SOLWAY: D&G round-up.

Southerness Point, Dumfries & Galloway July 2009.

So over a week on the Solway and what did we get? Well, wader numbers appear to be building with one count of 1080 Curlew on the Nith on 8th July. In fact numbers were pretty good that day (some total better than on the WeBS a week later) with 114 Mallard, 23 Goosander and 118 Lapwing on the Nith between Glancaple and Kenneth Bank. There has been a good influx of Common Sandpipers but my flock of 14 at Barnkirk Point, Newbie was put to shame by Cumbrian birders venturing to the Scottish side and seeing 27 near Gretna! Plenty of scattered Whimbrel sightings but it's hard to gauge passage of this wader as there's so many "residents" on the Solway (Carsethorn for instance). A flock of 8 Whimbrel at Newbie on 8th July is notable though. Apart from the couple of Bar-tailed Godwits there was little else of note with no Dunlin flocks as yet (at least on the D&G side). Hopefully this will change in the next few weeks and a Pec' or White-rumped Sand' will turn up? Apart from a few seabirds Southerness Point was pretty quiet although an Otter offshore early morning on 9th July was a decent reward for getting out of bed early.

Stroan Loch, Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries & Galloway July 2009.

Away from the coast it was predictably hard work with little of note apart from the Goshawk and scattered Crossbill parties. Just a brief look at a male Hen Harrier at Langholm and it appears HH's are going to have a difficult time this year - check out the Bowland Hen Harrier blog (link on right side of this blog).