SOLWAY: Southerness Point.

Map of the Solway Firth showing the location of Southerness Point (south of A710 road just above the "S" of Solway Firth on the map.

Since 2007 we've spent most of our weekends staying at Southerness Point on the Solway in Dumfries & Galloway. I've long been an admirer of the site with its birding potential, so much so that I took my new bride there on the afternoon of our wedding over 20 years ago (she was less than thrilled). The highlight of that day was undoubtedly a flock of Purple Sandpipers on the rocks near the lighthouse; ouch (just been punched)! Since the late 70's my visit to the 'Ness have been few and far between, until recently when we started staying there at weekends. The mix of habitats from rocky shore and sandy bay bordered by a reed-bed, farmland, a golf course and a few patches of bushes provide adequate interest for a birder. And best of all hardly anyone else goes there!

Winter at Southerness Point. Gillfoot Bay with Criffel in the distance, December 2008.

The Purple Sandpipers can usually be found on the rocks near the lighthouse at the point. However they sometimes get to the rocks east of the point at the end of Gillfoot Bay off Powllimount. I don't believe there are any large gatherings of scoters off the point nowadays, but I have noted large offshore movements of Common Scoter in June, presumably the summer moulting flock present in the Solway. Nevertheless it's worth taking a look off the point in winter for Scaup, Long-tailed Duck and divers. Because of its position Southerness is bound to attract the interest of seawatchers. So far my best results have been during SW winds with all four skuas seen in a day in May 2009. Other notable sightings include Little Gulls, Great Northern Diver and mid summer movements of Manx Shearwaters. It's also a great place to see Common Porpoise.
Because most of my past visits were in winter (when we used to visit D&G in school half-term with the kids - oh how they loved it), the migration of passerines has been neglected. The only real substantial cover near the point (apart from a few clumps on the golf course) is on the Arbigland Estate at the eastern perimeter of our recording area. Yellow Wagtail and Turtle Dove in the Spring of 2008 (both rare in D&G) and and autumn Ring Ouzel the same year are noteworthy and with more effort ....... well, who knows?
Nearby sites include Mersehead RSPB to the west and Carsethorn on the Nith Estuary to the east. There's usually a flock or two of Barnacle Geese in the area in the winter months (October - April) that's worth checking for any "small race" Canada Geese. The fields north of Loaningfoot and near Powillimount are the favourite areas with Pink-feet congregating in late winter (during the last two winters at least) near Maxwellfield.

Interesting Southerness Sightings (updated 26 August 2009).

Otter
1 offshore near the lighthouse 0700 9 July 2009.
Manx Shearwater
170 east in 90 mins 25 July 2008.
Unidentified diver sp.
93 west / 4 east 9 May 2009.
Great Northern Diver
Single 16 & 22 October 2007.
Singles 31 March and 23 October 2008.
Black-throated Diver
1 offshore 31 March 2008.
Whooper Swan
34 on 22 December 2007.
Pink-footed Goose
180 east 9 May 2009.
Greenland White-fronted Goose
1 adult with Barnacle Geese 22 October 2008.
Pale-bellied Brent Goose
3 on 7 September 2008.
Richardson's / Taverner's Canada Goose
1 with Barnacle Geese at Loaningfoot 22 October 2007.
Common Scoter
1000+ on 5 June 2008.
210 west 17 May 2009.
Greater Scaup
1 male on 25 July 2008.
Long-tailed Duck
Female 31 March 2008.
Merlin
1 on 20 October 2007.
A male 19 October 2008.
1 (female) in off the sea 9 May 2009.
Mediterranean Gull
Adult 25 July 2008.
1st winter 9 October 2008.
Adult 18 October 2008.
Little Gull
Adult + 1st winter west 22 October 2007.
Adult west 18 May 2009.
Kittiwake
30 east / 3 west 9 May 2009.
Sandwich Tern
40+ on 5 August 2007.
Arctic Tern
Adult 5 August 2007.
Juvenile 6 August 2007.
1 on 22 October 2007.
2 on 25 April 2008.
2 west 8 May 2009.
6 west 9 May 2009.
Arctic Skua
1 on 25 July 2008.
1 east 8 May 2009.
3 west 9 May 2009.
2 dark phase 13 July 2009.
1 dark phase 28 July 2009.
Long-tailed Skua
Adult west 9 May 2009.
Pomarine Skua
1 east 25 July 2008.
1 east 3 May 2009.
1 west 6 May 2009.
20 (1 flock) east 8 May 2009.
2 east 9 May 2009.
Bonxie
1 on 23 October 2008.
1 west 9 May 2009.
2 heading west 13 July 2009.
Oystercatcher
2000+ on 22 October 2007.
Golden Plover
355 between the point and Gillfoot Bay 22 March 2009.
Grey Plover
24 on 22 October and 27 on 22 December 2008.
Ringed Plover
70+ on 5 August 2007.
45+ on 22 December 2008.
Whimbrel
11 on 18 May 2008.
Bar-tailed Godwit
150 on 22 October 2008.
Purple Sandpiper
15 on 22 October 2007.
22+ near lighthouse 1 March 2009.
9 on 22 March 2009.
Turnstone
50 at the point 16 October 2007.
105 in Gillfoot Bay 18 October 2008.
Knot
350+ on 20 October 2007.
600+ on 18 May 2008.
Sanderling
38 on 24 May 2008.
3 near the point 17 May 2009.
Redshank
600+ on 16 October 2007.
Greenshank
1 on 18 September 2007.
1 on 22 December 2008 and 22 March 2009.
Turtle Dove
Single in caravan park 30 May 2008.
Kingfisher
One off the point 22 December 2008.
Tree Pipit
1 north 25 April 2008.
Yellow Wagtail
A male came in from the south, landing on the beach near the point briefly before heading inland 24 May 2008.
Ring Ouzel
1 near the Natterjack Toad Pond in the village during a big thrush movement 22 October 2008.
Fieldfare
700+ heading south mainly near Powillimount 22 October 2007.
80 on 30 March 2008.
Redwing
50+ heading south in part of the big thrush movement noted for Fieldfare 22 October 2007.
Siskin
50+ south 8 September 2008.
Twite
c. 30 on 20 October 2007.
6+ on 22 October 2008.
Crossbill
At least 6 in the Arbigland Estate 25 October 2007.
Corn Bunting
An adult along the quiet lane from East Preston to Prestonmill 10 August 2009.
Hooded Crow
1 near Loaningfoot 25 April 2008.
Magpie
One near East Preston 24 August 2009.