 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Records of local birds and other wildlife in an area of south-west Scotland
|
|
|
|
|
|
Knockhardy - a cottage nature reserve
Situated in Dumfries and Galloway, close to the village of Clarencefield, lies the small settlement of Knockhardy. The cottages are surrounded by field and forest, with the shores of the Solway Firth just a short walk away. Criffel, at 569ft, looms westwards, with the Southern Uplands stretching beyond. For a good length of time now, I have been lucky enough to record much of the birdlife (and some of the other wildlife) around the cottages. Although the following forms a very incomplete picture of nature in the area, I hope the results of my ever-enjoyable checks around Knockhardy will be of some interest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Garden and Hedgerow
The gardens at Knockhardy attract many species of birds, small mammals and insects. Numerous shrubs offer cover for nesting blackbirds, song thrushes, robins, tits and wrens. Greenfinches and bullfinches feed on the fruit trees, whilst each summer chiffchaffs call from amongst the dense foliage. Linnets and spotted flycatchers visit, along with the diminutive goldcrest. Pollen-rich plants play host to numerous butterflies, with peacock and red admiral amongst the species most commonly seen. The hedgerows which line the narrow lanes offer cover for willow warblers, tits, thrushes and finches, some of which nest here. Both common and natterjack toads have been recorded. Telegraph wires often provide perches for swallows, yellowhammers and pied wagtails.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Farmland
The agricultural land around Knockhardy is grazed by livestock and wildlife alike. Pheasants are often seen skuttling across the fields, whilst herring and black-headed gulls, rooks and carrion crows scavenge for worms when the ground is not too hard. The significant decline in lapwing numbers nationally has had its impact on Knockhardy. The rookery too has diminished. During the winter months the countryside is dominated by huge flocks of winter thrushes: fieldfares and redwings join large groups of mistle thrushes to roost locally. Herds of whooper swans and pink-footed geese will occasionally feed close by. Knockhardy's three regular birds of prey, the buzzard, kestrel and sparrowhawk, patrol the fields and hedgerows for small birds and mammals. Finch flocks are often the target of their sorties. Greenfinches and goldfinches have sometimes been joined by the less-common brambling. In the spring, the beef cattle return to the fields and lambs are seen taking their first unsteady steps. Hirundines hawk for the insects attracted to the animals and blackbirds and song thrushes grub amongst the verges to feed their broods.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forest
The conifer woodland is managed by a timber contractor and is at various stages of growth - a useful cycle for wildlife as habitats, rather than being destroyed, develop in different parts of the forest over a number of years. Mammals include roe deer, foxes and grey squirrels. Red squirrels are present but elusive. Dusk is a very productive time for a woodland wander, for it is then that the pipistrelle bats emerge in large numbers to flit agiley amidst the branches. Tawny owls are more often heard than seen, though most areas of the forest have a resident pair. As noisy as the owls are the jays, as they screech from hidden haunts or dive ahead along a path, their white rump showing up well. Buzzards nest in the woods and usually rear young. At the other end of the size range, goldcrests, willow warblers and coal tits are among the many song birds. Great-spotted woodpeckers can be heard drumming. Parties of siskins are a feature of wintertime, though they do breed in the woods. Dainty spotted flycatchers somersault from the lower branches to snatch insects during the summer. Dunnocks are becoming increasingly successful breeders. As the trees are cleared, woodland flowers spring up, and banks of primroses, crocuses, foxgloves and bluebells spread a seasonal tapestry across the forest floor. Here, too, are butterflies and moths of myriad species, and crickets and grasshoppers trill from every patch of grasses. Adders skulk amongst the woodpiles.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estuary
Although the Knockhardy records only cover an inland area of about half a kilometre squared, many of the birds which roost on the Solway fly over Knockhardy. The massive skeins of barnacle and pink-footed geese heading to and from Caerlaverock pass regularly overhead at dawn and twilight. To experience the clouds of birds streaming above in the half-light, their cacophonous cries carrying from the estuary until they settle to roost, has been the highlight of many a crisp winter's day. The mournful call of the curlew is frequently heard at Knockhardy, as is the cheerful piping of oystercatchers.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS
CR = common resident; R = resident; CV = common visitor; S = summer visitor; W = winter visitor;
O = overŸies Knockhardy; I = infrequent; U = unusual; ? = status unknown; B = breeding;
NB = non-breeding; Mar - June = species has been recorded between March and June; e.g. 1999 = last seen
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel : I NB Jan - Dec 2002
Lapwing : UWO NB Aug - Dec 2001
Lesser Black-backed Gull : CO NB Jan-Dec 2002
Linnet : S B Apr - Aug 2001
Long-tailed Tit : V NB Oct - Sept 2002
Mallard : IO NB 2000
Mistle Thrush : W NB Oct - Apr 1999
Mute Swan : IO NB 1993
Oystercatcher : I NB Jan - Sept 1999
Peregrine : U NB Jan 2001
Pheasant : R B Jan - Oct 2002
Pied Wagtail : I NB Apr - Oct 2000
Pink-footed Goose : IWO NB 2002
Redstart : U NB Aug 2001
Redwing : W NB Oct - Feb 2002
Robin : CR B Jan - Dec 2002
Rook : CR B Jan - Dec 2002
Sand Martin : S ? July 2002 Shelduck : IO NB 1998
Siskin : U NB Jan - Sept 2002
Skylark: UV NB Feb 2002
Song Thrush : R B Jan - Dec 2002
Sparrowhawk : R B Feb - Oct 2002
Spotted Flycatcher : S B July - Sept 2002
Starling : I NB Oct - Sept 2002
Stock Dove : U NB Jan 1995
Swallow : CS B April - Sept 2002
Swift : S ? Apr - Aug 2002
Tawny Owl : R B Feb - Sept 2002
Treecreeper : R ? Jan - Oct 1998
Whooper Swan : IWO NB Oct 1993
Willow Warbler : CS B April - Sept 2002
Willow Tit : ? Aug - Sept 2001
Wood Pigeon : CR B Jan - Nov 2002
Wren : R B Jan - Nov 2002
Yellowhammer : CR B Jan - Nov 2002
|
|
|
|
|
Barnacle Goose : OW NB Oct - Apr 2002
Barn Owl : ? July 2002 Black-headed Gull : CV NB Jan - Dec 2002
Blackbird : CR B Jan - Dec 2002
Blackcap : U Aug-Sept 2000
Blue Tit : CR B Jan - Dec 2002
Brambling : UW NB Oct - Mar 2002
Bullfinch : R B Jan - Dec 2002
Buzzard : R B Jan - Nov 2002
Carrion Crow : I NB Jan - Sept 2002
Chaffinch : CR B Jan - Dec 2002
Chiffchaff : S ? April - Sept 2002
Coal Tit : R B Jan - Dec 2002
Collared Dove : I NB Feb - Sept 2002
Cormorant : UO NB Aug 2002
Curlew : I NB Jan - July 2002
Dunnock : R B Jan - Dec 2002
Fieldfare : W NB Oct - Apr 2002
Garden Warbler : S ? July 2002 Goldcrest : R B Jan - Oct 2002
Goldfinch : CR B Feb - Dec 2002
Great Spotted Woodpecker : R B Jan - Oct 2002
Great Tit : CR B Jan - Dec 2002
Greater Black-backed Gull : I NB 1999
Greenfinch : R B Jan - Sept 2002
Greenshank : UO NB Oct 1996
Grey Heron : I NB 2001
Grey Wagtail : U NB Aug - Sept 2002
Greylag Goose : UWO NB Aug - Oct 2001
Hen Harrier : UW NB Mar 1996
Herring Gull : CV NB Jan - Dec 2002
House Martin : S NB July - Aug 2002
House Sparrow : U NB Jan - May 1998
Jackdaw : V NB Feb - Sept 2002
Jay : R B Jan - Nov 2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Knockhardy is a private property, but there are many excellent places to watch wildlife and enjoy the rich culture of southern Scotland open to public access close by.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brow Well and Ruthwell
On the B725 just outside Ruthwell, where the world's first saving bank can be visited. Brow Well affords a good view of the estuary, which hosts large numbers of wintering and breeding wading birds and several species of duck. The merse here is home to flocks of finches and buntings during the winter, and linnets, greenfinches, yellowhammers and even snow buntings may be found. Raptors include merlin, peregrine and hen harrier. A look over the fields along the shoreline often produces smaller wading birds, curlews, herons and numerous song birds. Apart from anything else, the superb views across the estuary to the Lake District or Criffel make this a delightful spot to birdwatch, and the sight of the returning geese and swans against a Solway sunset is hard to beat. This is also the sight of the well in which Robert Burns came to bathe in an effort to restore his health. The Burns Centre in Dumfries is also worth a visit, as is Ruthwell Church, just a short distance from Brow Well on the B724. Its 7th century cross carries runic inscriptions written by Caedmon - amongst the earliest surviving examples of English literature!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Caerlaverock WWT
A few miles south of Dumfries and covering several acres of estuary and merse, Caerlaverock (pictured right) is the winter home of the entire population of barnacle geese from Svalbard. Other species of geese, swans and waders can be watched at close range. There is also a good chance of peregrine, hen harrier and short-eared owl. Barn owls breed on the reserve. Several decent hides and an observation tower offer outstanding views.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mabie Forest
A few miles south of Dumfries on the A710. Woodland species including siskin, crossbill, flycatchers, woodcock and various warblers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mersehead RSPB
Off the A710 between Southerness and Dalbeattie, this reserve boasts good numbers of wildfowl and waders.
Powfoot
Signposted from the B724 close to Cummertrees. The view across the estuary will often yield waders such as golden plover, dunlin and redshank, and sea duck. A walk through the nearby woods should produce summer warblers, spotted flycatchers and several species of tit and finch.
Southerness Point
Off the A710, Southerness (below) is situated right on the shores of the Solway Firth at the point where it becomes much wider. The flocks of winter waders are substantial, and this is an especially good sight for purple sandpiper. Out on the water, mergansers, scoter, scaup, great-crested and slavonian grebes, and red-throated and great-northern divers are all a possibility depending upon the weather. It is best to go just after onshore gales, when many rafts of birds are pushed up the Solway. Porpoises are often seen breaching the surface.
A little further afield, the Mull of Galloway with its seabirds, migrants and views across to the Isle of Man and Ireland makes for a great day out. The Galloway Forest Park holds woodland, upland and moorland species. The Wood of Cree RSPB reserve, Hoddom and Rockcliffe are nice venues for a stroll and birdwatch any time of the year. The nature trail around historic Caerlaverock Castle is also a fascinating walk taking in woodland and estuary. More information about all these locations is available from the Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
I do hope that the information provided here may be of some use to anyone visiting Dumfries and Galloway. Whether or not you intend birdwatching, this is a region in which wildlife is evident wherever and whenever you go. I should be very interested to hear of any interesting sightings you may have in the locality.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|