I was lucky enough to get a fantastic view of one of our resident barn owls yesterday evening as it hunted over the merse. Sadly it was too far away to see whether it had a ring on its leg or not as this would have helped me identify it as one of our newly fledged chicks. It spent about half an hour gliding over the merse looking for mice and voles before it became too dark to see it anymore.
We still have no barnacle geese but it's only a matter of time before we hear that familiar yapping sound that indicates the flocks are back from Svalbard. Apparently the first Whooper Swans have returned to WWT Caerlaverock.
I also saw a sedge warbler and a male blackcap together in the same hedge on Monday, it seems strange to see these summer migrants when I am gearing myself up for the return of the winter ones!
Come to Mersehead on an evening for your own chance to see the barn owls and for anyone planning a trip to Dumfries and Galloway over the next week or 2 keep your eyes and ears peeled for the barnacles!!