SOLWAY: Weekend Round-Up 18 - 20 April 2009.

Curlew at Mersehead RSPB, 19 April 2009.

Oystercatcher near the Bruaich Hide at Mersehead.

Another rather quiet trip up to the Solway this month. Our journey north took us to Redkirk Point just west of Gretna where there were still a few Barnacle and Pink-footed Geese on the mud at low tide. The assembled gulls were checked but nothing stood out, despite there being a few "white-wings" in the region lately. A little further along the Solway we pulled in along the shore at Browhouses where it was apparent that there had been an arrival of Willow Warblers of late. Few Red-breasted Mergansers in the low tide channel and 10 Goldeneye were about the only birds of note.

Bird of the day was undoubtedly the Osprey we found by scanning across the Solway to Cumbria from Seafield Bay near Annan. Luckily it soared overhead mobbed by Herring Gulls and a Common Buzzard. A few pools in the Priestfield area near Powfoot had a few bits and pieces to check including at least 8 White Wagtails. Once settled in the caravan at Southerness we found a bit of time to take an evening stroll along the beach where we counted 60 Ringed Plovers and 3 summer plumaged Dunlin.

Sunday 19th didn't look particularly promising for migrants so we decided on a tour of our local spots, starting on the Colvend Coast. No Sedge Warblers detected in Gillfoot Bay and just 10 White Wagtails west of the point at Southerness. A tour of Auchencairn Bay produced little apart from Sandwich Terns but Balcary Point was a pleasant diversion with 50+ Guillemots, 10+ Razorbills, 2 Fulmars, 10+ Kittiwakes and several Rock Doves of varying degrees of apparent purity.

We returned to the Southerness area by late afternoon after calling in at Auchenreoch Loch (disturbed by jet skis), Milton Loch (just no birds) and Loch Arthur (zilch!). Carsethorn shore was a bit better with a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a Whimbrel but perhaps our best birding was in the early evening at Mersehead RSPB. Nothing really outstanding, just a lot of birds including 2 Little Egrets, Goldeneye and still a couple of thousand Barnacle Geese in the area.

Barnacle Geese of the wetland RSPB reserve at Mersehead.

Monday 20th came round all too quick and it was soon time to head south once again. Single Manx Shearwater off Southerness in calm conditions was nice before leaving "home patch".

Jackdaw on the Farmhouse Tower, Caerlaverock WWT 20 April 2009.

Female Merlin on Folly Pond, Caerlaverock WWT 20 April 2009.

A couple of noteworthy events from Caerlaverock: Female Merlin swooping down on the Folly Pond, then wading in the shallows and taking a drink with the Redshanks, Oystercatchers and Black-tailed Godwits (28).

The view from the Saltcot Hide showing an empty Prince Philip's Field where there should be hundreds of Barnies!

In excess of a thousand or so Barnacle Geese could be seen from the Farmhouse Tower feeding near the Saltcot Hide so we thought we'd take a walk down there. On approaching the hide we watched a "photographer" go through the gate and approach the field where the Barnies were feeding. Surprise, surprise, up went the Barnacle Geese. The culprit didn't appear but I managed to question his intentions later and he explained that he was "chasing the geese to make them fly, so another photographer could get a flight shot"! After explaining the concept of hides and reasons for leaving migratory birds to feed in peace I realised I was fighting a losing battle when he answered with "They were not molested and they'll come back".

I wonder what the late, great Sir Peter would have made of all this?

I reported the incident to the staff but our afternoon had been ruined and we decided to leave.