Hunting harriers and goose flocks on the Solway
Rogersceugh was bought by the RSPB to join its Campfield Marsh reserve to Bowness Common, adding a wide diversity of habitats as well as creating a wildlife corridor. The fields here are mainly grazed by Galloway and Belted Galloway cattle, which keeps the grassland in good condition for waders in summer and geese in winter.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 You can start off your walk from the minor road from Bownesson-Solway to Anthorn. You have Glasson Moss on the other side of the road, which is worth a scan to look for hunting harriers at any time of the year.
2 There is a straight track towards the farm, with lush vegetation on either side of the track. Spring sees this area used by Grasshopper Warbler, along with Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting. The open areas hold Snipe and Jack Snipe in winter, with Woodcock loving the Bracken areas. The old railway line from Bowness crosses the area, where there is some open water often used by Black-headed Gulls in summer and Mallard and Teal in winter.
3 The track area is full of insects, especially dragonflies, with Common Darter, Four Spot Chaser and Common Hawker likely in the summer. More open water may have Shoveler and Little Grebe. Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank can feed across these more open fields, along with Pied Wagtail.
4 At this former farm complex, which was knocked down in 2020, you now have an information building with stunning views across Bowness Common back to the Campfield Marsh reserve. The Common can be used by Marsh Harriers, especially in summer, and Hen Harrier in winter. Barn Owls can hunt the area, breeding locally, while Short-eared Owls are winter visitors.
5 A track takes you back to Longcroft, and a minor road goes east, joining the Bowness road. These fields in winter can be full of Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese. They can be joined by winter flocks of Curlew, Lapwing and Golden Plover, but even a hovering Kestrel can flush the lot.
PRACTICAL INFO
POSTCODE: CA7 5AE
GRID REF: NY 230 600
MAPS: OS Explorer 314, OS Landranger 85
PARKING: Space for eight cars along the road. Please do not block gates
TERRAIN: All tracks and road
ACCESS: All year round
FACILITIES: Pub & café in Bowness
INSIDE KNOWLEDGE Try a dusk visit in autumn and winter to see how many species of owls you find.
TARGET BIRDS AUTUMN/WINTER
● Barnacle Goose
● Pink-footed Goose
● Curlew
● Golden Plover
● Buzzard
● Sparrowhawk
● Merlin
● Hen Harrier
● Barn Owl
● Fieldfare
● Redwing
SPRING/SUMMER
● Grasshopper Warbler
● Whitethroat
● Willow Warbler
● Garden Warbler
● Swallow
● Swift
● Pied Wagtail
● Black-headed Gull
● Cuckoo
● Meadow Pipit