3rd
November 2018
Latest
update on sightings from Iain -
While working down at the Reserve on the 5th September
there were lots of Blue Hawkers around the woodland pond.
On the 7th while out on my paper deliveries I heard 3
calling Chiffchaff and there were 5 Magpies along Old
Carlisle Road while the following day down at the Reserve
at least 40 House Martins were moving through and there
were plenty birds aroung including Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk,
Bullfinch, 2 Willow Tit, Treecreeper, 5 Teal, 3 Grey Heron
and 4 Magpie. Garry had a Chiffchaff at the Reserve on
the 10th and at the same location on the 12th there were
lots of darters and hawkers around with a single Red Admiral
butterfly and 3 Teal, 2 Mistle Thrush, 17 Long tailed
tits and still House Martins and Swallows moving through.
A few days later on the 15th at the Reserve were 40 Mallard,
6 Teal, 3 Grey Heron and a juvenile Buzzard while 16 Greylag
Geese flew over. An excellent sighting from Garry came
on the 17th when a Hobby was chasing Swallows and House
Martins at Oakriggside. Following "STORM ALI"
I popped down to check for storm damage on the 20th and
7/8 trees had fallen but no damage to hides/sheds fortunately.
Birds seen were 20 Siskin, 2 Swallows, 40 Mallard and
5 Teal. On the Community Reserve were 3 Grey Heron, 4
Cormorant, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Mallard, 2 Teal, 11 Little Grebe,
Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, 10 Magpie and 2 Roe Deer. That evening
I was down at Lockerbie with Lorna and 5-600 Pink Footed
Geese flew over. Back at the Reserve on the 22nd were
7 Teal, 2 Willow Tit, 7-800 Pinkfeet, at least 12 Swallow/House
Martin with a few Meadow Pipits and Skylark moving through
with the regular 2 Roe Deer and plenty hawkers/darters
and 3 Red Admiral. The last Swallows and House Martins
were at the Reserve on the 26th with the regular 2 Willow
Tit and a few Tree Sparrow and the Teal had built up to
12. Moving into October on the 3rd with the following
at the Reserve : Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, 2 Buzzard, 5 Teal,
7 Tree Sparrow, 2 Willow Tit, 25 Siskin, 5 Mistle Thrush
with 75 Greylags and 300 plus Pinkfeet overhead. A few
days later on the 6th there were 3 Roe Deer, 80 Siskin,
11 Teal, 5 Tree Sparrow, 8 Magpie, 2 Willow Tit and a
male Bullfinch. At the Community Reserve were 9 Little
Grebe and a Cormorant. I saw my first 6 Redwing over School
Lane on the morning of the 7th. There were 3/4 Lesser
Redpoll with the Siskin flock on the 10th at the Reserve
with 40 Redwing and 11 Teal. Peter Dreghorn reported a
Fieldfare on the 12th up Annan Water though Andy Dickson
had a few earlier in the week. A Mink was reported in
the Craigielands area while the same area on the 19th
had 5 Whooper Swans briefly dropping onto the pond and
an Otter was also reported....perhaps the Mink was an
Otter? On the 23rd Jon Haydon reported a Brambling in
his garden and there were 3/4 moving through the Reserve
on the 27th following a cold snap of weather with a good
movement of Fieldfare, Redwing, Pinkfeet and a Skylark.
Garry was at the Reserve on the 30th as Harry began clearing
the pond in front of Jocks Hide and 300 plus Fieldfare
and Redwing were feeding on the woodland floor and adjacent
fields. The following day saw 20 plus Teal, 6 Tree Sparrow
and 2 Wiilow Tits around and at the Community Reserve
were a male Goldeneye, 7 Cormorant and 2 Little Grebe.
During this period a number of Grey Squirrels were being
reported in several locations including the Gallow Hill,
Hospital, Ballplay Road and Meadow Bank/Rise as well as
other sites.
2nd
September 2018
Latest reports from
Iain :
A long overdue
update!
June onwards
On the 2nd the Mallard family of 13 were doing well and
there were 2 Teal on our reserve. On the 4th a Goosander
flew over Holm Park early morning. further brood of Mallard
ducklings appeared on the reserve on the 13th to join
the other two broods and another Moorhen brood appeared
on the woodland pond. A Red Kite was seen near the reserve
on the 18th and a couple of days later I noticed lots
of young Tree Sparrows around from the 5 breeding pairs
and the Starlings were on their second broods. On the
22nd I had three sightings of Red Kite. Sue Powell saw
one locally, John Hume reported one near Roundstonefoot
and Ian Paterson saw one near the Belshies. While having
our tea break at the reserve on the 23rd a "leucistic"
warbler either Willow warbler, Garden Warbler or Chiffchaff
was seen in the area. Another Red Kite was seen by myself
this side of Amisfield on the 25th. A flock of 18 Greylag
Geese flew over the reserve on the 30th and a Moorhen
nest with 5 eggs was located on the Middle Pond. At the
reserve on the 4th July were a number of Blue Hawkers
and a Willow Tit was heard....the first for a while. Dave
carried out his Butterfly Survey at Stidriggs on the 5th
and recorded 135 Ringlet, 5 Green Veined, 1 Red Admiral,
2 Small Heath and 1 Meadow Brown while a Whinchat family
was seen at the start of his survey work. Lesley Robson
reported a Pheasant family in her garden on the 6th up
Hillside Terrace. At the reserve on the 11th were 2 young
Peregrines flying high being taught by their parents and
on the 13th there were 40-50 Swifts over the town and
they seemed to have had a good breeding season. While
out on my delivery rounds I noted that Magpies are fairly
widespread and Wood Pigeons appear to be increasingly
moving into local gardens and are quite confident big
birds while Collared Dove, House Sparrow and Goldcrest
were doing well. A lack of Swallows and House Martins
this year but appeared to rear good sized broods with
groups of 50-60 birds seen in various locations. A most
unusual record was seen/heard by Garry Tait on the 23rd
in the form of a Nightjar calling from the area at the
back of the Moffat Rugby playing field just along Old
Carlisle Road and I was fortunate enough to hear the bird
on the evening of the 27th. An amazing record so close
to the town. On the 4th August there were a number of
Buzzards including young birds in the Reserves/Golf Course
areas high up and our young Mallards were beginning to
learn to fly. The last Swift was seen over the town on
the 13th. Some records from Dave Bradshaw on the 17th
in the Cornal Court area with a juvenile Pied Wagtail
on his front lawn with a Willow Warbler. Good numbers
of Swallows on wires and House Martins were flying up
to houses with white pebble dash walls. On Daves lawn
and his neighbours were 65 House Sparrows and 6 Collared
Dove and 43 Chaffinches....all great counts for the time
of year. At the reserve on the 18th were 3 Teal and a
Willow Tit. Two interesting reports were a new brood of
8 Mallard ducklings at Station Park on the 21st seen by
Dave and the following day another brood of 8 ducklings
at the reserve with Bullfinch, Teal and Willow Tit also
seen. Heading over to work before 5am on the 28th I saw
a Rabbit running up the High Street and the Rabbit population
has certainly increased this year as I have seen them
all over town and later that morning a Roe Deer and well
grown fawn were seen at the top of Old Well Road. Two
Willow Tits at the reserve on the 29th. Red Kites reported
in the Gallow Hill area by Lorne Campbell, Alan Smith
saw a Jay near St Anns bridge, a number of Sparrowhawks
in the town were seen and one injured bird was picked
up by the SSPCA on the 1st September. On the 2nd I saw
a small flock of Siskin near Park Circle, 2 Raven over
the town and a few Meadow Pipits coming down off the hills
and heading to the coast. Swallows and House Martins were
disappearing fast.
7th
July 2018
The schedule for
next season (2018-2019) has now been organised and you
can view it on our "Events" page. There is always
the risk of unforeseen changes so keep an eye on this
website and on posters just in case!
27th
May 2018
Update from Iain
-
Dave had a Swift over his house at Beattock on the 8th
while there were 7/8 over Moffat. Sammy Smith had reported
seeing the much reported Red Kite about a week earlier
and he had also seen Magpie over Pringle Court. Dave saw
2 Buzzard and 2 House Martin at our reserve while on the
Community Reserve he reported 5 Greylag Geese, 2 Oystercatcher,
Cormorant and Whitethroat. On the morning of the 9th there
were 3 Brown Hares in a field near Oakbank/Oakrigg Farm
and I have seen one regular most mornings since. At the
Reserve there were Swallow, Sand Martins, first Garden
Warbler of the year, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blackcap,
Buzzard, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow and Grey Heron. On
the morning of the 10th I saw 2 Grey Partridge near Coxhill
Farm.....my first for well over 10 years in our area.
Dave reported at the Community Reserve a pair of Greylag
Geese with 3 goslings......to the best of my knowledge
the first breeding in our area....while his wife Margie
had seen another pair with young on the pond near The
Courance down the Dumfries Road on the left hand side.
The Community Reserve also had 7 Oystercatcher, 4 Willow
Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, Swallow, Reed Bunting, Carrion
Crow, Meadow Pipit, Mallard, Goldcrest and Blue Tit. Bankend
Wood held 2 male Pied Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler,
Chaffinch and Buzzard. On the 12th at the reserve there
were 5 Starlings feeding young in nest boxes, 2 Greylag
Geese, Roe Deer and many Orange Tip butterflies. An unusual
record on the 13th were 3 Pink Footed Geese flying over
Mofffat early in the morning while later that day at the
Community Reserve there were now 2 families of Greylag
Geese with 3 and 6 goslings which was surprising. At the
same location on the 16th Dave reported the Greylag again
with a Mallard with 4 ducklings and a female Goosander
on the lochan. Dave was up at Earshaigs area and the woodland
and felled area held a good assortment of birds including
7 Crossbill, 2 Jay, Redstart, Robin, Lesser Redpoll, Tree
Pipit, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 male Whinchat, Cuckoo, Wood
Pigeon, Buzzard, Reed Bunting, pair of Stonechat, Meadow
Pipit, Wren and Grasshopper Warbler. A Hoopoe was seen
on the Leadhills Road near the power station on the 18th
but unfortunately was gone when I visited the area the
following evening but it was nice to see Lapwing, Curlew,
Redshank, Oystercatcher, Greylags, Red Grouse, Wheatear,
Whinchat, etc. At the Reserve on the 23rd were 2 Canada
Geese and a Spotted Flycatcher was calling down the Quarry
road where we park our cars. Dave was out and about on
the 24th and up at the Coatesgate area he saw Tree Pipit,
Linnet, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, pair of Raven with
2/3 young, Peregrine, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow. The Community
Reserve had a male Goosander, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 LBB Gulls,
Herring Gull, Greylag Geese, 2 pair of Mallard with 4
and 9 ducklings, Oystercatcher sitting on eggs while 4
Mallard eggs were seen that had been predated by crows.
Maurice Henderson while on a fencing job reported a male
Hen Harrier at the far end of St Marys Loch. On the 26th
at the Reserve was a Mallard with 10 small ducklings and
the female was accompanied with the male. There was another
brood of small Moorhens and 2 Greylag Geeese were around.
8th
May 2018
Update from Iain
covering 9th April to present -
Garry had 3 Sand Martins up at Selcoth on the 9th while
on my paper rounds I heard 4 Chiffchaff. Dave had the
first Willow Warbler calling from the cycle path near
Broomlands at Beattock and there were 55 Redwing at Bankend
Wood on the 12th. There was an increase in Siskins and
Goldfinches being reported with smaller numbers of Lesser
Redpoll. At the Reserve on the 14th there were dozens
of Redwing feeding throughout the woodland. Other birds
included 2 Treecreeper, 2 Oystercatcher, Chiffchaff, 8
Sand Martin and 2 Willow Tit with numerous Pink Footed
Geese passing overhead. On the morning of the 15th I heard
my first Willow Warbler at Ballplay Tennis Courts. Following
on from John Smiths brilliant record of Hawfinch in his
garden a wee while back another Hawfinch turned up at
Rockhill Guest House briefly and also for the second time
in the Foskett's garden and a Linnet was also present
with the Siskins. Also on the 16th Pamela Morgan reported
the Red Kite over the old School Playing fields while
Hugh Thompson and Jim Marrs have also seen them at the
bottom end of the Annan valley/Moffat Golf Course. On
the 18th Dave reported Willow Warbler at Bankend Wood
and at the Community Reserve he saw 4 Willow Warbler,
2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Mute Swan, 14 Oystercatcher, 2
Cormorant, 2 Teal, 6 Mallard, male Goosander, 4 Greylag
Geese, 3 Canada Geese, Black Headed Gull and Meadow Pipit.
At our Reserve there were 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Teal, 4
Tree Sparrow, lots of Siskins, 3 Goldfinch, Reed Bunting,
Willow Tit, 5 Willow Warbler, Sand Martins, Swallows,
Moorhen, Grey Heron and 10 Mallard between Dave's visit
and our work morning. Janet McConnell had 2 Lesser Redpoll
at Commonside for the first time in her garden while Jon
Haydon had at least 7 birds on the 19th. Dave had 4 House
Martin at the Brigg Inn/BT Exchange and then on a birding
trip he amassed a good list. At Watermeetings he had 2
Goosander, Lapwing, Oysterctcher, Redshank and Greylag
Geese while at the nearby Daer Reservoir there was a Great
Crested Grebe, Cormorant, 42 Common Gull and 2 Buzzard.
The Leadhills road produced House Martin, 220 Black Headed
Gulls, 3 Red Grouse, Stonechat, 3 Curlew, Pied Wagtail
and 5 Wheatear and at Mennock Water were a pair of Ring
Ouzel and 3 Raven. On the morning of the 21st while delivering
there were several skiens of Pink Footed Geese overhead
and 7 Whooper Swans. At the Reserve were 4 Peacock butterflies
and 14 Sand Martin with a Blackcap singing and 5 Willow
Warbler. I saw 2 Magpie over Park Circle and 2 Swallows.
At Beattock Dave had 4 Swallows and on the road down to
Bankend Wood were another 4 Swallow and 3 martins and
3 Buzzard over the wood. I saw my first 5 House Martins
up at Willowbank, Beechgrove on the morning of the 23rd
and more Swallows over the High Street. The following
day a single Greylag Goose flew over the town and a few
more Swallows while there were a good few Goldcrest around.
At the Community Reserve were a female Goosander, 2 Little
Grebe and 2 Oystercatcher. There were two newly hatched
Moorhens at the Reserve on the night of the 28th . The
following day at the Reserve were a pair of Willow Tit
and 4 Tree Sparrow with 4 Buzzards 2 Treecreeper, Long
tailed Tit and Reed Bunting and remains of a dead Magpie.
Two Cuckoos have been reported from Woodfoot area and
The Courance. Up at Corehead there are Curlew though I
have not seen or heard one yet of this fast declining
bird. At the Reserve on the 2nd May there was a family
of 5 young Mallard ducklings which is always nice to see
and on the Community Reserve were 5 Tufted Duck and 5
Oystercatcher. At the same location on the 4th Dave had
a Whimbrel flying over the scrapes and a Common Sandpiper
was on one of the rafts while on our Reserve he briefly
heard a Pied Flycatcher and other birds included 5 Lesser
Redpoll and 4 Willow Warbler. At the Community Reserve
on the evening of the 6th were 4 Greylag Geese, Canada
Goose, 12 Tufted Duck, female Goosander, Cormorant, 2
Mallard, female Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler
and Reed Bunting. Dave had previously heard a Sedge Warbler
calling from Hawthorn trees at the back of his house at
Beattock. The first Swifts were over Moffat on the 7th,
just a day later than in 2017. While down at the Reserve
at night there were 4 Roe Deer and at least one young
Moorhen was still on the wetland area and on the adjacent
Community Reserve were singing Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler
and Grasshopper Warbler.
6th
May 2018
Our Coffee Morning
raised the wonderful total of £1926, much
better than expected. This will go a long way towards
future work down at the reserve!
As usual, our very grateful thanks go to all involved
- those who donated goods for the stalls, things for the
raffle and then came and spent their pennies in buying
things! Must not forget the 'backroom volunteers' who
gave their time and effort in running things on the day.
Thank you, one and all.
9th April
2018
Iain
saw 2 Swallows over our reserve yesterday evening.
8th April
2018
Update
from Iain -
Mid-February onwards:
On the 13th February I had a report of Otter up the Annan
around Adamsholm and Goldcrest were recorded in a couple
of gardens. At the Reserve the following day were 14 Teal,
22 Mallard, Grey Heron, 5 Moorhen, 2 Buzzard, 2 Willow
Tit, 3 Tree Sparrow, 2 Bullfinch, Redwing and Fieldfare.
At Coombe Burn near Poldean on the 16th Garry had 8 Brambling.
A good variety of birds at the Reserve on the 17th included
7 Skylark overhead, 4 Magpie, a Jay, 150 Pinkfeet, 6 Stock
Dove, 33 Teal, 20 Redwing, 3 Treecreeper among many other
woodland birds. There were Mute Swans and Canada Geese
on the Community Reserve. A Pheasant was reported in a
garden at Birnock Water on the 19th and Oystercatcher
and Pinkfeet were heard over the town at night. Garden
bird numbers were very variable with some complaining
about a lack of birds and some saying they were inundated.
A Mute Swan hit wires at the Green Frog on the 20th and
consequently Moffat was without power for a period of
time. While delivering on the 21st I saw 150 Pinkfeet
and 3 Song Thrush were singing well. The following day
Stewart Johnston reported a great deal of Mole activity
down at the old School Playing fields, 5 Dippers on the
River Annan and he saw a Kingfisher at Barnhill. On the
Community Reserve on the 24th were 7 Canada Geese, Cormorant,
4 Teal, 5 Little Grebe and 7 Oystercatcher. On the Reserve
were Willow Tit, 2 Tree Sparrow, 7 Teal, 2 Oystercatcher,
2 Reed Bunting and 2 Roe Deer. On the 1st March 7 Brambling
were at Meadow House and 3 in a garden along the Ballplay
Road while delivering on a really heavy snow day and Song
Thrush at 4 locations. While up at Mountain Bleau up near
Granton he had 2 Water Rail in a ditch which was excellent.
The following two days saw Tom Thomson have 4 Reed Bunting,
3 Pheasant, Oystercatcher and Mistle Thrush in his garden
while Roger Grant down at The Courance reported a Lapwing,
6 Snipe, some Teal on one of the ponds. Dave Bradshaw
garden had 5 male Blackbird, 2 Reed Bunting, 10 Long Tailed
Tits, 3 Song Thrush, Nuthatch and an increase in House
Sparrows. John Smith phoned me to say that he had 2 Hawfinch
in his garden on the 4th but were gone by the time I arrived
but was brilliant and his second record for his garden
which also held both Song and Mistle Thrush. While Dave
was at the Reserve the unfrozen ditches provided feeding
for at least 8 Snipe, 6 Teal, Wood Pigeon, a Kingfisher
and 6 Redwing. The Quarry held a pair of Goildeneye, 4
Mallard and 3 Little Grebe. There was a Goldcrest on the
path at The Pines, Dundanion Road while doing the deliveries
on the 5th and 12 Whooper Swans flew over. A Kestrel was
reported in a garden up near Granton and 14 Skylark flew
over Mountain Bleau. Ken Hines from Smiths Way in Beattock
had the following in his garden- 50 plus Siskin, 2 Lesser
Redpoll, 2 Brambling among many Chaffinches and a pair
of Sparrowhawk. While heading back from Dumfries on the
7th near The Courance a Green Woodpecker flew across the
road which was pleasing. The following day 2500 Pink Footed
Geese flew over while doing my rounds and nearly 4000
the next day and 5 Skylark. In the grounds of Dowding
House were at least 100 Siskin and Oystercatchers were
seen up Annan Water. At the Reserve on the 10th were 2
Bullfinch, 12 Teal, 2 Oystercatcher and 2 Roe Deer. A
flock of 100 plus Fieldfare overflew the Reserve on the
12th and 3 Lapwing over the 2 reserves the next day while
passage of Pink Footed Geese peaked at 5600 birds and
6 Whooper Swans. The Reserve on the 14th boasted a mixed
flock of 42 Lesser Black Backed and Herring Gulls, 10
Pheasant, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Willow Tit and 35 Redwing. The
Community Reserve had a Cormorant, 2 Mallard, 2 Little
Grebe, 2 Canada Geese and 1 Oystercatcher. Tom Thomson
reported a Mute Swan and 2 Grey Heron in a flooded field
at Meadow Bank. A good count of 24 Skylark over the Reserve
on the 17th with 12 Teal and 3 Roe Deer. At the Community
Reserve were 10 Canada Geese, 4 Cormorant, 5 Oystercatcher,
2 Little Grebe and 4 Mallard.
From the 19th for ten days or so there was a spate of
sightings of 1/2 Red Kites seen by many observers at different
locations from the Beef Tub, Granton, Copper Beech, Hartfell,
Beattock, Meadow Bank, Golf Hill, Holehouse Lynn, etc
Simon Tweedie photographed one bird in flight up Hartfell
Spa and Alan Roulston saw one over the Reserve on the
23rd. The Community Reserve held 13 Oystercatcher, 20
Canada Geese, 6 Cormorant, 4 Little Grebe and 6 Mallard
on the 21st. Ken Hines reported a female Wheatear up the
Beef Tub on the 25th. The Reserve held 3 Skylark, 2 Oystercatcher,
6 Teal, 100 plus Fieldfare/Redwing, 2 Goldcrest and a
Willow Tit on the 28th. While at Carlisle on the 3rd April
with Lorna we heard a Chiffchaff and Anne Gibbard reported
2 Osprey over the Green Frog on the 4th. John Smith had
a female Blackcap in his garden on the 5th in Greenwood
Close. While at the Reserve on the 6th with his grandchildren,
Garry reported at least 1000 Redwing and Fieldfare feeding
on the woodland floor and adjacent fields with 2 Willow
Tits at the feeders and 2 Osprey around. Dave was up Daer/Leadhills
area and reported a couple of Wheatear, Osprey, Golden
Plover, Redshank, Curlew, Lapwing, etc. At the Community
Reserve on the 7th was a calling Chiffchaff, 2 male Goldeneye,
female Tufted Duck, 4 Teal and 5 Oystercatcher. There
was a lot of frog/toad activity at the Reserve in the
ponds and ditches. A Chiffchaff was calling at the Old
Well Theatre on the morning of the 8th.
27th
March 2018
There
hasn't been much reported by way of frogs so far, yet
John's garden has seen an absolute pandemonium of them
this year and for an unusually long period. Last year
they appeared on 22nd February for only two busy days.
This year they were first seen 11th March and were there
until 19th March with well upwards of 50 each day. They
were then largely absent during a cold period but reappeared
on the 22nd for another 3 hectic days (making a total
of 12 days activity) with again well upwards of 50 each
day. Impossible to actually count them, they were just
far too active, so it was a case of count a batch and
then estimate, but 'over 50' may easily have been 100
within a 8 feet diameter pond! There are still a few moving
about today but now probably less than ten. Quite a pile
of spawn, needless to say.
Not certain but suspected sighting of our palmate newts
too, though seldom sure of seeing them until the pond
plants get into growth.
19th
March 2018
We
have received the D&G County Mammal Report for 2017
from the recorder, Andy Riches, and have posted it here.
As always, it makes interesting reading. We encourage
you to send all your mammal sightings to Andy (contact
details are on the report) to ensure the data is accurate
and up to date. The report is in 'PDF' format so you will
need an appropriate reader to open it.
County Mammal
Report 2017
14th
February 2018
Update
from Iain on 2018 so far-
Dave Bradshaw saw the following on the 1st January
at Moffat Country Park at Beattock - 13 Mallard, 4 Little
Grebe, 1 Teal and 5 Mute Swans (2ad/3juv). At the Reserve
on the 3rd were 2 Mute Swans, 18 Teal, Willow Tit, Sparrowhawk
and 2 Raven. Dave had 38 Siskins in the Cornal Court/Craigie
Avenue area. Also in the Beattock area the following day
were 15 Redwing in trees along the Cycle Track. Robin
McMillan saw a Red Fox on the High Street on the morning
of the 5th at 6.30am. On the morning of the 6th I briefly
went to the Reserve/Quarry as I began having man flu/bad
cold which kept me away from the Reserve for 3 weeks unfortunately.
There were 25 Teal, 50 Siskin and a Raven while 90 Pinkfeet
passed overhead. At the Quarry were 6 Teal, 9 Mallard
and 7 Little Grebe. Dave was at the Quarry 2 days later
and saw 36 Mallard, 4 Teal, 5 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant
and 1 Grey Wagtail. At the Reserve on the 10th were 2
Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Willow Tit, 11 Long Tailed Tit,
13 Mallard and 2 Teal. Wintry weather has made it difficult
getting work done at the Reserve the past weeks but hopefully
we are nearing the end of the Winter. People obviously
reported an increase in birds in their gardens but it
has still been a fairly quiet winter for garden birds
to be honest. A few Brambling but just the odd one or
two. Gina Hirst had a Stonechat in her garden briefly
on the 18th at Hillend Cottages and some have had the
odd Bullfinch. Tom Thomson has had a pair of Reed Bunting
atr his feeding station along Meadow Bank. Andy Dickson
had a regular solitary Fieldfare which often chases off
other thrushes to feed on the apples that Sandra puts
out and this bird has stayed in the vicinity of his garden
for about a month. Also in his garden a Great Spotted
Woodpecker grabbed a female Siskin which got too near
on the nut feeder threw it off and on later inspection
Andy reported that the Siskin was dead.....it is all happening
at our feeding stations. I eventually made it back to
the Reserve on the 31st and 5 Tree Sparrow, 2 Willow Tit,
20 Mallard and 18 Teal were to be seen. At the Quarry
were 4 Oystercatcher, 20 Teal, 20 Mallard, 5 Canada Geese,
4 Moorhen and 6 Little Grebe. While out delivering there
were 2 Song Thrush at The Paddocks. A few more Kestrel
have been seen including a pair near Mollin Burn on the
road to Dumfries on the 2nd February. At the Reserve on
the 3rd were 2 Willow Tit and 2 Bullfinch. While Dave
was at the Quarry on the 11th there were 4 Little Grebe,
24 Mallard, 2 male Goldeneye, 3 Canada Geese, 1 Cormorant,
1 Moorhen and 10 Oystercatcher.
A couple of
other snippets -
During the January snow, Dave Bradshaw had the unusual
sighting of a Rook (not a crow) at his bird feeder table.
During the few days before the snow, John Smith had a
number of sightings (and hearings) of foxes in the Greenwood
Close/Merkland/Greenwood Hall area including two in company
on two occasions at around midday. Maybe they didn't appreciate
the weather as, apart from one set of tracks
in the snow, they haven't been seen again.
20th
January 2018
Not the best start to the year! First our January meeting
had to be postponed for a week and then the winter weather
forced it to be cancelled at short notice. The scheduled
speaker, Angus Hogg, was snowbound at his house and, with
the poor road conditions, restricted parking due to ploughed
snow and the underfoot conditions, we little option but
to cancel the meeting. We did our best to let people know
but we do realise not everyone checks our website, facebook
or the posters. If you did struggle along, we apologise
for your wasted journey. Hopefully we won't have these
problems from now on.
On a brighter
note, Dave Bradshaw has provided a selection of pictures
that he took during November and December last year. Here
are three of them:
A superb picture
of a male Brambling really showing off the colourful markings
of this winter visitor. Then a typical Sparrowhawk pose
showing a beady eyed 'I spy lunch' look. Finally, a great
image of a Tree Sparrow clearly showing the differences
from its House Sparrow cousin - the chestnut cape covering
the head and nape and the very distinctive black spot
on the cheek.
January
2018
Another year comes around and we wish our readers
all the very best for 2018.
Our entries for 2017 have now been archived and can still
be viewed on our archive section. For continuity, we have
left the last entry of 2017 in place.
In keeping with our policy of minimizing our on-line material,
the 2014 pages have now been dropped. If anyone has any
need to view 2014 (or older - back to 2011) material then
please get in touch as these pages are still held off-line
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1st December
2017
Latest update from Iain:
At the Reserve on the 4th November were 70 Mallard and
19 Teal with Willow Tit up in the Orchard area. John Smith
briefly had 3/4 Waxwings on tree tops in the Greenwood
Close area on the morning of the 5th but alas did not
stay long. In the same area around a Yew tree were a number
of Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird and Mistle Thrush. Along
Auldton Road on the 6th were many hundreds of Fieldfare
which were observed by Garry. A comprehensive Reserve
list on the 9th was compiled by Dave Bradshaw including
a large mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing there were
also 12 Long Tailed Tits, 4 Coal Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Great
Tit, 20 Chaffinch, 3 Pheasant, 5 Teal, 37 Mallard, 5 Moorhen,
4 Magpie, 10 Jackdaw, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron,
Mistle Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Wren and Robin while a Cormorant
flew over the adjacent meadow. At the Community Reserve
on the 11th were 3 Cormorant, 7 Little Grebe, 4 Moorhen,
6 Mallard and a male Tufted Duck. On our Reserve were
33 Mallard, 21 Teal, a juvenile Mute Swan, 2 Grey Heron,
9 Magpie (record count), 6 Stock Dove, 3 Mistle Trush,
30 Redwing, 80 Fieldfare, 10 Goldfinch and 150 Siskins
feeding on the tops of the Alders. Once again the Auldton
Road produced a most unusual sighting in the form of a
Water Rail which passed in front of Garry. While at the
Reserve on the 15th we saw Ravens on 4 different occasions
which was noteworthy. A few days later while clearing
the main ditch myself and Dave accidently flushed a Woodcock
which was the first for the Reserve for many years and
was seen twice later as we continued clearing other ditches.
While having a well deserved tea break 12 Long Tailed
Tits put on a fantastic show at very close quarters. The
young Mute Swan was still on the Middle Pond while there
were 15 Teal and 3 Grey Heron. On the adjacent Community
Reserve was a male Wigeon, 4 Mallard, 3 Moorhen and 6
Little Grebe. A female Goosander was seen on the Birnock
Water near Claudios. At Moffat Manor Country Park on the
23rd Dave Bradshaw saw a record count of 12 Little Grebe
with 11 Mallard and 4 Moorhen with a Jay and a Raven in
the area. Afterwards up the Red Brae Dave saw 3 Bullfinch,
Grey Heron, Buzzard, 5 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 6 Blackbird,
4 Chaffinch and 2 Robins. On the 25th Garry saw a Barn
Owl hunting over the Reserve as he headed back into town
late afternoon while on the Reserve were 25 Teal and 2
Roe Deer were seen again. Down at the Reserve on the 27th
were 31 Mallard, 16 Teal, 3 Moorhen, 10 Jackdaw, 4 Chaffinch,
Coal Tit, Pheasant and Mistle Thrush. During the month
Grey Squirrels were seen up Dundanion Road and the Chapelbrae
though Red Squirrels were seen up the Gallow Hill. At
the Reserve on the 29th I saw a female Merlin fly briefly
over the wetland area and a Raven went by. Along the Birnock
Water 2 male Bullfinch were seen and 3 male Pheasant and
2 Treecreeper were seen by Tom Thompson at Meadow Bank.