Could we soon see Pine Martens back along the Colvend Coast?

A new report has shown pine martens are starting to re-colonise the south of Scotland after being absent from most of the area for nearly 200 years

Pine Marten

I love seeing Pine Martens on visits to the Highlands of Scotland so we were very excited to see this recent BBC News report last week:

Link to the BBC report here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-27308955

"The Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) study, with The Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT), found them in three areas. The new sites are south and west of Glasgow, the Upper Tweed Valley and Annandale and Eskdalemuir.

VWT survey coordinator Lizzie Croose described the discovery of the rare animals as "significant".

Pine martens were once found throughout the UK, but suffered a dramatic decline in the 19th century due to woodland clearance, trapping for fur, and predator control by gamekeepers.

In the last half of the 20th century, however, populations recovered in Scotland and are now established in most areas north of the Central Belt, including the northern fringes of Glasgow and some other parts of the Central Belt.

The species is still rare in the UK and absent from most of England and Wales.

In 1988, the species was given full legal protection.

Now it has been discovered at the three new sites in southern Scotland after a lengthy absence.

A small number of pine martens were re-introduced to the Galloway Forest in the early 1980s, but the new arrivals are not thought to have spread from this group - which has remained in isolation. These new groups of pine martens have most likely originated from "a combination of natural spread and deliberate releases".

The great news is that:

Rob Raynor, SNH's mammal advisory officer, said that it was "quite likely" they would re-colonise most suitable habitats in southern Scotland in time.

"At present, re-colonisation of the new areas is still at an early stage, but if breeding populations do establish successfully, pine martens will probably expand throughout southern Scotland and south into northern England," he said.

These sites are not that far away from the Colvend Coast so I hope they will re-colonise this area too. Along at Sandyhills is a hill called Wildcat Hill, so it could be assumed that the Scottish Wildcat one roamed this area too.

It would be fantastic to have them here too.

Mull of Galloway: just had to share this fantastic story

'Scotland's Land's End'

nature reserve plan 

backed by locals

Continue reading the main story

The Mull of Galloway Trust balloted residents in the area, garnering 98% support

Scotland's most southerly tip could become a nature reserve after local residents almost unanimously backed a proposed community buy-out.

A local trust is confident of raising the £300,000 asking price for the Mull of Galloway, mainly through the government's Scottish Land Fund.

The Northern Lighthouse Board is selling the 30-acre site as part of an asset disposal programme.

Its lighthouse tower is not included in the sale and will continue to function.

The lighthouse tower is not part of the sale and will continue to function

The Mull of Galloway Trust was set up to secure the site, which includes cottages and other buildings, as a nature reserve and tourist attraction.

However, it needed to demonstrate community support to attract funding.

In a ballot of 541 local residents, 347 votes were cast, with only three voting against the proposal and two papers being spoiled.

That represents 98.5% support on a 63.8% turnout.

The trust's next step is to prepare a business plan and formal funding application.

It has said it wants to preserve the area as "a place of beauty", "a place of tranquillity" for locals and visitors and to avoid any possibility of commercial exploitation of "Scotland's Land's End".

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-21741256

31 March - 15 April: D&G Wildlife Festival - Great for a budget family holiday

It might be hard to believe it's come around again so quickly but between 31 March and 15 April is the ninth Dumfries and Galloway Wildlife Festival - two weeks jam packed with wildlife inspired events and activities. It's great for folks of all ages but especially families with young children as the events are fun as well as educational, not all events require booking and unless otherwise indicated,  all events are free to attend. It's a great way to keep the youngsters happy and entertained on a budget.

Photo courtesy of www.wildlifefestival.org.uk/

Peter Norman, Dumfries & Galloway Biodiversity Officer says, of this years event:

"This year there are more than 80 events over two weeks with some new exciting additions to the festival. Look out for the new exhibition about ferns at Logan Botanic Gardens, "Pteridomania" running for the whole festiva;l or the Wild Food Forage in Langholm with a cooking demonstration and free lunch! Another event with a difference this year is making a Tattie bogle (or scarecrow to you and me) at Cairnsmore of Fleet NNR. Popular activities held again this year include the Stars and Stripes badger watches at WWT Caerlaverock, the hatchery open days by both Galloway Fisheries Trust and the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust and a whole range of Family activities for Easter. Events across the whole of Dumfries and Galloway with something for everyone to enjoy!"

Our particular favourite activity is 'Dusk on the Dunes', an evening walk to the high dune at RSPB Mersehead where you will be able to watch geese heading to the sand flats to roost.

You can find out more information on the website: http://www.wildlifefestival.org.uk/

Accommodation:
B&B Rockcliffe: Millbrae House (4 Star)

Self catering Colvend: Loch View Cottage (Sleeps 4, double and twin, dogs welcome)

Self catering Kippford: Riverview Lodge (Sleeps 4, double and twin, log stove, sea views, dogs welcome)

Self catering Rockcliffe: Craig Roan Garden Apartment (Sleeps 4, double and twin)

Drumburn Studio Apartment (Sleeps 2, dogs welcome)

Where are they going?

For the past week we have seen Herons heading West each morning. Why? What are they doing? Where are they going? They are usually in pairs or small groups. If anyone could enlighten me I would be grateful. I have a mental image of a really happening rave somewhere out East, with Herons partying all night long.


Yesterday afternoon the Canada Geese on White Loch were getting flirty and pairing off - maybe they had been to the same party?

Branta Canadensis courting By JerryFriedman (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Or... maybe it's just that time of year?

A chilled Chablis of a day...

It was such a beautiful day we just could not resist getting up and getting out. Visibility was superb, the sun bright, the sky a cerulean blue and the air intoxicating. It was a morning as crisp, clear and bursting with flavour as a glass of chilled Chablis - every sight, sound and scent, fresh, vivid and clear. Paradoxically, it was what I think of as the perfect Autumn day.


8.30am saw us at the RSPB Mersehead Reserve at Southwick. The Visitor Centre (a converted traditional, whitewashed Galloway cottage) looked pretty as a postcard in the morning sun.

We decided to head East for a change as the sun was still so high. (Later in the day it's better to set off West) Despite the sun, last nights' frost spangled the grass and made artwork of the puddles as we strode out along the lane towards the Sulwath centre and the two hides. (It was a day made for striding - Brisk and invigorating).

Recent hedge trimming had revealed the remains of a last years Long Tailed Tit nest along the lane, there is a healthy population of them around here and I love it when around 12 - 15 all try to get on the same fatball. It always makes me laugh as it looks like some outlandish Xmas tree decoration.


We decided to visit Meida hide as you can usually spot Deer to the East of the wetland area in front of it so set off through the woodland. Unfortunately we didn't see the Treecreper who is usually about (maybe he was having a lie in?)

From the point when we left the car we had Barnacle Geese flying sporadically overhead. Their distinctive calls, described by some as like a dog barking, punctuating the whole 2 hour walk. Large numbers of the Svalbard population arrive at Mersehead in the Autumn and can be seen grazing the wet areas in densely packed flocks throughout the Winter months. I am always sad to see them go. There are 9,000 Barnacle Geese this year, a lower number than last year but still a fantastic spectacle. Not to be missed.   

After 20 mins in Meida Hide where we spotted all the usual suspects (waterfowl) we then went out onto the beach, Murphy's favourite place. Being a stick hound he loves the wide open space where he can chase sticks to his hearts content. The view was amazing. The East Stewartry Coast from Southwick along to Castle Point at Rockcliffe at the end of the long sandy beach. The dunes are very special and protected along with the rest of this coastline which is designated as a SSSI and a National Scenic Area.

Our bird list this morning included Barnacle Geese, Curlews, Phesant, Pink Footed geese, Chaffinch, Green Finches, Yellow Hammer, Snipe, Mallard, Widgeon, Teal, Pintail, Coot, Gadwall, Mute Swans, Lapwing, Skylarks to name a few.  It was a fantastic walk, one I will not forget. You can see the route here:

You can do the circuit in about an hour but today we lingered and savored the day. At the Visitor Centre you can get Fairtrade coffee and tea and Chocolate Muffins and Brownies to go with it or even a tub of delicious Cream O' Galloway ice cream. There are a couple of big squadgy sofas where you can sit in the sunshine and watch the birds on the feeders or borrow Binis' to look out over the Lapwing nesting area. The team of permanent and volunteer staff on the reserve are always on hand and are a great bunch of people. They do a fantastic job so a big thank you to them for all their hard work.

First sign of Spring?

Walking along Sandyhills beach at dusk we heard our first Song Thrush. Not in full voice, just warming up, but glorious none the less. Is this our first real sign of Spring? The snowdrops around the lodge have been eagerly pushing up for a while now so must be due to bloom soon so maybe it is. 


Later, as the sun had just set and a candy pink line traced the horizon while everywhere else was coloured hues of purple, graphite and black so we could hardly see the dog swimming in the stream below, we saw our first 'Norah' (Batty) of the year flitting around the bridge that spans Barnhourie Burn where it meets Sandyhills Bay. It seems that Spring has officially arrived along the Colvend Coast.