A few hours along the Portpatrick clifftops brought some sightings of Ravens, Hooded Crow as well as an abundance of wildflowers. Gannets were struggling to head North against a stiff breeze.
A brief visit to Ballantrae beach provided an unexpected sight of brilliant, summer plumaged Knot and Sanderling. At least that's what I believe them to be, but no doubt someone will correct me otherwise. The summer colouring completely threw me. This beach normally hosts Little and Arctic Terns nesting but none had yet arrived. Gannets were feeding close inshore.
Corsewell Point provided good but distant views of Manx and Sooty Shearwaters heading North. A Short eared Owl was harried by corvids
At the end of the Mull there were good numbers of Guillimot and Razorbill with a few Black Guillimot as well. A Peregrine patrolled the cliff faces.
A few hours spent inland gave me the chance to watch Spotted Flycatchers, Tree Pipits, Sedge Warblers and large numbers of Chiffy, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat. I failed to find a Pied Flycatcher anywhere.Woodland Bluebells were magnificent
I was treated to see Roe deer, Stoat, Adder, Hares and amazingly Painted Lady butterfly.
On the return journey through Galloway Forest a couple of Cuckoo were heard.
