to the car park. By now it’s time for lunch at nearby Bellymack Farm, where a growing congregation of Red Kites gathers in time for the 2pm feed. Initially a dozen or so kites are joined by more and more of these graceful raptors, which whistle and play in mid air in anticipation of a free lunch. By feeding time, there must be at least one hundred and fifty kites hanging in the air around the farm, ready to ‘drop in’ for lunch by swooping down at speed to snatch meaty morsels dished out by the farmer. What a fabulous show.

Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…

• Caerlaverock Accommodation

  Accommodation
  Estate cottages and etc.…

• Kirkennan Holiday Cottages

  Accommodation
  Kirkennan Holiday Cottages, Palnackie, are located in one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in Dumfries and Galloway, South West Scotland. Discover the woodlands, wildlife and sandy shores of Dumfries and Galloway, explore the hills and coast.. handy for Caerlaverock Reserve...

• Orroland Holiday Cottages

  Accommodation
  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

• Steamboat Inn B&B - Dumfries

  Accommodation
  Coachloads of visitors come from as far away as Liverpool to watch the birds here and at nearby Nature Reserves