Day 2 of our long weekend based in Dumfries and we visited RSPB Mersehead. The first time we had all been here and at the end of our visit we all agreed what a brilliant place it is.
We were made very welcome at the visitor centre and given excellent information on how to explore the reserve.
We decided to explore the blue route first, which took us to the two hides. From the car park we could hear and then see barnacle geese flying about. Swallows were also flying above the visitor centre. On the feeders just outside the visitor centre we saw tree and house sparrows, yellowhammer and coal tit.
From the first hide we visited we saw several deer,
Among the barnacle geese we also saw this white, leucistic goose. Black-tailed godwit, curlew and pintails were also seen.
From the second hide we saw marsh harriers doing a food pass, female blackcap, treecreeper, long-tailed tits and just outside the hide whitethroat and sedge warbler. We reurned to the visitor centre where we used the excellent hot drinking facilities and bought several snacks. After lunch we walked along the red trail to the estuary.
A red kite spooked some of the barnacle geese which took to the air and flew overhead, depositing some droppings on me in the process!. Wheatear, skylarks, lapwings, shelducks, little egrets and meadow pipits
Part of the shore is fenced off to protect the area where ringed plover are nesting. We returned to the visitor centre for a last drink and ice cream before returning to our hotel.
The Galloway Kite trail tomorrow.
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