1st May.
My first holiday in Scotland and what a treat it was! The journey 'Up North' seemed a doddle owing to the wonderful scenery on the journey! First stop was Gretna Green for a refreshment break and a wander around. Very commercialised with the shops but a sign of the times with it's popularity I suppose. Three weddings took place in the hour we were there which show's how popular Gretna Green is. Highlight birds were House Martin and Swallow, the Swallows almost dive bombing shoppers as they emerged from the shops.
After a good look around the splendid 'Tartan' shop it was back on the road enroute to Kippford where we were to be staying for the week. Accomodation was a bungalow on a caravan park recommended by a friend. They have caravans, bungalows and lodges. The caravan park has a childrens adventure play area and a small shop catering for most items needed daily. The park has it's own woodland and a Red Squirrel breeding population. Badgers and Tawny Owls are regular visitors to the park, I heard a Tawny Owl but no sign of a Badger whilst we were there unfortunately.
Daily visitors after the bird seed that I put out on the balcony fence were Coal, Blue & Great Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Blackbird, Greenfinch and Chaffinch and a Woodpigeon! Other species seen in and over the park were Swallow, H Martin, Goldfinch, Wren, Collared Dove, Mistle Thrush, Willow Warbler, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Gulls. I had to wait until the 6th (Wednesday) before a Red Squirrel appeared for the monkey nuts that I had put down for them. I had been told that once the park went quieter of people (after the Bank Holiday) the squirrels would soon be out and about and this was the case. I was delighted to see my first Red Squirrels, I just wish they had tidied the nut shells up after them.lol!!
2nd May.
Today was to be a day to unwind and get to know a little of the Kippford area. A walk in the caravan park woodland in the morning was just the job after the drive the day before. The Bluebells were growing well but only the odd few were bursting into flower, the Common Gorse on the outer edges of the wood was looking splendid in the warm sunshine and it's 'coconut' aroma filled the air. Wood Sorrel, Wood Anemone and Ramsons prettied up the woodland floor. Great and Blue Tit, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Robin, Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk being notable birds seen on the walk. There are viewpoints were you can see over the sea to the Lake District (South) and into the Galloway Hills (North), stunning views!
After lunch and a short drive we were in Kippford, this narrow village runs along the Urr Estuary. Shelduck, Heron, Whimbrel and Oystercatcher were seen feeding in the mudflats, also seen were Herring and L B B Gulls. Walking along the footpath that leads to Rockcliffe we had good views of off-shore Rough Island , a bird sanctuary that is off limits in May and June when Oystercatchers and Terns are breeding! Scoping the island I counted c350 Oystercatchers and c50 Black-Headed Gulls all resting on the island.
3rd May.
Wood of Cree was today's destination and what a treat it turned out to be! How lovely it was to see the waterfalls and tumbling burns, a sight and sound I had really been looking forward to! Wild Garlic and Bluebells were almost in flower, Primroses, Common Cow-wheat and Bilberry were carpeting the woodland floor. I spotted a Large red damselfly, my first damselfly of the year, Peacock butterfly and Dor beetle were seen several times on the walk. The highlight birds today were the Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler singing loudly as they flitted from tree to tree! The Wood Warbler was especially pleasing as it perched low in the trees several times giving great views of it without the need for bins as it sang and vibrated it's tail! Magic!!!
After lunch we took the short walk to the Otter platform, here we saw Grey Wagtail, Wren, Sedge Warbler heard only, a Mallard family, Buzzard and Orange tip butterfly. No Otters were seen but I think we would have been very lucky to have seen one in the relatively short time we spent at the platform as we had plannned to visit Wigtown Bay Nature Reserve in the afternoon.
Along the journey to Wigtown Bay Pied Wagtail and Stock Dove were notable sightings. On arrival at the Visitor Centre (Wigtown County Buildings) we were told that some exciting plans were planned for the Nature Reserve.....that was it, no more information was forthcoming. On my return home I read all about it as the RSPB had sent a letter and an appeal, detailing their intentions to purchase the site and create a new reserve at Crook of Baldoon. I wish them every success! Here is a link for non RSPB members and of course RSPB members. http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-250249
CCTV of Ospreys breeding in Galloway is shown at the Visitor Centre.
It was a relatively short walk down to the hide at Wigtown harbour and all was fairly quiet round about with the highlight being 2 Drake Garganey! Other species seen being Pied Wagtail, Rock Pipit, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Greylag Geese, Shelduck, a Mallard family, Cormorant and B H Gull. I said it was quiet..well it was until a coach party of RSPB members entered the hide!! They really were a friendly group of people having chatted to some of them, after they had viewed the Garganey they all left leaving the hide quiet once more.lol!! The Garganey also left soon afterwards.