DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

HIGHLIGHTS: A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at the Mull of Galloway. There were 169 Whooper Swans, 15,980 Barnacle Geese, Pinkfeet, a Great White Egret, Green-winged Teal, Hen Harriers, Shoveler and Pintail at Caerlaverock. Marsh Harriers were at Caerlaverock and Threave Estate. Greenshanks and Whimbrels were at Carse Bay and Mersehead. Good numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers were around the coast. Curlew Sandpipers were at Seafield, Crook of Baldoon and Browhouses. Two Little Stints were at Crook of Baldoon. Little Egrets were at Caerlaverock, Carse, Kirkcudbright and Orchardton. A Greenshank was at Orchardton. A white-morph Snow Goose (19th) and Great Grey Shrike (20th) were at Mersehead. A Hobby was at Browhouses. Ten Purple Sandpipers were at Southerness. Totals across the region included 26,000 Barnacle Geese, 2,000 Knot, 2,000 Sky Larks, 1,300 Golden Plovers, 800 Linnets, 600 Dunlin, 395 Meadow Pipits, 300 Curlews, 107 Swallows, 595 Wigeon and tens of thousands Pinkfeet. Whooper Swans were widespread. MERSEHEAD: Barnacle Geese, Yellowhammer, Greylag, Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Grebe, Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Twite, Peregrine and Meadow Pipit were noted. MULL OF GALLOWAY: There were 559 Linnets, 389 Meadow Pipit, 47 Goldfinches, eight Fieldfares, eight House Martins, Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Hen Harrier, Red Kite and Peregrine off Mull and Corsewall Point (2nd), with Merlin (25th). Red Kites were at Wigtown Bay and Mull of Galloway. Peregrine and Dipper were at Portpatrick, Barn Owl at Rhins and Short-eared Owl at Mull of Galloway (21st). OTHER SITES: There were 65 Wigeon, 64 Lapwings and Raven at Kirkcudbright. A Wheatear and three Red-throated Divers were between Mersehead-southerness. Sparrowhawk, Knot, Red-breasted Merganser and Bar-tailed Godwit were at Carse Bay. A Red-throated Diver was at Powillimount. Goldeneyes and Goosanders were at Cumstoun and Threave. Razorbill, Grey Plover and Common Scoter were at Southerness. Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit were at Browhouses. Tree Sparrows were at Mainsriddle. Merlins, Peregrines and Kestrels were seen along the Wigtown Baycummertrees coast. Pam Woods (Dumfriesandgallowaybirding@ yahoogroups.com)