Started early this morning at Southerness searching the bushes at the point and behind the beach without too much joy. At least 50 Siskins heading south plus a single Tree Pipit. Goldcrests, Willow Warblers and a Whitethroat were our rewards but surely one day we'll pick up a decent passerine migrant here?
Thought we'd try Castle Loch near Lochmaben for Black Tern after the recent easterlies but no joy. Just plenty of Great-crested Grebes (including many juvs) and 26 Goosander. Back to the Solway shore then where the plover-searchers had doubled (2 from Dunfirmline) at Dornock. No show for the bird in question though so Mrs B and I decided to try Browhouses. Amazingly we were greeted by the sound of obviously a large number of Goldies on the shore there and on inspection a large flock was loafing on the mud. In no time at all the Pacific Goldie was found, dwarfed by its mates but typically the whole lot (250 of them) took off as I was phoning RBA with the news. We drove around for an hour trying to locate the PGP or birders, but failed miserably on both counts.That's it for D&G for a while then ........ D&G 2008 = 186 now.
