Solway geese.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose with Barnacles and Pinks at Drumburn on the Nith Estuary (Dumfries & Galloway), 9 March 2012.

 I managed to find the Red-breasted Goose again near Southerness on Thursday 8th March. It was still in the West Preston Farm area, but still distant. A nice flock of 820 Pink-footed Geese north of Kirkbean along the A710 kept me occupied for a while but I could only find ICV neck-collared bird in with them. At least 200 Barnacle Geese accompanied them. A pair of Goosander on the sea at Powillimount (unusual here) plus 15 Scaup on the Nith off Drumburn were the only other birds of note.

Carsethorn on the Solway from the Drumburn Viewpoint.

Returning to the same area yesterday lunchtime produced little else of note. In fact there were fewer geese along the Nith but one flock (500 Barnies and 220 Pinks) below Drumburn held a Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Brents are pretty scarce along the Inner Solway and if I do see them it's usually one of the pale-bellied birds, so this may be my first D&G Dark-bellied Brent Goose.
Southerness Barnies were further away (on Preston Merse) but I could see one of the leucistic birds in them.