Wednesday 24th September

Sunny bike trip to Haugh of Urr.  Not much around apart from isolated butterflies, a dead badger, one female bullfinch, a few pipits and notably only a couple of birds of prey - two buzzards that were flying over the Rover Nith on the way back into Dumfries.  Swallows seem to have departed, though Tony saw some on the move while coming from Castle Douglas.

In the garden, a carrion crow was a rare appearance on the bird table - looking even more inelegant than the occasional wood pigeons that visit.

16th September 2014

Last couple of bikerides this summer heave not produced any spectacular sightings. Lone peacocks and red admirals flying over the road, a single kestrel hovering north of Corsock. Most of the summer visitors are away now, though the swallows, absent from the estate, are still chattering about it on the telegraph wires above open farmland.

In the garden, the smallest buddleia is still flourishing and red admirals have been seen right up to this Monday.