The lighthouse at Southerness Point from Powillimount.The weather wasn't too kind to us this weekend (v. strong easterly winds and chilly) but we managed to get a good few birds under our belt. The strong winds meant that digiscoping was a bit of a no-no, so we'll have to make do with some habo shots for now.
Palnackie, April 2008.Our trip up to the Solway was pretty uneventful really with just a male White Wagtail at Caerlaverock of note on 19th. Still 3,000+ Barnacle Geese about, but just one pair of Whoopers, a few Blackwits plus the usual sprinkling of Pink-footed Geese, Yellowhammers, etc. The inner Solway at Browhouses and Seafield was pretty quiet and with the wind strengthening overnight the omens were not good.
An early walk around the point at Southerness produced very little and the first bird of note on 20th came late in the morning when we found a Common Sandpiper at Palnackie.
Birding from Balcary Point in Auchencairn Bay.A drive around Auchencairn Bay produced little else but the walk out to Balcary Point was quite productive with Guillemots and Kittiwakes on the sea and a nice close Red-throated Diver and several Common Scoter close in. A few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs in the wood near the point made me think that this may be a good place to visit for migrants in the future. Several Sanwich Terns in the bay at high tide were nice through the 'scope too. All very nice but the news of the drake Garganey at Caerlaverock had us scooting back to the car. Less than an hour later we were watching the Garg' and 4 Wheatears and 500+ Golden Plovers (most in spanking summer plumage) were a real bonus. A drive at dusk produced very little in the way of birds, but we had great views of Badger plus loads of Roe Deer.
We took tyhe liberty of a lie-in on 21st and ambled round to Mersehead RSPB after breakfast. A stonking male Redstart that flew across the road at the entrance was a nice surprise. It perched briefly before disappearing in a belt of trees. Great start. The rest of the walk didn't live up to expectations after this though: 12+ White Wag's on the marsh plus 4 Wheatears near the dunes being the only noteworthy birds. We were just bemoaning our luck when a Grasshopper Warbler started "reeling". OK it didn't show but a Groppa's a Groppa!Back in Lancs for a few days. D&G 2008 at 143.
Barnacle Geese, Mersehead 21 April 2008.
