The road into the hills just outside Laurieston, 21 December 2007.Mrs. B. and I headed north to Dumfries & Galloway to enjoy a day (or maybe two) in the crisp winter weather. The scenery was definitely festive with a thin sprinkling of snow and some icy roads.
Seafield near Annan, looking west from the old viaduct.After a quick "Early Starter" at the Little Chef south of the border we headed to Annan and parked at Seafield Bay. With a chilly nip in the easterly air we began walking towards the old viaduct noting a Peregrine causing havoc with the local ducks and waders on the mudflats. There were roughly 100 Teal roostng at the water's edge and I barely had time to finish the sentence "I'll just check through this lot for a Green-winged ......." when I found a Green-winged Teal!
Adult drake Green-winged Teal, Seafield Bay 20 December 2007.
The GWT waddled around a bit amongst its commoner cousins and even flew around. It spent most of its time on the edge of the mudflats but did venture near the seawall briefly. Birds were being "spooked" frequently though, probably by the marauding Peregrine.
After capturing a few record shots we headed along the seawall seeing little apart from Stoenchat, winter thrushes and Buzzards, before completing a circular walk at Seafield via Annan. On returning the tide was well out and there were very few birds indeed. The Teal flock was nowhere to be seen.
We ended our afternoon at Castle Loch which was mostly frozen over but did hold good numbers of Goldeneye and Wigeon, a couple of Whooper Swans and a dozen or so Goosander.
Our intended early departure into the Galloway Forest on 21st was delayed thanks to a flat tyre. We finally reached Laurieston after stopping at Auchenreoch Loch (30+ Goosander) and for a Red Kite and headed into the hills. A super male Hen Harrier was the highlight of our drive but a pair of Red Grouse sitting on the wall at point blank ange was noteworthy too. We called in at Water of Fleet for a cuppa near the estuary before heading back towards Annan, checking some lochs en route (both fozen).A change in the weather (milder with drizzle) on 22nd saw us birding from the car for most of the morning near Southerness. Our mobile hide worked well for us at the point though producing 15 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks at high tide, 6 Mergs and an imm' male Eider. A drive to Arbigland produced 4,000+ Barnacle Geese and several hundred Pink-feet. Very spectacular indeed. At least 34 Whooper Swans fed in the fields nearby.
With the weather worsening we headed along the Nith noting 35 Greylags before heading south along the east bank to Caerlaverock. Very few geese on the WWT grounds here so we headed towards Annan again noting 209 Whoopers near Ruthwell. With the vsibility fading we called in at Seafield once more (very few Teal and no sign of GWT), before our last stop at Browhouses where ther was very little apart from 60+ Dunlin and a few Teal and Wigeon.
