Another 5am start enabled a working trip to Dumfries to be extended a little to include some natural connections at both ends of the day. Looked in on Castle Loch first thing and was rewarded with a good showing of common birds. While in the process of ticking off two Sedge Warlers, I noticed that the song of one of them wasn't quite right. Sure enough, it turned out to be a Reed Warbler which gave excellent (if brief) views as it clambered about the reeds. It was then joined by two others, which it proceeded to chase around the reedbed. Also present was a fledged brood of Blue Tits, both Rabbit and Brown Hare, and a singing Willow Tit.

Heading back up the Dalveen Pass at the end of the trip, roadside birds included Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wheatear and Meadow Pipit. In the pass itself, six Buzzards and two Ravens were in the air together. Several had missing primaries and/or tail feathers. One Raven had lost so many feathers, it looked like a skeleton, but didn't seem to be impaired in any way.