Wednesday 11th September

A good number of meadow pipits north of the Cairn on the way over to Corsock by bike. Chasing each other over the moors, which I haven't seen before.

Friday 30th August

Returned to Brooms first week on and managed nine carp 2/3 of way down Bruce's Acre.  Six of these were small commons on swimfeedered prawns about 15 yards out, which seemed better than casting further.

Getting the feeling that cooler weather meant larger fish might go for the margins, I dumped a load of corn in and succeeded in getting a nice common of over 7lb as well as a mirror that might have tipped 5lb plus one other.  However all three were foul-hooked.  Also lost a few two fish on pellet and one on small prawn after a couple of major battles.

Common carp

Mirror carp

Monday 26th August

I haven't been able to maintain this diary over the past five weeks due to various personal matters, so this is by way of a summary entry to catch up.

Bike rides to Palnackie and Kirdubright on 24th and 31st July showed that there are still red admirals around, plus a large number of whites on pussy willow on 24th while hot weather still predominated.
Early in August experimented with swimfeedered prawn in the spawning swim on Bruce's Acre, which worked well for seven carp up to 4.5lb and a couple of bream, plus three snap-offs to good fish.  Unfortunately, same approach did not work on the Canal left end on 15th, when I got nuisance bites all day and just four small fish after a promising run.  I think this indicates a stronger population of larger fish in Bruce's Acre with resulting competition for food, as they all came to strong runs and small fish bites were eliminated - although possibly not visible as there was a fair wind moving the quiver tip.

A walk at Lochdougan Forest on 18th was very pleasant but overcast weather meant few dragonflies and just one red admiral. One large red deer did not see me until I got quite close, indicating that not many people go there - as did the length of undergrowth on one of the tracks.  Looked quite a good area for willow tits. Saw two sexton beetles trying to bury a shrew on the road as I returned to the car.

A bike ride around Loch Ken area on the 21st showed up a lot of red kites looking for road kill near Crocketford.  On the road from RSPB car park to Laurieston found myself pursuing a host of baby pheasants along the road.  Eventually they panicked and tried to fly off one by one but kept crashing clumsily into trees and bushes.  Also saw swallows feeding  immature birds on the telegraph wires, which I've never witnessed before.

Meanwhile in the garden, another first was a willow warbler visiting the buddleia bush, which is now in bloom.  Again this year, peacock butterflies have predominated, with red admirals back in about equal numbers with small tortoiseshells.  Years ago there would always have been more red admirals than peacocks.  Not many painted ladies however - just two separate sightings on buddleia and next door's lilac.  Also absent for about a week or so have been the swifts. They must have returned to Africa earlier than last year.

Monday 22nd July

Fishing trip to Brooms. Fished end swim on Queensberry south bank in still very hot conditions.  A total of around fifteen fish but included mainly roach and what I until now thought were chub but may in fact have been ide, plus a couple of perch and a gudgeon.

Only two carp of not much above 1lb even though one was a very pretty golden mirror, plus a late barbel that was about 3.5 lb.  On last cast elastic snapped as a fish powered across the lake - presumably another barbel but only one other better fish lost.  Small fish dominated throughout and obstructions rendered the end swim unfishable.

I should perhaps have moved. Interestingly a bloke opposite was pumping out fish of a better size on a swimfeeder fished half way out.  Maybe this is the way to go at the peak of hot conditions (25 C) rather than sticking in the margins.

Sunday 21st July

Mabie Forest butterfly walk with Glenys again.  Thousands of ringlets, two small tortoiseshell, one red admiral, two small heath, one small copper and half a dozen common blues. But the most interesting sighting was a dark green fritillary.  Although said to be scarce we got a good look at one.  The green wasn't very clear but we saw enough to realise it was a female and saw about seven others in flight.  Once again at Mabie, did not see any birds in passing, just heard a few

Friday 12th July

Did Moffat Wildlife and Earshaigs walks with Glenys. Hundreds of ringlets, meadow brown and possible gatekeeper. Oystercatcher.

Wednesday 3rd July

Large Heath  butterfly

After my holiday and several bike rides with no major sightings plus some bad weather. Today's trip was to Kirkconnell Flow in pursuit of Large Heath butterfly.  Hard going as track onto raised bog covered in scrub but several large heath sighted as per photo. Not bad as this was only the second attempt.

Other sightings on the day were; a couple of small heath away from raised bog - they are mainly on the wing in August - red deer, meadow pipit, skylark, little white moths, several dragonflies and well-concealed dragonfly spotter, ringlet butterfly. 

Also a bird that I afterwards realise was a whinchat.