SOLWAY: Local stuff.

Looking out over the Solway from Rockcliffe towards Portling, Dumfries & Galloway July 2009.

We're fortunate enough to have quite a few places to visit within easy striking distance from our caravan at Southerness. The Colvend Coast is very attractive indeed and a short walk from Rockcliffe to Castle Point on a calm day can produce good numbers of scoters. You can just about see the bay behind Mrs B's feet in the picture above. Long narrow feet are apparently indicative of Celtic roots and this is well represented by the size of Mrs B's plates: "Like two barges going down the canal" as my Dad used to say. Anyway enough of Mrs. B's feet. The Solway Firth is an important moulting ground for scoters; we counted 2015 Common Scoters off Balcary Point (just across Auchencairn Bay from Rockcliffe) on 5th July. Couldn't see anything else amongst them but they were a way off.

Loch Kindar is just inland from the shore of the Nith Estuary and although not too interesting for birds at this season, it does have a good forest walk. It's one of the few areas I've seen Green Woodpecker in D&G (although worryingly I've not heard one anywhere in D&G this year) and is a pretty reliable site for Bullfinch.

Common Blue Damselfly, Loch Kindar July 2009.

Mrs. B. and I spent a very hot afternoon in the area last week. Crossbills were all over the shop although mainly in groups no larger than 12 - 15 birds.

Plenty of insects about in the sunny glades such as Blue-tailed Damselflies, Golden-ringed Dragonflies, Common Hawker, Ringlets and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

Ringlet, Loch Kindar July 2009.

Painted Lady.


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