22nd
October 2019
Latest update -
On Friday 13th September 250 Pink Footed Geese
over the town early morning. At our first indoor meeting
of the new season among sightings reported were Badgers
digging up lawns along Old Carlisle Road and Ballplay
Road while Sue Powell reported a Barn Owl at Annanside
and a Goldcrest hit a window but recovered at Craigielands.
Two days later were more Pinkfeet and there were 40 Swallows
in the Mearsedale Park area on the 15th. At the Reserve
on the 18th the young Swallows had fledged and left the
top shed and the Teal numbers had risen to 7. Up the Gallow
Hill area a pale coloured Red Fox had been seen and Grey
Squirrel but no Reds. A Hedgehog was seen in Warriston
Place on the 19th and more Badger activity was being noticed.
At the Reserve on the 21st there were 21 Teal with very
few House Martins and Swallows around though plenty darters,
hawkers and Red Admiral butterflies around. A week later
at the Reserve a Mute Swan landed on the wetland area
with 10 Teal and a few Painted Lady butterflies around.
The last Swallows were seen over St Marys Church and Beattock
village on the 29th. To start October I saw 2 Red Kites
over Hope Johnstone Park on the 1st and at the Reserve
the following day were 17 Teal and 3 Mute Swan flew over.
A Chiffchaff was calling up Haywood Road on the 4th and
Garry saw the first returning Redwing with dozens at the
Reserve the following day with 2 Roe Deer, 17 Teal, 2
Mute Swan and at least 50 Siskin flying in the woodland.
A young Collared Dove was handed into the shop on the
7th, possibly breeding on the High Street trees. The next
day at least 100 Siskin were in the Dowding House area
and small groups of Redwing were passing over the town
and on my road to Dumfries cash and carry there were a
few Jays on the move. At the Community Reserve on the
9th there was a single Coot with 3 Little Grebe and a
Cormorant while our Reserve held 10 plus Pheasant, 10
Long Tailed Tit and 2 Willow Tit. At the October meeting
a Lesser Redpoll was reported seen at Torr Lodge, Alton
Road. There were two possible Golden Eagle sightings over
Moffat and Hartfell around this time. At our Reserve on
the 12th were 4/5 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Tit and 2 Treecreeper
at the Orchard feeding station with 17 Teal, a Buzzard
and 8/9 Song Thrush feeding on Rowan berries. Garry had
a Hobby in the Barnhill/The Toot area once again around
this time also which was notable. Finally at the Reserve
on the 19th were the first 40 Fieldfare of the Winter
and the Siskin flock had grown to well over 100 birds.
13th
September 2019
Latest update:
LATE JUNE -
Two Red Kites were being reported regularly over the Golf
Hill area while birds were also seen at various other
sites in our area.....but no confirmed breeding unless
anyone knows better. The following day at the Reserve
the 6th brood of Mallard ducklings appeared on the middle
pond while John Smith reported a Hedgehog in Greenwood
Close.
JULY
-
At the Reserve on the 3rd Garry saw 3 Osprey in the area
and I saw one while out delivering in the morning. On
the 8th George Allan had a Red Kite above the Green Frog.
Karen Hayley reported a brood of Mallards on their pond
at Beattock on the 9th. On the 12th there were over 60
Swifts over the town with numbers boosted by youngsters.
Scott Solley reported 2 Hedgehogs on the High Street late
at night. Many people worried and disappointed by the
lack of House Martins and Swallows in the area. Mr Kelland
up at Blair Drummond House up Old School Lane saw his
first Grey Squirrel in his garden. Wood Pigeon...in my
opinion....are an increasing sight in local gardens throughout
the town. Dropping water levels at the Reserve left some
exposed mud and this attracted a few waders with a Common
Sandpiper on the 13th while Jock also had an Oystercatcher
and a Green Sandpiper which was the first for a long time.
The Swallow brood in the Orchard shed was nearly fledging
while Willow Tits were seen after a bit of a gap and the
Whitethroat was still singing. Still 60 Swifts over the
town on the 17th and I heard that one of the Osprey nests
up Moffat Water fledged 3 young. On the 19th Lesley Robson
up Hillside Terrace reported 2 broods of Pheasants in
her garden. At the Reserve on the 20th were 2 very vocal
young Peregrines flying over while a week later the Swallow
brood had fledged and, after one failure, a pair of Spotted
Flycatchers were feeding young in one of the open nest
boxes. On the last day of the month while strimming at
the Reserve a Barn Owl flew out of one of the larger nest
boxes and there were loads of Tree/House Sparrows around.
AUGUST -
On the 3rd at the Reserve a bat was flying over the wetland
area at lunchtime while Swifts were disappearing fast
and 80 Swallows/House Martins were up at Mearsdale. The
last 2 Swifts were seen on the 12th. A Hedgehog was outside
the shop on the morning of the 14th while on the 20th
Garry had a Hobby at Birnock Water hunting Swallows and
House Martins. On driving down to the Reserve about 8.30am
on the 21st there were 280 Swallows and 40 House Martins
on the wires and hunting over the fields, a great sight
to see so many. The first 3 returning Teal were on the
Reserve on the 24th with a welcome record of a Small Copper
butterfly. The second brood of 3 Swallows in our Orchard
shed were doing well on the 28th with 2 Teal, 16 Long
Tailed Tits, 2 Buzzard and a young Peregrine around the
area.
SEPTEMBER
-
On the
morning of the 1st 30 Greylag Geese flew over Meadow Bank/Rise
area. At the bottom of Old School Lane 40 odd Siskins
were flying around. While out early morning of the 4th,
40 Pink Footed Geese flew over Ballplay Tennis Courts
and down at the Reserve 50 House Martins were in the area
with 5 Teal on the wetland area. Richard Clarkson reported
an Osprey fishing on Loch Skeen on the 11th while Jean
Hunter-Grant saw a Grey Squirrel on the cycle path opposite
the turn off for Beattock
28th
July 2019
Access to our reserve has changed.
Some
of our visitors have left gates either open or not properly
secured so George Paterson, who has kindly allowed us
access for many years, has decided that access should
only be via one route with a minimum of field gates to
negotiate. We fully agree with his decision.
The main change is that the route via the 'kissing' gate
at the roadside ('red' route on our map) has been discontinued
so access across/through the field is no longer to be
used. To gain access, travel a further 100 metres down
the road (towards the Community Nature Reserve) to the
'finger post' sign and enter the field there via the field
gate (bolt fastening) at the fingerpost sign. Visitors
should ensure that this gate is closed and fully bolted
before proceeding. At the second gate along this route,
some 50 yards on, the former field gate entry (often left
unsecured by visitors) has been replaced by a new 'kissing
gate' entry.
A new map will be produced in due course.
11th
July 2019
Further
to previous information, our Coffee Morning is
now scheduled for Saturday, 2nd May 2020 at the
usual venue - 10.30am in Moffat Town Hall.
28th
June 2019
Latest
update from Iain -
APRIL
There were 10 Greylag Geese on the Reserve on the 10th
while a few days later on the 13th there were 3 Sand Martin,
a Swallow, 2 Greylags and all the usual Willow Tits and
Tree Sparrows. On the 16th Garry had 12 Swallows and 2
Goldeneye on Loch of the Lowes while a farm in that area
held 6 pairs of Lapwing and a pair of Curlew. The following
day at the Reserve the first Mallard brood appeared with
6 ducklings while there were 5 Greylags and 2 Red Kites
above the Orchard area. On the 27th a second Mallard brood
was on the wetland with Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler,
Willow Warbler and Blackcap around while Barn Owls were
on eggs in one of the nest boxes.
MAY
At the Community Reserve there was a juvenile Mute Swan,
Grey Heron, 2 Little Grebe and 2 Oystercatchers with 4
Greylags and a brood of Moorhens on our Reserve. Allan
Henderson reported a Cuckoo near Biggar on the 2nd and
Garry had a Swift over Well View on the 3rd and a Sedge
Warbler on the Community Reserve. Summer migrants included
20 odd House Martins on the 4th moving through early morning
and at Bankend on the 6th were 2 male Pied Flycatchers
calling while myself and Jim Marrs both had 2 Swifts over
the town on the 7th. Doing my two paper rounds everyday
I have noticed Magpies all over the town but I have also
noticed many more Wood Pigeons in the town than ever before
and Collared Doves appear to be doing pretty well too.
While on an early morning survey to the North of the town
Jon Haydon and Dave Dick saw 4 male and 2 female Black
Grouse on the 14th. The day after at the Reserve were
6 Greylags, Oystercatcher, 2 broods each of Mallard and
Moorhen, very few Sand Martins around....a few pairs have
nested but we will need to improve the Nesting Bank for
future years. Butterflies around the Reserve this day
were Peacock, Red Admiral and Orange-tip. Two Cuckoos
were heard locally on the 16/17th by Maurice Henderson
and Christine Cameron from Craigeck and Archbank. Many
people have been in worried about a lack of Swallows and
House Martins in our area. At the Reserve we left open
a small door above the Orchard shed and they are currently
nesting while at Willowbank up Beechgrove this house has
14 House Martins nesting which do make a mess but surely
we can let these two birds nest in and on some of our
buildings and sheds before we lose them?? At the Reserve
on the 22nd were 2 Spotted Flycatcher and a Pied Flycatcher
singing.....unfortunately it did not attract a female
again this year. On the 25th our 4th brood of Mallards
appeared with our 3rd Moorhen family with 8 Greylags and
2 Canada Geese, 2 Oystercatcher, Curlew and 14 Lesser
Black Backed, Great Black Backed and Herring Gulls around.
A Whitethroat was calling from the middle pond. An impressive
24 Greylags were on the Reserve on the 29th but despite
such numbers this year none bred this year after 2 pairs
nesting on the Community Reserve last year. On the 30th
a Brown Hare was at Oakbank near Dumcrieff.
JUNE
At the
Reserve on the 1st a flock of well over 60 Greylags flew
over which was notable with a further 8 on the wetland
and two 7-spot Ladybirds were up in the Orchard area.
At Oakbank on the 11th was the Brown Hare and a Grey Squirrel.
While out on my rounds I see the local Swifts above the
town and I estimate at least 15-17 breeding pairs. John
Smith had a Grey Wagtail inhis garden on the 14th with
a male Siskin.....the first for many many weeks though
recently I have seen quite a few visiting feeding stations.
On the 16th Alan Smith reported seeing a Jay at Tathhill,
Red Kite over the old School Playing field and a Great
Spotted Woodpecker close by. While out on my rounds on
the morning of the 19th 4 Crossbills were feeding on grit
at Birnock Bridge beside the old Ballplay Tennis courts.
On the 23rd Gerry Aust reported a Grey Squirrel at The
Whins while a Red Squirrel was seen by Lorne Campbell
at the Old Beattock House crossing the road.
As an interesting
sideline, the Palmate Newts in John's pond up Greenwood
Close have taken quite a hammering this year. Virtually
every day over the past couple of weeks one or two have
been grabbed by Blackbirds that are more than willing
to plunge into the water to make a catch. Not something
you may expect from Blackbirds but is actually quite commonplace,
probably mostly while there are youngsters to feed. The
predation seems to have stopped now, either no more need
to catch them or they have run out of newts!
23rd
June 2019
Programme
changes! Not unexpected as speakers' commitments can change.
Hopefully it is now settled but do keep an eye in case
of further changes. Current version is on our 'Events'
page. Sadly, we do not yet have a confirmed date for our
Coffee Morning but we should have it soon.
2nd
June 2019
Our
programme for next season, starting on 13th September,
is now almost completed. Some may yet be changed and there
is still one date to fill. To see what is planned so far,
have a look at our "Events" page.
6th May
2019
Our
Coffee Morning on Saturday raised the total sum of £1928
This will, of course, help us greatly with the upkeep
of our Dyke Farm Nature Reserve for the benefit of wildlife
and visitors alike.
As always, our grateful thanks go to all concerned - contributors,
customers, and all those who manned the stalls and served
the refreshments.
8th April
2019
In
February at the Reserve the 2 Willow Tits were regular
throughout with the Tree Sparrows more regular and 2 Treecreeper
on the feeders at times. On the 8th an Otter was seen
again at Craigielands and a few Brambling were in various
gardens but not many birds. On my way back from Dumfries
on the 11th there was a Red Kite near the Burrance of
Courance and Oystercatchers over the High Street at 5am
the following day. At the Community Reserve on the 16th
there were 2 Lapwing over the lochan which were the first
that I had seen for many years in our district while there
were also 4 Cormorant, 8 Little Grebe, 9 Canada Geese,
3 Greylag Geese, 5 Mallard, 2 Teal and 15 Oystercatcher.
On our reserve were 2 Oystercatcher, 30 Mallard and 19
Teal. Garry was at the Community Reserve on the 19th and
there were 3 Lapwing, 4 Greylag Geese and 6 Whooper Swans
while the following day there were 15 Oystercatcher, 7
Little Grebe , 4 Mallard, 6 Teal, 3 Canada Geese and a
Greylag. On the Reserve were 3 Nuthatch, 2 Willow Tit,
4 Long Tailed Tits and a Kingfisher. While out on my paper
round on the 22nd a massive movement of over 5500 Pink
Footed Geese moved over in 40 minutes. The next day a
Bumblebee was reported and frog spawn was also seen while
at the Reserve were 2 Greylags, 17 Teal, Buzzard, female
Sparrowhawk and 12 Tree Sparrow. Garry saw a Red Admiral
and a honey bee on the 25th. At the Community Reserve
on the 27th were 2 Cormorant, 7 Little Grebe, 14 Mallard,
2 Canada Geese, 4 Teal, 19 Oystercatcher and 2 Grey Heron
while on our Reserve were 22 Teal, 40 Mallard, Buzzard,
Sparrowhawk and 60 Siskin.
The start of March produced 7 Curlew flying over the Reserve
on the 2nd with 2 Canada Geese, 4 Whooper Swan, 40 Mallard
and 27 Teal. Garry reported a Golden Plover flying over
the town and Tom Thomson had dozens of Siskin and 4 Lesser
Redpoll in his garden. A Red Kite was over the Gallow
Hill on the 3rd and a fortnight later Alan Smith saw 2
Red Kite over Oakrigg Farm on the 17th. Ron Lewis-Smith
reported a Green Woodpecker near Alton on the 22nd and
another was seen near Johnstonebridge motorway services
on the 26th. The same day Mrs Ritson reported a Red Kite
up the Golf Course Road. In the morning there were thousands
of Pink Footed Geese moving North and a large flock of
over 70 Whooper Swans while a sign of Spring with Chiffchaffs
calling at Heatheryhaugh and at the old Ballplay Tennis
courts and another at the Community Reserve the following
day on the 27th with 7 Oystercatcher, 4 Cormorant, 11
Greylags, female Goosander, 3 Little Grebe and 2 Teal.
At the Reserve were 2 Willow Tit, 2 Bullfinch, 20 Mallard,
4 Teal, 2 Greylags, 2 Oystercatcher and 2 Grey Heron.
Garry briefly had a Stork in the Wamphray area migrating
which was noteable. The following day at the Reserve a
single Sand Martin was around with 4 Chiffchaff and 3
Greenfinch.
Richard Clarkson reported 2 Red Kites over the Reserves
on the 2nd April and Wheatear and Ring Ousel were back
at the Grey Mares Tail. Red Kites were also recorded in
the Wamphray area by Maurice Henderson on the 4th and
I saw an Osprey on the morning of the 6th. Today the 8th
produced 2 Red Kites seen by George Allan up Annan Water
and they showed really well, while in the morning I saw
14 Whooper Swans heading North.
And a supplement
from John Smith -
After a very boring winter, first frog of the year in
our Greenwood Close pond on 6th Feb, the occasional one
or two until the 25th with a large clump of spawn appearing
on the 23rd. The 25th saw a major influx with some 30+
counted, then went quiet until the2nd of March with easily
40+ each day until the 9th. Nothing further until the
day after Storm Gareth with an invasion of perhaps a 100
or more on the 13th. From there, all gone. Red Kite seen
drifting over Moffat in a SE to NW direction on 20th March.
Blackcap seen twice in the garden on the 24th. During
warmer days, one or two Peacock butterflies going about,
also quite a few Bumblebees. All the Bumblies that I got
close to turned out to be Tree Bumblebees, not the expected
white-tailed variety. Chiffchaff calling occasionally
during the past week and my first Swallow on Well road
by Mill Green. Good news also in that our garden has been
visited by a Hedgehog recently, overnight on 4th/5th and
again 6th/7th, a change from the occasional Badger and
neighbourhood moggies that my night camera usually gets!
Very pleased to see Hedgehogs as they seem very scarce
nowadays. Also had a Roedeer pass through just after 06.15
this morning.
11th
March 2019
Now
have the annual mammal report fro D&G 2018 from Andy
Riches. The report, in PDF format is, unfortunately, a
bit too big to include on our site. Instead, here is a
link to a Dropbox store where you can download
it yourself. You do NOT need a Dropbox account to get
it, simply ignore prompts to sign in or sign up and just
go for the 'download' button.
Also
from Andy, a very handy guide to identifying mammals to
be found in D&G and includes pictures of the mammals
and signs to look for. Again in PDF format, it is recommended
reading, You can access it here
but it is also available under the 'Advice' button
on our menu at the left.
8th February
2019
Latest
from Iain -
Apologies for no update for a very long time. On November
6th near Barnhill Garry saw 9 Brambling and I saw 4 in
the Dowding House area while Tom Thomson had 2 in his
garden and the following day at the Reserve were another
3 Brambling with 17 Teal. The following day on the 8th
a Red Kite was seen up Annan Water and I saw 4 Ravens
over the town. Grey Squirrels were seen along Ballplay
Road, Gallow Hill, Auchencastle and Lawesknowe area. An
Otter was seen in Craigielands Pond. At the Reserve on
the 10th were the usual mix of 2 Willow Tit, 6 Pheasant,
11 Long Tailed Tit, 4 Goldcrest, 5 Tree Sparrow, 7 Teal,
3 Grey Heron, 2 Jay, 5 Magpie and a Roe Deer. Grey Squirrels
featured on the 12th being seen up the second Waterside,
Golf Course Road and Gallow Hill again. Ravens were being
seen most mornings. A male Merlin was seen by Garry at
the top end of the Reserve on the 15th and a small mixed
flock of Meadow Pipit and Skylark. At the Reserve on the
24th were 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Brambling, 2 Willow Tit and
a Common Snipe was flushed by Jon Haydon up in the Orchard.
On the 27th a Cormorant was flying up the River Annan
while Red Squirrels were reported at Moorlands and Annanwater
Schoolhouse and Christine Cameron saw 2 Grey Squirrels
up Gallow Hill. On the 28th the Reserve held 2 Willow
Tit, 2 Bullfinch, 6 Pheasant, 7 Teal and 6 Long Tailed
Tit.
Into December and at the Reserve on the 8th were 40 Teal
and 14 Mallard attracted to the opened up wetland area
and 5 Tree Sparrow. Garry saw a juvenile Whooper Swan
at the Community Reserve on the 14th and a few Meadow
Pipits and early in the morning of the 28th I heard Canada
Geese calling from the same location while people observed
a movement of geese over the town. The last sightings
for the year were from the Reserve on the 29th with 2
Wilow Tit, 3 Tree Sparrow, 25 Mallard and 7 Teal.
At our club meeting on the 11th January there was a report
from Garry of a family of Whooper Swans on Loch of the
Lowes and after reporting that I had heard Tawny Owls
calling from Dumcrieff, Nethermiln Meadows and Haywood
Road while on my paper round it was clear that Tawny Owl
numbers were well down. The following day at the Reserve
was a great mix of birds including 2 Willow Tit, 15 Teal,
3 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Tree Sparrow, 2 Grey Heron,
3 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing, 40 plus Siskin, 5 Long Tailed
Tit, 2 Treecreeper, 9 Stock Dove, 1 Jay and 7 Magpies.
At the Community Reserve on the 19th were a male Goldeneye,
11 Mallard and 7 Little Grebe while on our Reserve were
2/3 Willow Tit, 6 Tree Sparrow, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Buzzard,
12 Teal, 2 Grey Heron and a Cormorant flew overhead. On
the 26th Richard Bligh reported that he had seen an Oystercatcher
at one of the timber yards near Lockerbie where he works
which was about 3 weeks early. Allan Henderson reported
hearing a Tawny Owl from his house in St Ninians Road
which was the first that he had heard for a long time.
My sister had 15 Blackbirds in her garden up Dundanion
Road. At the Reserve I was lucky enough to see a Red Kite
pass over with a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk also around
with 4 Nuthatch, 2 Willow Tit, 2 Treecreeper, 7 Tree Sparrow,
2 Bullfinch, 4 Long Tailed Tit, 15 Teal, 45 Mallard, 5
Moorhen, 2 Grey Heron, 7 Stock Dove, 11 Pheasant and many
Pink Footed Geese moving overhead. While coming back from
Dumfries on the morning of the 28th I was pleased to see
a flock of 30-40 Lapwing near the Burrance of Courance
and the following day Garry had 7 Crossbill in the tall
fir tees along the Ballplay Road. To finish off January
Jon Haydon had 3 Brambling in his garden on the 31st up
Beechwood and Tom Thomson had his first Reed Buntings
of the Winter in his garden.
6th
January 2019
Another year comes
upon us. Have no recent updates on sightings to post at
the moment so this page is somewhat sparse!
NOTE
- our next meeting (11th January) will again be downstairs
in the Buccleuch Arms Hotel. This is likely to be
the venue for all our future meetings.
