Birds of our area

By Alex Peebles

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Sandy bay, shingle beach, rocky coast or towering cliff, all are within easy reach in the parish of Kirkmaiden. Bird watching could not offer more to our visitor be they a casual birder or an inveterate twitcher.

For waders, take a walk from Drummore round Cairngarroch Bay (The Back Bore) past Limpit Ha' and Cailiness point to Maryport and Ringwee point. Summer and Winter will bring a rewarding variety of waders and offshore divers. Winter may just offer the best opportunity to study large numbers of Redshank, Ringed Plover, Turnstones and Oystercatchers along with large flocks of Curlew. In Summer keep a sharp eye out for nests of Plover and Oystercatchers on the shingle, so easy to disturb or even step on.

Turnstone

Image © Roy Churchill 2007

The more spectacular cliffs of the Mull of Galloway at Kirkmaiden’s Southern extremity are a birders paradise. In Spring,  Kittywakes, Shag, Cormorants, Guillemots, Gulls and Razorbills can be observed from many vantage points. Visit the R.S.P.B. centre for valuable local advice. For the more energetic a climb to the top of the lighthouse is a rewarding experience. Do not miss the exhibition of lighthouse life or the delights of the Gallie Craig restaurant perched on the clifftop. Peregrine falcons often give a spectacular display while mating and hunting in Spring and Summer.

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Gulls and guillemots on cliffs at the Mull

Image © Jim Grieve 2009

A quiet Winter’s day can be very rewarding when you may be alone to enjoy flocks of Skylarks, Redwing, Fieldfare and much more. A walk down to the foghorn is worthwhile and is a great vantage point to observe many species on the cliffs or feeding in the tidal race below.

In Kirkmaiden you can never be more than two miles from the sea so it is difficult to differentiate between seashore birds and inland birds. The list below is therefore based on where birds are seen locally and may not hold for other areas. Cliffs may be home to many species during breeding however at other times of the year they will be offshore or on the seashore and in the case of the Gulls inland as well.

Six different geese winter in the south of Scotland. Whether they can all be seen in Kirkmaiden is questionable. The most frequented spots are the fields of Balgowan, Clash and Auchabreck farms with some sightings at Cailiness and Maryport bay. Look out for Pale Bellied Brent, Pink-footed, Greenland White-fronted, Greylag, Canada and Barnacle.

Redwing

Image © Roy Churchill 2010

The list below is not exhaustive by any means and is meant as a rough guide only. Please contact the website or report any unusual or interesting sightings to the RSPB centre. Wildlife photographs taken in and around Kirkmaiden will be much appreciated.

LEGEND :- R: resident, PM: passing migrant, W: winter, S: summer,  Int: introduced

Fieldfare

Image © Roy Churchill 2010

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© Kirkmaiden Natural History Group 2010