SOLWAY: Little Stints, Cackling Canada & Barnacles.

8th October 2008: Clear blue sky, sunshine, fresh October air - what else could you ask for? Another couple of days like this, that's all. The Inner Solway is growing on us big time and our "new" sites just over the border near Lochmaben Stone and Redkirk Point look very promising indeed. Plenty of geese around now. As expected most are Barnacles (including huge numbers over Rockliffe Marsh, Cumbria) but at least 150 Pink-feet on the river too. A Cackling Canada Goose in with the small flock of Barnacles on the salt marsh was a nice surprise, but far too difficult to digiscope as it fed with the Barnies and kept disappearing in the creeks.

At least 500 Golden Plovers on view from Redkirk Point, but all facing into the stiff westerly making them tricky to scrutinise closely unfortunately. No obvious "candidates" for anything rare though.

Goldies on the mid-channel sandbar between Redkirk and Browhouses.

A few hirundines on the move this morning indicated by a gathering of Swallows and at least 2 House Martins at Browhouses. Waders were of most interest though with 25+ Snipe on the saltmarsh, 25+ Bar-tailed Godwits and best of all 3 Little Stints in with 25+ Dunlin.

Tradition now is to call in at Caerlaverock, knowing full well that we won't see anything but something crippling will be there if we drive past. So we went in. Spectacular numbers of Barnacles around of course and a truly amazing experience with birds passing right past the hides at eye-level. About 10,000 around at the moment apparently and a Cackling Canada Goose had been seen so presumably different from our one at Redkirk. We did manage to find a juv' Pale-bellied Brent Goose in with them late on. Male Hen Harrier was very nice indeed.

Barnacle Geese, various rare Canada Geese, a Red-breasted Goose and Pale-bellied Brents in flight (well, they're in there somewhere aren't they?) at Caerlaverock WWT 8 October 2008.

There it is!

Right past the Avenue Tower ......

Er, lots of Barnacles .......

Few more ......

To obtain blurred and fuzzy shots of Barnacles at Caerlaverock a bit of digiscoping is required. Most of the hides are pretty good for this except the Avenue Tower. Forgive me if you designed this hide but I'm sorry - great location, crap design. OK if you're a dwarf or a giant (see windows in pic below), but if you are a bit of a short arse birder like me with an angled 'scope it's a challenge. Great for practicing fencing with the legs of your tripods and the safety railings though.

Perhaps that's what the step-ladder is for?

Looking towards the Avenue Tower from the Farmhouse, Caerlaverock WWT 8 October 2008.

Grey Heron, Folly Pond 8 October 2008.

Great afternoon at Caerlaverock though with a cracking sunset. We stayed on site until dusk just watching the Barnies flying around the grounds.

D&G 2008 = 189.