Big shout out to all music fans. The RSPB will be having a stand at Knockengorroch World Ceilidh this year. We'll be getting mucky with paints and glue, making masks and hats and paper kites. Join us for the bird quiz on Saturday afternoon for a bit of fun and some brilliant prizes!! Get you tickets now if you haven't already. www.knockengorroch.co.uk
Hello everyone,
Do you love the scream of swifts on warm summer evenings? I find there is nothing that evokes relaxed summer evenings with a cold G&T better, than the sound of their calls over the town. But swifts are in trouble. Fewer are returning to their nest sites and these secret places where they come to land are under threat from development. Join me tomorrow evening (6-7.30pm) to survey these special birds around Wigtown. Meet at the Wigtown Bay Visitor Centre, County Buildings at 6pm, or phone for further details 01988 402130. All welcome!
Frustratingly, our osprey camera is still not working :( 2 ospreys have been seen at the nest but seem to be keeping seperate from each other. Could this be a new bird to the area? Or perhaps the young male from last year back in town? Sadly, it is very hard to identify the birds from a distance without the camera. do keep an eye out if you live in the area and let us know your sightings. Keep checking here for updates.
2 Ospreys were seen yesterday near the nest. One sitting on the nest, the other on the ground nearby. There was no interaction seen between them, so obviously not a pair yet..... Could it be the young male from last year? Or perhaps a bird from another pair in the area? Pop down to Wigtown Bay Visitor Centre to find out what will happen next.
Spring has finally arrived. The first swallows are swooping through Wigtown and the male osprey EP, is spending every morning at the nest, searching the skies and tidying, hoping a female osprey will take an interest.
This weekend is the Wigtown Book Weekend - visit this website, www.wigtownbookfestival.com to see the full programme and ticket booking information. In the Wigtown Bay Visitor Centre, we are having otter themed craft and quiz activities, all day Sunday & Monday. On Sunday, I will be telling the story of the Hunger Otter, by Mark Ezra, and well-known local story-teller and songstress, Renita Boyle will be bringing local animals to life with stories and songs at 3pm. The Utterly Otterleys, by Mairi Hedderwick, is the story for Monday at 3pm. Hope to see you in the Visitor Centre over the weekend.
Also in the programme are 2 Dawn Chorus guided walks - Saturday, 5.30-7.30am at the Crook of Baldoon; and Monday, 5.30-7.30am at the Wood of Cree. Please contact the Wigtown office to book a place on either of these lovely walks - 01988 402130.
Be an early bird
Experience the Dawn Chorus at an RSPB Scotlandnature reserve
Getting up at dawn on a Sunday isn’t everyone’s idea of alazy weekend.
But as part of International Dawn Chorus Day on May 5, RSPBScotland is offering visitors in Dumfries and Galloway, the rare chance toenjoy one of the wonders of nature.
“Birds tend to sing at dawn in the spring, probably becauseit’s so quiet, and it’s the time of day when their song will travel thefurthest. When you hear all these different birds singing their hearts out and competingwith each other from all different directions, with the sun just coming up… theonly description I can think of is magical.”
At all the events, an RSPB Scotland officer will be on handto help pick out the different songs from the chorus, which could includedozens of species.
The events are running at:
Crook of Baldoon nature reserve, from 5.30-7.30 (Saturday 27April and 4 May) 01988 402130 www.rspb.org.uk/crookofbaldoon
Mersehead nature reserve, from 5am-7am followed by a Continentalbreakfast (Saturday 5 May) www.rspb.org.uk/mersehead
Wood of Cree nature reserve, from 5.30am-7.30am (Monday 6May) 01988 402130 www.rspb.org.uk/woodofcree
There is a small charge for the walks, and booking isessential. You can find out more by phoning the reserves, or visiting theirindividual pages on the RSPB website.
If you have any binoculars, please bring them along, and it’salways advisable to wear stout shoes and come prepared for the unpredictableScottish climate.
Notes