Wildlife Sites
Here are some of the places you can see local wildlife and birds in Dumfries and Galloway.
An Excellent Booklet on Birdwatching in Dumfries and GallowayA full colour guide to Birdwatching in Dumfries and Galloway
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Osprey, live TV pictures, plus edited highlghts.Live camera link from Osprey nest since 2006
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, CaerlaverockMap Reference: WWT Caerlaverock Wetlands Centre lies east of Dumfries near a village called Bankend. WWT Caerlaverock Wetlands Centre. Open all year. Many viewing hides. Excellent for wintering geese and ducks. Swan feed daily at 11.00am and 2.00pm during the winter months. Best winter bird viewing in the region. Barnacle Geese and Whooper Swans a speciality. Centre Opens at 10.00am
Galloway Kite TrailA circular drive in the Loch Ken area with the option of stopping off at various locations for a walk and hopefully seeing Red Kites. This includes a feeding station at Bellymack Hill Farm near Laurieston and a chance to visit one of the secret cages where the kites were released from.
Wood of Cree RSPB Nature ReserveMap Reference: Map Ref: NX38/70 The Wood of Cree is on the east bank of the River Cree 4 miles (6.5 km) north of Newton Stewart. It is on the minor road from Minnigaff to Glentrool, or from the A714 south of Bargrennan. The Wood of Cree is in the heart of the Cree Valley and is the largest ancient woodland in southern Scotland. This RSPB nature reserve is now part of the Cree Valley Community Woodland Trust. It is hoped that the Trust will link the fragments of native woodland in this valley, creating a continuous belt of woodland from Newton Stewart to Glentrool. This will enhance the biodiversity of the area and create a greater visitor experience to this beautiful part of Dumfries and Galloway
Mull of Galloway and Scare Rocks RSPB ReservesThe Mull of Galloway is the most southerly point in Scotland and it is a marvellous place to visit at any time of the year. From the orange and grey lichen covered rock, you are able to take in the breathtaking views (on a clear day) to Ireland and the Isle of Man, emphasised by thousands of nesting seabirds during the spring and summer.
Castramont Wood. Scottish Wildlife Trust ReserveMap Reference: NX59/60 Limited car parking. Around 10-12 cars. Site not accessible to buses. Information Board at start of the walks. The wood is on the side of a hill so there are steep paths in places. During the main tourist season from April to September information and guidance can be obtained from the Gatehouse of Fleet Tourist Information Centre. The Centre is closed during the winter months. Please park sensibly and don’t block access.
RSPB Mersehead on the Solway CoastMap Reference: NX92/55 Location: Situated on the Solway Coast, 25km/15 miles from Dumfries off the A710 at Sout This reserve contains lowland wet grassland, saltmarsh, low sand dunes and mud flats. The site is also part of a SSSI, SPA and Ramsar site. Summer: breeding waders and passerines. Winter: Geese, duck, waders and wintering passerine flocks. Various hides or just a great place to walk.
RSPB Ken/Dee Reserve, Loch Ken near Castle DouglasMap Reference: Location: The car park is on the minor road north from Glenlochar on the B795 Broadleaved woodland and freshwater wetland. Facilities: Goose viewing platform, two hides and the trail is 2.4km/1.5 miles to the furthest hide.
Stewartry Coast CliffsThe Stewartry has some fantastic cliff top walks for seabirds and other wildlife. Balcary near Auchencairn and Meikle Ross headland near Kirkcudbright are probably the best, although Rockcliffe to Portling is also very good.
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These webs pages have been put together by Keith Kirk. Keith is a semi pro natural history photographer and writer. He is the wildlife feature writer for D&G Life magazine and also writes a monthly Nature Notes column for the Galloway News. His day job is a countryside ranger with Dumfries and Galloway Council, something he has been doing for over 24 years. Keith also has another web site which promotes him as a photographer, whilst this site is more about Dumfries and Galloway, an unknown part of Scotland. www.dumfriesandgallowaywildlife.co.uk
Also check out www.flickr.com/photos/keithkirk8 which he updates on almost a daily basis with his latest images.
You can also find me on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/keith.kirk.906
Keith is also a photographer who has tested many types of photography kit for manufacturers . At the moment he is testing Bushnell and Spypoint wildlife/trail/stealth cameras. Checkout the link at the top of the page or go to www.scottcountry.co.uk for more info. Also coming soon will be a report on a new outdoor clothing manufacturer (Ridgeline) that is producing good kit for Wildlife Photographers and Birdwatchers.........so watch this space. Here's a quick preview.
A clothing brand in New Zealand has now hit the shores of the UK. Featuring technical fabrics, and membranes that are ideal for photographers and birdwatchers in the changeable UK Climate. Life is about experience and choices, those between you and your environment, you and the gear you wear. Ridgeline's products are affordable, rugged, durable and comfortable, and allow you to get on with the task at hand whenever you need to and wherever you are.
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