West Galloway SOC - Birding in and Around Stranraer

Having poured with rain the previous day, we were met with a beautiful sunny day for our Sunday walk in the Wood of Cree.

We headed off up the trail and saw great tits, bluetits, coal tits and chaffinches in the trees and a wren flitting about in the undergrowth. At the waterfalls, a red admiral butterfly and very yellow grey wagtail was spotted.

Some of the group elected to take the shorter route whilst the rest of us headed off to the scrubland walk. Once we left the sound of the tumbling water we could hear willow warblers in the smaller trees and stood for a while, watching one taking nesting material into its nest site.

Orange tip butterflies were adundant as were dor beetles, so many that you had to take care where you trod. In the open area a songthrush was singing beautifully and a lizard, that had been sunning itself on the grass, darted for cover. On our way back down we met up with a couple more members and soon heard a wood warbler which we located high in the canopy.

Back in the car park, a chaffinch and crow were feeding on the picnic tables and a cuckoo was heard in the distance. A short walk to the Otter Pool produced another Willow Warbler's nest in the grass, but no bird-life seen on the water. Whilst the bird-life was a little disappointing today, it was well worth the walk as the bluebells were stunning, as was the blossom on the crab apple trees.

By Valerie Harrison

Labels: wood of cree