DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY KIRKCONNEL FLOW
Woodland, wetland and great views over the Firth
The flow is managed by Nature Scotland, and has been restored following the removal of many trees regenerating on the deep peat areas. It has a ring of mainly Scots Pine and Birch trees which will still allow their windblown seeds to drift over the peat.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 Dropping onto the minor road, look out for Roe Deer grazing the fields in front of you before they dart into the woodland surrounding the flow. Scan the side of the Scot Pines and Birch for perched raptors and feeding tit flocks.
2 You enter the flow via a Scots Pine/ Birch woodland. Listen out for song in spring, with species like Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll and Song Thrush likely. Listen out for the drumming of the Great Spotted Woodpecker and for the ‘chip, chip’ of Crossbills in the pines.
3 Once out into the open, scan for raptors hunting the flow. Winter sees both Hen Harrier and Merlin using the area, while summer has Buzzard and Sparrowhawk and even the rarer Marsh Harrier has turned up. Summer is a great time for dragonflies with the classic Black Darter and even rare Vagrant Emperor turning up in 2020.
4 The flow has some great breeding birds in summer, such as Cuckoo, Meadow and Tree Pipit and Stonechat. Nightjars have been recorded and if you pick a late evening to walk onto the flow make sure you know your way around. With Tawny Owls the commonest owl breeding, you only occasionally get Long-eared Owls here but winter may see Shorteareds coming to the area.
5 Kirkconnel and Greenmerse Merse are best viewed from across the River Nith at Glancaple. They are a tidal area very good for Barnacle Geese, usually from January onwards, with up to 5,000 geese using the area along with some Pink-footed Geese. Whooper Swans occasionally use the area but several waders feed here, especially Curlew and Redshank. Always check the posts for Peregrines.