NEWSLETTER 47 AUTUMN 2010 Editor: Stephanie Dewhurst

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way.

The Royal Society for the Protection of a million Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity:

voices for England and Wales No 207076; nature FAIRY TERN IN FLIGHT Scotland Charity No SC037654 GALLOWAY LOCAL GROUP GROUP LEADER’S REPORT sales stall so ably run, as usual, by Rhona and Jill. It was very busy, lots of families there enjoying all the children's Dear Members activities offered by the various organisations and a really As many of you will know my husband Charles passed good atmosphere. Rhona and Jill are still hoping someone th away on 6 July after his cancer suddenly reappeared. (or preferably two) will offer to take over the sales. A contributory factor was the heart failure from which he had suffered since February. He had been the group's Although it had been such a cold winter and spring which newsletter editor for over ten years until the autumn of led us to think that the swallows might be late arriving, 2007. His knowledge of birds and their habitats far in fact, “our birds” arrived on the 19th April, four days exceeded mine which was evident on our walks in the earlier than in many years which just proves you never countryside and on the hills, something denied to him can tell! So far they have had two broods. during the last three years. I hope some of that knowledge has stayed in my memory. My heartfelt thanks to the And so came the merry month of May bringing a cuckoo committee and other members for all the kind messages my way on Benniguinea Hill near Clatteringshaws but of sympathy I received. I didn‟t hear many more this summer. We used to have several calling around the house but sadly not any Another recent death was that of Lady Henderson on 18th more, nor lapwings, and fewer curlews. Ten of us went July. She was the group's president for a number of years on the group's minibus trip to the RSPB reserve at and gave a great deal of her time, energy and wisdom to Lochwinnoch. You can read a report of this further on in the local RSPB. An obituary appears next in this news- this issue and also on the group's website at letter. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/galloway

I apologise for starting on such a gloomy note so shall May is the month for bluebells but, disappointingly, now turn to the notes I had made some time ago relating nobody went to Brian's Open Days to see those growing to happenings earlier in the year. In the last newsletter in his local wood. We could also have done with more I referred to the starling roost at Mersehead. On 12th people coming to our joint fundraising effort with SWT at February I had the pleasure of watching the starlings at Clonyard Farm on 27th June. The weather was good but Gretna Green which were truly spectacular: thousands of we were competing with the World Cup and perhaps birds in great clouds weaving patterns in the sky like other events too. Many, many thanks to our hosts Pam smoke curling around. This lasted about twenty minutes. and Matthew Pumphrey and all the helpers who gave Those who had been before declared it was the best they so generously of their time. had ever seen. Well worth the journey. Another sight worth seeing later in the same month, and quite by If you have any suggestions for future fundraising or chance, was that of hundreds of geese in flight while we indeed relating to any other aspect of the group's were en route to and from Dumfries. activities, please do telephone me or any of the committee members. We would welcome any feedback. February is also the month for beautiful displays of snow- drops. Usually we go to St Mary's Isle in Kirkcudbright Cynthia Douglas, but this year we visited Cally Woods at Gatehouse, which Group Leader offered an equally good show. The previous night our LADY HENDERSON thermometer had recorded minus 11 degrees at ground The recent death of Lady Catherine level so it was a very frosty morning but nonetheless we Henderson, peacefully at Hensol, enjoyed a picnic lunch in the winter sunshine. Walking shortly after a very happy and further down the track I was rewarded by seeing forty congenial 96th birthday with her curlews fly past and land in a field which they shared family, ended a remarkable and with the same number of greylag geese. highly fulfilling life, a worthy In early March Brian Nolan and I attended the Environ- account of which would take up ment Fair at DGOne where we took a turn on the group's more than this entire newsletter.

Born and brought up at Cumstoun, Kirkcudbright, she especially this year, and butterflies including the small was bequeathed Hensol by her godmother. She and pearl bordered fritillary. There is a mill dam which Sir Nigel loved its ancient woodland with its rich attracts lots of dragonflies and once only a kingfisher. birdlife (including honey buzzards!) its peaty river and its meadows and famous garden. Our bird-list totals 81, but with only solitary additions for each of the last four years: it is the last one for February They bequeathed ground to the RSPB for Hensol‟s public 2010, however, which is the prize - a little egret! This bird hides and for some years housed a well-hidden was in the midst of our severe winter, but the water was aviary for the nurture and release of red kites, which later unfrozen for most of the pond where my wife spotted it - helped form the nucleus of Galloway‟s now famous kite with good views even to its black legs and yellow feet as population. As Honorary President of our local RSPB it picked its way. The pond also hosted our second “best group she meticulously chaired our AGMs until beyond th bird” - a female marsh harrier on 2nd November 2002, her 90 birthday. Quick-witted, charming, distinguished which struck and carried off one of our moorhens. I tend yet unassuming, she epitomised the ideals of public to dismiss both the rare and the less likely in my service and private friendship to her “chums” as she bird-watching, but consultation confirmed it. called them. Our first entry is also our saddest - curlew; sad, in that For more than 50 years she raised funds tirelessly for the their habitat neighboured ours and was planted with RNLI and was twice awarded its highest accolade. She Sitka in the year we arrived. Their nest site lasted for and Sir Nigel held annual open days at Hensol to raise about four years and then was abandoned. Meadow pipits, funds for this and other charities. skylarks and whinchats went at about the same time.

Birds though come and go for various reasons - in 1994 The Hendersons travelled the world on official engage- we had green woodpeckers, 15 pairs of swallows nesting ments and through Sir Nigel fulfilled high level naval and a pair of spotted flycatchers nesting in the garden: missions. Whilst serving in Paris they lived on a seventy- now we have one or two swallow nests if we are lucky foot barge on the Seine. It is perhaps trite to end with the and no sign of the other two species. Nature though hackneyed, “We shall not see her like again” but, trite or makes up for things: nuthatches reached us in 2008 and not, it is true. I saw a pair together this year; a couple of pairs of white- Bryan Nelson throats nest each year in one of our woods and a pair of redstarts started coming from 1998 onwards and I saw FAREWELL TO NETHER LINKINS their fledged young this summer; a pair of grey wagtails have nested around the steading for some years now; teal come every winter to the pond and we have had a pair of wintering goldeneye and also goosanders on occasion. The winter has also brought us hen harriers now and again, and redpoll and brambling, whilst the number of ravens has increased considerably - I counted 35 together one January morning. Even the Sitka has produced nesting willow warblers and chiffchaffs and a regular pair of mavises, whose singing is such a delight.

We are going to a small village near Kelso in September and it will be hard to part with all this. We are lucky in that our successors are also aware of the environment in which they will be living and we think we are leaving what we have helped to create in good hands.

We will of course miss the RSPB group and all Nether Linkins is the name of our farm, nestling at the the familiar and friendly faces. Looking back at my time foot of the hills that make up the Ben Gairn/Screel as Leader I think of fine visiting speakers - Roy Dennis‟ feature. It has been the centre for my bird-watching for 16 visit and also that of David Lingard of the British support years – my “ patch”. In fact the farming came by accident for the Italian Bird Society, LIPU. This resulted in as I‟d intended to buy only enough land for a nature me and others joining LIPU-UK and a final plea would reserve, but the amount and nature of the land dictated be for more members to do so. They are so brave in otherwise! confronting those who shoot our summer birds and have just been mourning two of their volunteers who were shot I‟ve tried to improve the habitat by planting about 4000 by a deranged gunman. It suddenly put my efforts at broadleaf trees - three hectares-worth plus several hedges conservation into perspective. - and by making a large pond in one of the fields. Keith Kirk put up a barn owl box for me and we‟ve had a pair Good-bye and good luck to the group in the future nesting there for the last eight or nine years. We have a from Alison and me. bit of “unimproved” pasture with lots of wild flowers, Robert Greenshields

2 ARTISTS FOR NATURE FOUNDATION calling nightjars were a perfect accompaniment to our INDIA - MARCH 2010 evening meals round the fire beneath the stars, fruit bats I was honoured to be invited to join an international silhouetted against the sky, mottled wood owls joining the group of artists on a visit to India in March of this year. chorus, periodically jackals and wolves, maybe a leopard The Artists for Nature Foundation (ANF) is a unique and just occasionally the distant roar of the tiger. The organisation that acts as a catalyst between the public and chance of a lifetime? Maybe, but I do so hope to go back nature conservation organisations using the arts to present again. The land of Mowgli, Balou and Sheerkhan really the message in a variety of forms. By showing nature does grasp the imagination and I don‟t think it‟s going to through the arts the ANF hopes to persuade decision let up in a hurry. makers of the importance of the natural and cultural John Threlfall heritage of the places over which they influence.

A long-running project that the ANF is involved in is the REPORTS FROM GALLOWAY RESERVES sponsorship of an Environmental Education Centre and At Barclye, the second phase of tree planting was Eco Lodge on the outskirts of Bandhavgarh National Park completed in late May. This will link the Wood of Cree and Tiger Reserve in the heart of Madhya Pradesh. This is to Knockman Wood (FCS), part of the Cree Valley to the benefit of the local population and visitors alike Community Woodland Trust‟s vision to link existing and was to be our base for eight days. native woodland throughout the Cree valley. In total we have now planted over 170,000 trees on the site ranging It has to be said that the tiger‟s presence permeates all through oak, ash, birch, willow, hazel and other native aspects of the landscape of place and the landscape of the species. This ambitious habitat creation project could mind, whether you see one or not. Bandhavgarh however not have been possible without funding from the is a beautiful park, hosting a wealth of other wildlife and Scottish Forest Alliance (SFA) and the Scottish Rural to appreciate the flora and fauna in all its forms is to truly Development Program (SRDP). We are currently enter into the spirit of the forest. constructing new trails and installing visitor information boards to interpret the rich natural and archaeological The birdlife particularly was spectacular, from the small, history of Barclye. We hope to have the trails open by the but extravagantly-tailed, paradise flycatcher to the large end of autumn. and impressively adorned Malabar pied hornbill. They don‟t come more impressively adorned than the male At the Mull of Galloway we are currently replacing all peacock of course and it was satisfying to see and hear interpretation displays inside the visitor centre and we them in their natural habitat. hope this work might be completed by the end of July. The visitor centre will remain open throughout the refur- In the shimmering blue colour stakes, the Indian roller bishment. Work to replace the CCTV equipment will also appears to take umbrage with the whitethroated begin during August, continuing to ensure a great visitor kingfisher, who had the audacity to display an equally experience through magnificent live seabird footage on stunning hue on its wings, to the extent that the roller the cliffs. frequently dive bombed the kingfisher. The blue on Tickell‟s blue flycatcher was no less remarkable though At Ken-Dee Marshes efforts are ongoing to remove scrub the bird was small enough and wise enough to keep out of in the lagoon area and, once completed, this will give the way! visitors improved views out to the open water. We are also constructing a new turning area, through funding The plight of the Indian vultures has received much from Sulwath Connections, for visitors less able to walk publicity in RSPB press and for those on the trip who had to the new hide. been to India before the vulture‟s demise was glaringly obvious. In spite of this Bandhavgarh maintains a healthy Will Cranstoun population of four species of vulture. As we climbed a Assistant Warden, Galloway Reserves precariously steep track hewn from the rocks ascending to Bandhavgarh Fort these magnificent birds soared high MERSEHEAD RSPB RESERVE: JULY UPDATE above our heads. Wings and Things!

On our first day in camp I was pleased with myself to The inaugural meeting of the Dumfries & Galloway find a jungle owlet, smaller even than our little owl, and Branch of Butterfly Conservation was held at the Sulwath alerted everyone to my discovery. Little did I know that Centre/reserve in late June and with 35 attendees, was a we would be then seeing them on a very frequent basis! huge success. Five moth traps had been set up the night The same could be said of three raptors, the sparrowhawk before and 90 species were recorded, the most notable -like shikra, the crested hawk eagle and the crested being Peach Blossom and July Belle. There were also serpent eagle. All of them were quite confiding and good numbers of Brussels Lace and Red-necked Footman enabled the artists to get some good sketches down. in attendance and with some micro-moth species still to identify, there may be other gems yet! Though they Nothing was quite as confiding however as the Indian would have to compete with our first record of Wool nightjar that the eagle eyed Keith Brockie managed to Carder Bee in the Sulwath Centre gardens, found by locate. We were able to walk up to within feet of it. The Alison Robertson, to steal the show.

3 It was a fairly lack-lustre spring migration for birds, but RSPB LOCAL GROUP OUTING TO there were the usual waders passing through including LOCHWINNOCH RESERVE whimbrels, black-tailed godwits, greenshanks, green On 8th May 2010, a beautiful sunny day, ten of us met up sandpipers and up to 200 golden plovers well into June. at New Galloway and set off on a very pleasant journey to Up to three little egrets and both male and female marsh Lochwinnoch. harriers graced the wetland and up to three red kites hunted over the reserve. Water rails and otters were very evident from the Meida Hide and warblers seemed to be everywhere, with at least seven singing reed warblers in the reedbed and lesser whitethroat now becoming annual.

GOLDEN PLOVER IN BREEDING PLUMAGE BRIAN, JOHN, JANE, CYNTHIA, NICK, ANNA, JOYCE, CALLUM, PAULA

Heading South & Heading Out Paula Baker met us on arrival, just before 11.00am, and We said a fond farewell to Keeley Spate, our Visitor and on the feeders by the visitor centre we were able to see Community Liaison Officer, in June as she left to take up siskin, redpoll and reed bunting at close quarters. Over a permanent post with the Forestry Commission in the coffee we received a short history of the reserve and New Forest. We all wish Keeley the very best in her new thoughts for future plans. These include a new visitor job. Interviews to find Keeley's replacement will take centre, as the present one was built in 1973 and is in need place in July, with a view to appointing her successor of upgrading. Paula then took us along the southern path in August. Apart from various off-site RSPB regional of the reserve, where we saw willow and sedge warblers, meetings, Mersehead staff and volunteers attended World orange tip and green-veined white butterflies and great Oceans Week events at Rockcliffe and Port William, pond snails. We visited two hides from which were seen Colvend School Fete, Bird Group talks and a Wild Goose nesting swans, a great crested grebe and the third visit to Chase review. the reserve of an osprey.

Back at Home We arrived back at the visitor centre having passed an The growing trend of RSPB local groups visiting in array of alternative nest sites: hats, teapots and even a spring continued, with Edinburgh and North Ayrshire teddy bear nailed to a tree with lots of fleece available to on organised trips, and of course, the Galloway Group birds as nest lining material! These were all designed by continued with their monthly afternoon meetings and the local RSPB Wildlife Explorers Group, as was an walks. Ben led a successful Natterjack Night and other impressive „mini-beast hotel‟ comprising stacked wooden events included a Treasure Hunt for the local Leader pallets, ventilation bricks, drain pipes, straw, etc. funding teams, a Beach Clean and our annual Spring Birdathon which produced over 50 species of birds seen on the reserve in just six hours.

Education, Phoenix and WEX With the Sulwath Centre and Wildlife gardens now in full swing, it was wonderful to see us having our busiest June ever for visiting school groups. Ella, Jacqui and Kirsty also visited schools for Bird-Friendly Schools and Outreach work as well attending the inaugural Science Mayhem event in Dumfries and running a Beach Art event and a Brownie session at Mersehead. Judy Paul, Scotland Youth Officer, was down from SHQ to catch up on how the recently formed Phoenix group was going (from strength to strength, including a visit to the A MULTI-STOREY ‘MINI-BEAST HOTEL’ Galloway Kite Trail), and to run a WEX leaders training day with Jacqui, with a view to this group launching in It was a little after 1.00pm and we were glad to find our the summer, run by three local volunteers. way to picnic tables where we spent an hour over lunch. Paula introduced us to Erica, who was our afternoon Dave Fairlamb guide on the river path towards the town. There were Manager, Mersehead more nesting swans and black-headed gulls as well as blackcaps and goldfinches. We saw peacock and small 4 tortoiseshell butterflies around the reedbed. The marsh only by towering granite outcrops and a long white sliver marigolds were looking at their best and, in one area, of beach. At this time of year, more than 200,000 sooty pick-a-back plant was plentiful, carpeting the ground terns are whirling around on thermals above the island, below the willows. Coot and heron were seen in the reed accompanied by great frigatebirds flying so high you can bed. We walked till mid-afternoon, returning to the visitor see them gliding in and out of the clouds. centre to say our goodbyes, and enjoyed a lovely return journey.

Thanks to all who arranged this trip - I, for one, had never been to Lochwinnoch before. It was also good to see how many families with young children were enjoying the reserve while we were there. Anna White

FROM BLACK GROUSE TO WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRDS

It‟s 8.00am Seychelles time and it‟s early May. So that means it‟s 5.00am back home, somewhere between first GREAT FRIGATEBIRDS light and sunrise. Usually at this time I would be up a hill When you land on the beach and wander through the in Dumfries and Galloway, crouched behind some plateau, you‟re surrounded by pure white fairy terns Molinia tussocks, scanning the landscape for black perched neatly on branches, or perhaps fluttering down to grouse. Instead, I‟m wandering through dense forest on take a closer look at you. You have to remember to keep Aride Island, looking for nesting white-tailed tropicbirds. one eye on the ground as well though as you walk along Nesting tropicbirds are a whole lot easier to come by than the paths, as skinks and ghost crabs zig-zag under your lekking black grouse, it turns out, because they tend not feet. to be the least bit bothered by humans. If you get a bit too close, they might eye you suspiciously, or at most look a little disgruntled when you poke a stick under them to check for an egg. Aride is rare compared to many islands in the Seychelles in that it has never been invaded by non- native predators. Rats and cats have wreaked havoc on nearby islands, wiping out native species at an incredible rate, but here, by luck it seems more than foresight, the wildlife has been spared. As a result, ground-nesters such as the tropicbirds, and burrow-nesters like wedge-tailed and Audubon‟s shearwaters, have never learnt to be terribly concerned about anything that wanders up to them, including me.

However, that‟s not to say that Aride has always been FAIRY TERNS a haven for wildlife. Many Seychelles endemics were lost from Aride, not through predation, but as a result of habitat loss as the island‟s native vegetation was cleared But it‟s the hilly interior that‟s my favourite part of the to make way for a coconut plantation. Aride‟s twenty island. After a scramble up the hill, through ferns and Seychelles magpie robins, 4000 Seychelles warblers and over boulders, the sound of crashing waves fades away 500 Seychelles fodies only live here as a result of some and you hear that the forest is filled with warblers. The highly successful reintroduction programmes. (I still feel branches around you are dotted with austere-looking so privileged every time I‟m out monitoring the magpie brown noddies, some close enough to touch, and usually robins, being part of one of the most famous conservation several of Aride‟s half a million breeding lesser noddies success stories in the world: one which I learnt about as a building their nests out of wilted leaves. As you push zoology undergraduate in fact!) Luckily, the importance further through the forest you pop out at one of the rocky of this island was recognised by Christopher Cadbury, viewpoints, where you can see down to the turquoise sea who purchased the island in 1973 on behalf of the Royal at the base of the northern cliffs, where you‟re sometimes Society for Nature Conservation. Within two years, the lucky enough to spot turtles and rays swimming under the majority of the coconut palms had been removed and the surface of the water. From here you look north and see native vegetation began to regenerate at an incredible absolutely nothing, just blue sky and blue sea, and you rate. suddenly remember that you‟re just a tiny dot in the vast Indian Ocean. Nowadays, Aride is a beautifully lush island. As you arrive by boat from the south, the steep hill rises My time here is nearly at an end and soon someone else before you imposingly, carpeted in vegetation, broken will have the chance to spend three months here, working

5 with all this fantastic wildlife. I‟m moving on to new views of the common blue damselfly, the blue-tailed adventures in Mauritius and Madagascar, but I‟ll never damselfly and the large red damselfly. People are always forget the experience of living here on Aride – beautifully amazed when they see these delicate but brightly- isolated and bursting with life. coloured creatures close-up. Later in the afternoon we

Rebecca Johnson were greeted by the rather gruesome sight of a blue-tailed damselfly chewing on a fly.

RSPB GALLOWAY LOCAL GROUP Butterflies were also few in number because of the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING indifferent weather, but we did find a small pearl- bordered fritillary in the meadow. The butterfly was very The date for the AGM and the first meeting of reluctant to fly and was clinging to the top of a thistle. the autumn is Tuesday 21 September 2010 at Occasionally it opened its wings and gave us a good view 7.30pm in Castle Douglas High School. of its orange and black upper wing, and occasionally it closed its wings and showed off its intricate markings For further information about the underneath. Sadly, my camera was in the car! RSPB Galloway Local Group please contact Cynthia Douglas on 01644 420605

BIRDS, BEASTS AND BOTANY Reports on the joint RSPB Galloway Local Group and Scottish Wildlife Trust Summer Fundraising Event held on Sunday 27th June at Clonyard Farm, Colvend

The pond dipping event was well received by those who attended. Although the water level in the pond was very low, there was plenty of life in and around. We caught tadpoles at various stages of development, and it was great fun looking for newly emerged froglets in the damp grass by the pond so we could see 'the finished product'! We found newt tadpoles too. There were plenty of water invertebrates to look at: water boatmen, diving beetles, mayfly and midge larvae, but the star was definitely the dragonfly larvae. It was very popular, but could be a devil to find - amazing how well they can hide On a bright and breezy day, there was a veritable army of even in a white tray! A very enjoyable day, except for the people on hand to share their wildlife knowledge with the fact that England lost in the afternoon! visitors who came to enjoy a visit to Clonyard Farm and Mark Pollitt (DGERC Manager) all its varied habitats. Below are brief reports from some of those involved, but there were many others whose I had a most enjoyable contributions were equally valuable, not least those afternoon with sketchbook making the preparations beforehand, directing the car in hand, pencil or brush parking, greeting people as they arrived, manning all the poised for that moment various stalls, and serving refreshments. And our especial when a bird would be in thanks go to Pam and Matthew for hosting the event. view through the scope just long enough to get a few Graham Smith, Secretary of Galloway SWT, reported: lines down and flesh it out It wasn‟t perhaps the best day for dragonflies. The sun with some colour. was hiding behind the clouds and it was quite windy. I managed to combine this Dragonflies need warm and calm days if they are going activity with the 'Name to perform. It was therefore with some uncertainty that the Bullocks’ competition I took up my station by the loch side to show off the (manned during the after- dragonflies and damselflies to the visiting public. I had a noon by good friend good look round and eventually discovered a couple of John Maxwell, who was knowledgeably passionate common blue damselflies skulking in the grass, but that about the Longhorn cattle) by endeavouring to sketch the was all. However, the weather slowly improved and aforementioned calves with ever swooping swallows, the during the afternoon more and more damselflies made an whole scene dotted with buttercups. Couldn't resist! appearance. When the sun came out, the male damselflies staked a territory near the water‟s edge and we had good John Threlfall (Wildlife Artist)

6

PAM’S LONGHORNS, AWAITING NAMES! CALUM MURRAY WITH A CAPTIVATED AUDIENCE!

Alison Robertson, RSPB Area Administrator: We put Calum Murray adds: On the day I set up a marquee to out four moth traps the night before the event and caught attract children and get them involved in a few activities. so many moths in Pam's varying habitats that, despite an As well as general colouring in, children could have a go early start, we were still going through them when the at Compost Safari (looking at bugs and minibeasts in leaf public started to arrive. Four folk sitting round a small litter) and Find the Birdy (using the telescope and some flying saucer intoning "White Ermine ... Tawny-barred binoculars to look for different birds living around the Angle ... Ringed Carpet..." may have caused eyebrows to farm, to discover where they live). We also managed to be raised, but the gorgeous Peach Blossom and striking sign up a Wildlife Explorer Club member on the same pink-and-green Elephant Hawkmoths never fail to thrill, day. and it was a real pleasure sharing with people the stunning creatures that fly unnoticed during the hours of darkness.

We caught 79 species in all, County Recorder Keith Naylor taking away several micros for a closer look.

RSPB SCOTLAND DIRECTOR, STUART HOUSDEN AND PAM PUM- PHREY DISTRIBUTE THE RAFFLE PRIZES

In summary: the event raised £550 for the RSPB and the raffle a further £253. I‟m sure that most would agree with Brian Smith‟s comments that it was a success, despite the fact that fewer people than we had hoped for came to

sample the delights.

Stephanie Dewhurst, Editor

RSPB GALLOWAY LOCAL GROUP WINNERS OF THE SUMMER DRAW - JUNE 2010 Brian Smith (Chairman, SWT) comments:

I felt that the Clonyard Open Day was very successful in all but numbers of visitors. The wildflower walks were 1st Prize: Anna White, Milton peopled by a range of enthusiasts including children. 2nd Prize: Mrs Tavernor, Auchencairn rd It gave an opportunity to show the youngsters the 3 Prize: S Fox, Colvend 4th Prize: Mrs Wainwright, Kirkpatrick Durham relationship between plants and insects. The latter in turn th were shown to be food for birds. There was a wide range 5 Prize: Raymond Finnie, Dumfries 6th Prize: Margaret Finnie, Dumfries of grassland plants on view including Common Rattle and 7th Prize: Nick Murray, Borgue Greater Butterfly Orchid. I would be very happy to be 8th Prize: Mrs McAfee, Winster involved in any similar exercise in future and I also feel 9th Prize: S Nunn, Colvend that fundraising, while important, is not the sole criterion 10th Prize: E Jaszenski, Castle Douglas of an event's success.

7 THE GALLOWAY KITE TRAIL £351,000 was donated by our fantastic supporters, and This summer got off to a slow but thankfully dry start, this, alongside one extremely generous donation and giving the chicks a good chance of survival at the early several gifts from wills, took us over the finish line. We stages, and thus kites had a fantastic year with 51 active are very grateful to all who helped us secure this new nests being discovered over an ever-increasing area. stretch of coast for wildlife. 102 chicks were recorded of which 99 were ringed and 92 tagged. We are reasonably confident that as many as 98 of these chicks will successfully fledge in July/early August. Nests now range as far as Dunscore, Carsphairn, Kirkcudbright and the Fleet Valley.

Information shelters at Castle Douglas, Crossmichael, Parton, Glenlaggan and New Galloway are now complete. A new family activity has been created to encourage young children to get involved during their trip around the trail. The Kids‟ Kite Quest is hosted by six family friendly businesses, where children can collect wax rubbings from specially made carvings and then get a prize. Visitors can now follow the kite trail with the help AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE CROOK OF BALDOON PHOTO CREDIT: ALAN CAIRNS of our new trail guide leaflet and a new audio guide soon to be launched to enhance visitor experience as they travel around the trail. Made by Ken Jackson of Sounds The Crook of Baldoon is an exceptional site for wildlife, Natural, this will be made available either as a CD, the and an important addition to our family of reserves in the perfect trail souvenir, or as a downloadable file from the area. Its wet grassland, saltmarsh and mudflats already trail website. play host to declining wading birds such as lapwings and snipe, and other threatened species including whooper Three guided walks from Mossdale to the Secret Cages swans and golden plover. Now, thanks to the generous took place during spring and summer, with people help of our supporters, we are in the position to make it enjoying a plethora of different fauna and flora, including even better, not only for wildlife, but for human visitors heath spotted orchids, bog asphodel, common lizards, a as well. slow worm, kestrels squabbling over a kill, great spotted woodpecker, jay, whinchat, cuckoo, willow warbler, long Already, plans are underway to include the Crook of tailed tits, clouded border and yellow underwing moths, Baldoon in the largest Local Nature Reserve in the ringlet, common hawkers and common blue damselflies, country, which borders the site. We will soon begin work as well as close encounters of buzzard and red kite. The on improvements to the access and interpretation and events proved to be very rewarding. I have never seen hope to have this ready sometime in the New Year. people so excited at photographing hazel trees bearing Habitat work will also begin, enhancing and improving nuts! Visitor numbers, like the kite breeding success, the land for key wildlife, and a full time reserve warden continue to grow, with more people being enthralled at will be in post this winter. the feeding station and spending time in the area around Loch Ken. To find out how the trail and red kites have I do hope that you can visit this reserve in the near future benefited the area, make sure to read the feature in your and enjoy the scenery and wildlife. A local authority-run November edition of Birds magazine. hide is open to the public and accessible from Wigtown Calum Murray, Harbour. From here you can look out onto Wigtown Bay Galloway Kite Trail Community Liaison Officer and the Castle Bay nature reserve. The RSPB reserve is on the opposite side of the River Bladnoch and until, we THE CROOK OF BALDOON are fully up and running on this site, this hide is the only As local members, you will probably be aware of how available facility. special Wigtown Bay is. It has been an area of interest We are grateful for the support of Scottish Natural for the RSPB for many years and local staff have worked Heritage for their assistance in the purchase of this tirelessly to give conservation a strong voice here. reserve, and to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their You can imagine how excited we were at the prospect contribution to the costs of establishing and managing the of creating a RSPB nature reserve here. Opportunities reserve over the next 3 years. like this are not too frequent and with the need to raise Dave Beaumont, funds in order to acquire the site, we were still uncertain Regional Reserves Manager, South & West Scotland of success right up to the last minute.

Our 209th reserve, The Crook of Baldoon, has now been DONATIONS BY GALLOWAY LOCAL GROUP bought, thanks to the support of RSPB members and At its meeting in April, the Committee of the Galloway Scottish Natural Heritage. Members responded to our Local Group agreed to make donations of £1,000 to the appeal in April and helped us raise the much needed RSPB for woodland/lowland wet grassland and £200 to funds to finalise the purchase at £725,000. In total LIPU (Italian League for Protection of Birds). 8