It now seems a dim and distant memory 19 days since the throng of visitors for the book festival at which point I must thank the Crook volunteers for their time covering my dinner times across the ten days it was very much appreciated and so Wigtown is settling into autumn with winter on the horizon.
Down on the Crook however, the wintering birds are starting to arrive with skeins of pink footed starting to arrive and little egret numbers starting to increase this morning on lagoon 5 we had 146 teal these have been coming in since the weekend along with 38 mallard and 10 widgeon and 6 black tailed godwits, two lapwing and on lagoon 1 we had 3 little egrets, 5 swans, 32 lapwing.
Out on the saltmarsh are golden plover and dunlin knot in small numbers lots of shelduck and a good number of curlew and the predators are starting to arrive with the increase of prey with kestrel, sparrow hawk showing well and regular visits by the buzzard and raven.
On the passerine front the flocks of goldfinch and linnet are feeding mainly out on the saltmarsh on the Spartina seed and hopefully it will not be long before the twite start to arrive. Already I have counted flocks around the bay of over 200 winter thrushes being predominantly redwing but quite a few fieldfares as well their distinctive call bringing home the fact the first frosts to the lowland part of the Machars are not too far away.
We have been treated well this year by with the weather. The dry summer has allowed us to do all the grassland management we have needed with rush cutting and removal complete across all 96 hectares with the islands done as well. We have started putting boards in to retain water in the lagoons and hopefully by Christmas we shall be full once again and looking to the next breeding season.
We might just get some hedge laying done this year if the weather is kind once the winter thrushes have had their fill of berries our main aim is to create a dense thicket of hawthorn for breeding passerines without losing to much fruiting wood should be a good winter project if you would like to volunteer at the Crook of Baldoon do get in touch 01988 402130 we meet on Thursdays 9.30 till 4 with a lunch break so bring a flask and food.