SOLWAY: Loch Ryan 11 March 2008.

After the Lesser Scaup we drove round to Loch Ryan, calling in at The Wig first. Few Slavonian Grebes, Red and Black-throated Divers, Common Scoters and Greater Scaups on the sea with lots of adult Gannets and a few Black Guillemots in mid-water.

Third D&G year tick of the day came in the form of a 1st winter Med' Gull in the fields at The Wig. Waders at the roost included loads of Curlews, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Turnstones and a few Dunlins.

About 80 Twite were flitting around The Wig with the Skylarks and some Pale-bellied Brents were on view in the fields.

For some unknown reason we decided to check Loch Connell and this paid dividends. We stopped the car to view a huge flock of Pink-footed and Greylag Geese and immediately spotted a blue-phase Lesser Snow Goose amongst them. A cracking bird but unfortunately the dull conditons, distance and shakey 'scope in the strengthening wind made digiscoping difficult and I was unable to get a decent shot of the bird. It can be picked out though just right of bottom centre in the pic above.

Back at Loch Ryan we headed for the Soleburn shore in hope of Long-tailed Duck. Persistence with this species sure paid off bcause as we were watching a pair of LTD's 2 duck Velvet Scoters swam past at high speed!

The planned visit to Bishop Burn for gulls never really materialised as the by-now gale-force winds plus spring tides were still covering the peninsula where the gulls usually gather at the outlet. Lady Luck was on our side once more though as we spotted a Red-necked Grebe inshore - my third D&G tick of the day!