RSPB Ken/Dee Reserve, Loch Ken near Castle Douglas
Map 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.
This is part of the RSPB Reserve, known as the Ken/Dee Marshes. The area is a SSSI and has some excellent examples of broadleaved woodland and managed wetlands. There is a small car park and interpretation board next to the entrance to Mains of Duchrae Farm. From here there is a one and a half mile walk (farm track) to the furthest viewing hide overlooking a wetland area. There is a new hide just open (Jan 2004, which has been great for red squirrel and great spotted woodpecker) that you will see beside the track whilst on route to the furthest hide. Both are well worth the walk. On route you will pass through some ancient oak woodland. During the spring and summer look out for pied flycatchers, redstarts, spotted flycatchers, willow tits, wood warblers and many more. The area is also very popular in winter attracting birdwatchers hoping to see the greenland-whitefronted geese and various species of duck. The site also holds a few species of mammal, including otter, roe deer and red squirrel.
Over the past few years Red Kites have been re-introduced back into this area, so follow the Red Kite Trail road signs and perhaps you'll see the real thing?
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.
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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