Crook of Baldoon

Blog post: 2 ospreys in Wigtown Bay

Alexa — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:10:00 GMT

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.

Blog post: Book Weekend events

Alexa — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:38:00 GMT

Hello everyone,

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.

Photo: Art exhibition

Bayview — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:27:00 GMT

Local artist, Lisa Hooper, had framed and unframed pictures and cards on display.

Photo: Manning the stands.

Bayview — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:21:00 GMT

It was marginally warmer, and out of the wind, in the barn.

Photo: Looking across the reserve to Carsluith.

Bayview — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:17:00 GMT

Photo: Guided walk

Bayview — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:11:00 GMT

Returning, windswept, from the guided walk, led by warden, Paul Tarling.

Photo: What's out there?

Bayview — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:08:00 GMT

Open day at the Crook of Baldoon. Looking out across the salt marsh.

Blog post: Dawn Chorus across Dumfries and Galloway

Paul Tarling — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:58:00 GMT

Be an early bird

Experience the Dawn Chorus at an RSPB Scotland
nature reserve

Getting up at dawn on a Sunday isn’t everyone’s idea of a
lazy weekend.

But as part of International Dawn Chorus Day on May 5, RSPB
Scotland is offering visitors in Dumfries and Galloway, the rare chance to
enjoy one of the wonders of nature.

“Birds tend to sing at dawn in the spring, probably because
it’s so quiet, and it’s the time of day when their song will travel the
furthest. When you hear all these different birds singing their hearts out and competing
with each other from all different directions, with the sun just coming up… the
only description I can think of is magical.”

At all the events, an RSPB Scotland officer will be on hand
to help pick out the different songs from the chorus, which could include
dozens of species.

The events are running at:

Crook of Baldoon nature reserve, from 5.30-7.30 (Saturday 27
April and 4 May) 01988 402130 www.rspb.org.uk/crookofbaldoon

Mersehead nature reserve, from 5am-7am followed by a Continental
breakfast (Saturday 5 May) www.rspb.org.uk/mersehead

Wood of Cree nature reserve, from 5.30am-7.30am (Monday 6
May) 01988 402130 www.rspb.org.uk/woodofcree

There is a small charge for the walks, and booking is
essential. You can find out more by phoning the reserves, or visiting their
individual pages on the RSPB website.

If you have any binoculars, please bring them along, and it’s
always advisable to wear stout shoes and come prepared for the unpredictable
Scottish climate.

Notes

International Dawn
     Chorus Day 2013 will be the biggest and most interactive ever, with
     participates worldwide using the hashtag #idcd on Twitter to share their
     experiences of the event and upload images of the array of birds in
     chorus.
RSPB Scotland’s work in the Dumfries
& Galloway area is supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. Mersehead
reserve receives support from the European Community, Dumfries & Galloway
LEADER 2007-2013 programme.

Blog post: EP is back!!

Alexa — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:44:00 GMT

Great news everyone! Today the town bells in Wigtown rang to welcome back our male (leg ring white EP) to the nest. We'd had reports of an osprey since Sunday, but with the camera not working we could not see what was going on. Camera is fully functional again as of 4pm yesterday and straight away it was obvious that the nest had been disturbed. New sticks have been brought in to replace ones pinched by ravens and EP has been busy scrapping a nest hollow to make the nest look spic and span for any prospecting females in the area. He has been being mobbed by crows, but is seeing them off. Great to see him spending so much time on the nest. Just have to hope that he find a new mate soon!

Blog post: Ospreys

Paul Tarling — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:25:00 GMT

Good Evening all

We have a report of and Osprey back at the nest today no identification as yet but will keep you all posted.

Paul

Blog post: We survived!

Alexa — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:03:00 GMT

After 3 days of no electricity, I was MIGHTY glad when the lights popped back on last night. We even had our first barbeque of the year!! Wasn't the warmest but at least the sun was shining. The wind is still bitterly cold here but that hasn't detered some hardy ospreys returning to the UK. Reports are in of a male osprey at Loch of the Lowes, Perthshire, and also a possible sighting much closer to home at Castle Douglas. Keep a look out everyone, they're on their way!

Assuming we don't get the snow again this coming weekend. Drop in to the Visitor Centre this Saturday to see if the ospreys have returned and win a chocolate egg, if you spot the signs of Spring. Happy Easter everyone! Spring is here, it's just hiding.

Wigtown Bay Visitor Centre, County Buildings easter opening times - Friday 29th 12-5pm; Saturday 30th 10-4pm; Sunday closed; Monday 31st 12-5pm.

Blog post: What a weekend

Paul Tarling — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:50:00 GMT

Well glad the sun came out today and started the thaw.

Have attached some photos of what it was like at home on Friday.

Blog post: All eyes to the sky!! Spring is here!

Alexa — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:25:00 GMT

It's with baited breath that I go into the Visitor Centre these days. Any day now an osprey could appear on the nest. Already there has been an osprey sighted at Annan. Could this be the Caerlaverock birds returning? We will just have to wait and see. 3 other opsreys have been seen further south, so it really could be any day now. So here's my request - get out there and get your eyes to the sky. You might just be the first person to spot them returning to the Bay. Even if you don't spot an osprey winging it's way home, you are sure to see plenty of pink-footed and barnacle geese, shelduck and curlews. And of course the sweet singing of the birds in the hedgerows. Get out there, enjoy yourself and breath in the fresh Spring air!!

Blog post: Looks like a double dip winter here in Wigtown

Paul Tarling — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:29:00 GMT

Well at least it is dry for the moment! Down on the bay the
pack ice has started to form again and Monday’s ice cold wind was a bite of the
arctic. It is surprising when you see the news that the Channel Islands have
snow drifts we are getting an easterly blast of the continent and last year in
places the temperature was 18 degrees. The birds do not seem to mind but I feel
that our frog spawn which was laid last week will not survive as their pools
are frozen solid.

The Crooks flock of Golden Plover have taken to roosting on
the newly cut rush fields south of the buildings I counted 1300 on Sunday and
20 Whoopers a couple of fields back off the Bay in amongst the sheep. The Pink
footed geese numbers are holding up well with several flocks of a thousand
foraging around the bay and a thousand Barnacles.

The Lapwings are starting to display. They do show territorial aggression to another
bird within 20m and can be seen in a hunched stiff legged walk with the crest down stalking an intruder they will then
run at the intruder if at close range or fly at and mob if a bit further away.

One behaviour that I have witnessed several times this last week is
the males rocking display only lasts half a minute but they do repeat it
several times if they are not disturbed.

Another is the Scraping Display which is a ritual nesting
and can be there final position if all is agreed. In this display the male can
be seen kicking and pivoting his wings almost vertical and quivering. He then
stands and moves away moving his head from side to side as if throwing in fact
sometimes loss material is used. The female may bend forward and jerk her head
up.

Pictures after Cramp. S. 1983 Birds of the Western
Palearctic. Oxford

Blog post: Crook of Baldoon 6th March 2013

Paul Tarling — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:37:00 GMT

The Geese have been most obliging today with some wonderful view of Barnacles a few flying in pairs I presume starting to pair ready for the long flight back to Svalbard. The Lapwing have been doing there thing as only a Lapwing can dive bombing display in there pre breeding season displays redshank have been splitting up into twos after a couple of months of hanging around in groups.

The Shelducks have been pairing up since Xmas and their colour seems to be getting stronger each day, we still have the Starling flock and the more spectacular Golden Plover flock.

A grainy shoot of Pinks and Barnies at the last dawn flight

a little later that day this beautiful Curlew proving even the non eye catching can turn a head.

Do not forget dawn flight this weekend the 9th.

Forum post: Crook today 28th of Feb 2013

Paul Tarling — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:56:00 GMT

What a glorious week we have had in South and West Scotland cold nights but two weeks of dry weather in places the gound is still very wet but improving each day and today was the best a bit of frost and sea fog early in the day but by lunch that had all but gone and this afternoon has been great.

Anyway

We have had a Volunteer work party today repairing nest boxes after the winter weather. We found some that the Tree Sparrows have already started to build their nests in as well. We always clean out the boxes in October and record there usage but leave the repairs till after the worst of the weather they also provide roost places as well, a number did showed signs of occupation. So only six to replace this year and we added another four for expansion of the population.

This afternoon the volunteers started to build another ten boxes to develop another area on the reserve.

Tonight as we finished for the day we had a look across the saltmarsh and bay bathed in the evening sun what a day. It is amazing how quickly the geese settle down once the wild-fowling season stops the last couple of days since the 20th when the season finished the birds have really started to show well. Today we have see 3000 geese on the lower saltmarsh and muds a great view of a Merlin and two views of a female Sparrowhawk one time lifting of with prey item.

Waders have been showing well as well with 80 Curlew 50 Lapwing 250 Golden Plover and 20 Redshank a few Snipe so all in all not a bad day.

Spring is starting feel just around the corner.

Great.

Forum post: WeBS count 10th Feb

Paul Tarling — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:39:00 GMT

Good Afternoon.

By it was cold and wet down on the Crook today for the WeBS count.

Some nice views of the birds with some increase on some birds and a decrease on others.

Of note were two Little Egret and 24 Pale bellied Brent. The Dunlin flock and Oystercatcher flocks are up on last month and the whoopers along the approach road were up as were the Redshank.

It was good to see so many birds using the wet field at the top of the Crook with Redshank and Curlew being seen.

Paul

Forum post: Re: Twite

Gentalis — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 12:01:00 GMT

Hi Paul.

They are late this year, i have been waiting for them, at Stranraer, there was a small flock at Bishop Burn and some on the Railway Terminal, both then joined the main flock at the wig. Thanks for letting us know they are back.

Forum post: Re: Hen Harrier

Gentalis — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:12:00 GMT

Hi Paul.

I am using a Nikon DX AF-Nikkor55-300 1:4.5-5.6 G ED VR lens, a bit of tech, its a DX used on a D3100 camera, which as a smaller senser, so it makes it the same as a 480 lens, the 70- 300 lens is faster, but it cost more. oh gloves for cold hands.

Photo: Reed Bunting.

Gentalis — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:48:00 GMT

Small Flock of Reed Bunting with Skylark, feeding on the path, in the snow.