Dumfries and Galloway is a wildlife lovers' paradise. Much can be often seen without leaving Kirkcudbright but venturing a bit further afield gives a wider range of habitats to explore. 2009 saw the first successful nesting of Ospreys in Dumfries and Galloway for 50 years!They were back at Caerlaverock for the 2010 season but even more exciting was the successful hatching of three chicks at Threave Castle in 2010. Go past the landing stage for the boat to the Castle and in a short distance you will find the purpose built viewing platform. There is often a local expert on hand with a telescope to get a good view of the nest across the water.

              

 Birdwatching hotspots include:

  • Caerlaverock - Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
  • Mersehead - RSPB
  • Loch Ken reserve - RSBP
  • Wood of Cree - RSPB and good chance of seeing otters in the pool
  • Wigtown Library - Osprey nesting in season by closed circuit televison
  • Galloway Kite Trail - Red Kite feeding station near Laurieston
  • Portpatrick to see Black Guillemots
  • Mull of Galloway to see seabirds nesting on the cliffs

      

A Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding at Loch Ken RSPB reserve in December.

  

Chaffinch in winter plumage - also at Loch Ken.

Early geese arrivals at Caerleverock - but the swans had found plenty of food still in the fields.

 Mammals around the area include:

  • Foxes
  • The Red Deer Range between Newton Stewart and New Galloway
  • Wild Goat Park
  • Red squirrels
  • Otters
  • Hares
  • Roe and Fallow deer

 

This beautiful red squirel was easy to see from the first hide at Loch Ken RSPB Reserve - partly because they are regularly fed peanuts through the winter. However in any mixed woodland you have a good chance of seeing one - and they scamper across the roads at certain spots

                   

 A day's trip to Port Patrick could reward you with good sightings of the endangered Black Guillemott - photographed here in the harbour area. But if the weather is fine also take in the beautiful and wild Mull of Galloway - RSPB but free access to all. Climb down the steps to see the nesting seabirds if you are able - and then there is a nearby restaurant for a cup of tea if you forgot the flask.

                            

                                


      

These ideas are to give you a taste of what you might see - but of course there are lots of other natural wonders to take in. In Autumn we enjoyed a guided walk entitled 'Fungi Forage' in the Cream o'Galloway woods and fields.