Loch Ken, Dumfries, February 27th 2005.

Red Kites and Blue Fingers

We had decided it was time to go to the South West of Scotland only recently. The mini-bus was full in a very short time and thoughts of golden eagles and good numbers of geese filled those of us in the bus full of enthusiasm for the day ahead. To back track a little, leaving Darlington was a little treacherous, as it had been snowing overnight and the story from the meteorologists was that it was even worse on the east coast. On the plus side they said that the west coast would be tropical - OK a little over exaggeration there - but it was supposed to be nicer. There was no snow in Hartlepool so I began to wonder if it would be fine on the west coast, if they had got it wrong here then..................

With a full crew we were off to Bonnie Scotland. We decided to keep a trip list, so Rook, Magpies and Pheasants were added to the list from the bus. Once we were into Scotland the sun was beating down and the skies were blue. This looked promising. The first stop was Dumfries - home of the little known football club Queen of the South (the only football team to be mentioned in the bible) - for a toilet stop. It is a good place to stop as the river Nith runs through the town and its usually good for something. We added Grey Wagtail, Lesser Black-Backed Gull and Pink-Footed Goose to the list from here. Ken was charitable supplying 20p pieces to ladies crossing their legs at the loos; it's a long way to Dumfries!

We had met with Dora and her beau along the way and he done really well to drive in our slip stream as we birded from the bus on the way to Lauriston, slowing down for numerous Buzzards and the occasional check of a water body or two. We checked Galloway Forest for Crossbills and found a red squirrel instead; it was a great sight as it hung around for a little while. At Lauriston we headed for Golden Eagle country, it's a bit cold on them there hills even when the sun is shining. It's even colder when the birds don't show, only Meadow Pipit added to the list from here, oh and a penguin that was in Charlie's lunch box. As if to prove it's a small world, a car pulled up alongside us and a contingent from the Durham Bird Club, including one of our members Dave Phillips, got out on their way home from Stranraer. They had been for and got King Eider as well as Black Guillemot and Scaup. Ken tried his best to get the bus to go there but he quietened down after we threatened to tell everyone his 'real' age. They informed us the eagles hadn't been seen all month by anyone, we didn't succeed either.

From here it was off to Bellymack Farm, which is the local feeding station for Red Kite. We had left Dora twisting Dave Phillip's arm until he paid his subs and pummelling the other two of the trio in an effort to get them to join the Club, brilliant recruitment tactics, no wonder we have a good membership.

On the way to the farm we had our first Kite drifting along the road and watched as it drifted towards dinner. On the farm Kites drifted in from all directions and floated around giving superb views before landing delicately in the trees around the site. It was as if they knew the time, as this was 20 minutes before their feeding time! Whilst scanning the trees for Kites we found 9 Waxwings giving great views in the scope. As it was getting on we headed for Loch Ken, leaving the farm we had counted 15 Red Kites and 4 Common Buzzards as well as a smattering of commoner birds to go on the list.

The weather was glorious sunshine and the first glimpse of the Loch was stunning with a deep blue of the water broken in the foreground by numerous geese. We pulled the bus over to check out the birds and realised we had more Pink-Footed Geese than Greylag Geese and a sprinkling of Whooper Swans. Further up the Loch we encountered Greenland White-Fronted Geese, Goosander, Pintail and Goldeneye as well as many other wildfowl. The woods and hides gave us Nuthatch, a Treecreeper ground creeping, Fieldfares and Redwings. A stop off at Castle Douglas and we were on our way home until we were diverted across the A66 after the A69 was closed, never mind, the general consensus was that it was a great day out and when is the next one?

For a bird list from this trip, please click here.