We'd had our eye on a public footpath from Southerness to Carsethorn for a few days as it passes through some of the few woodlands in the area, so today we decided to give it a try. We spent the morning on foot, walking the 3+ miles through mixed woodland and farmland, taking a lunchtime bus back to Southerness. Half-a-dozen Cossbills were the most notable birds on the Arbigland Estate, but many other common birds like Bullfinch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Filedfares, Redwings and a Brambling overhead kept us amused.
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Back at the point we saw something rare in D&G - another birder! Chris Baines had just been to see the Annan American Golden Plover - good to meet you Chris.
Later in the afternoon we headed off to Loch Ken where we saw at least 30 Greenland White-fronts. There could have been more among the mounds though. We finished the afternoon a Milton Loch in hope of a rare Aythya but drake Scaup was the best I could do so we headed to Auchereoch Loch where the best thing was chocolate pudding and coffee in the hotel!
We'd had our eye on a public footpath from Southerness to Carsethorn for a few days as it passes through some of the few woodlands in the area, so today we decided to give it a try. We spent the morning on foot, walking the 3+ miles through mixed woodland and farmland, taking a lunchtime bus back to Southerness. Half-a-dozen Cossbills were the most notable birds on the Arbigland Estate, but many other common birds like Bullfinch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Filedfares, Redwings and a Brambling overhead kept us amused.
.jpg)
Back at the point we saw something rare in D&G - another birder! Chris Baines had just been to see the Annan American Golden Plover - good to meet you Chris.
Later in the afternoon we headed off to Loch Ken where we saw at least 30 Greenland White-fronts. There could have been more among the mounds though. We finished the afternoon a Milton Loch in hope of a rare Aythya but drake Scaup was the best I could do so we headed to Auchereoch Loch where the best thing was chocolate pudding and coffee in the hotel!
