Galloway Kite Trail
A 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.
| The Galloway Kite Trail is a circular drive through some of the most beautiful scenery you will find anywhere in the Britain. The trail is backed up by a leaflet, which you will find at various outlets, Tourist Information Centres, B&B’s and hotels in the area, and the local RSPB office. The route will take you north from Castle Douglas on the A713 from where you just follow the Galloway Kite Trail roads signs. At various points along the route you have the chance to get out of your transport and walk to various viewpoints from where you should hopefully see kites! These are at the Parton viewpoint, Bennan viewpoint, Raider’s Road and the RSPB Ken/Dee reserve. At Bellymack Hill Farm near Laurieston there is a hide over looking a feeding station where the kites are fed daily at 2pm. One of the secret cages from where some of the birds were released over the last 3 years is also on the route for the more inquisitive of you. There are also a number of information boards along the route to assist you.
Don’t just look out for kites on the trail as there are a whole host of fascinating wildlife just waiting to be discovered in Galloway. In the winter wild geese flock to the area and in particular the greenland white-fronted geese and large numbers of duck. During spring and summer look out for willow tits, pied flycatchers, buzzards and osprey are all seen regularly. For the real wildlife enthusiast there is the chance of seeing the elusive otter or perhaps a red squirrel. For more information contact the Red Kite officer based in the RSPB office Crossmichael. Tel: 01556 670464
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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.
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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