Go wild in Galloway!

We have some amazing opportunities to see some of Galloway's incredible wildlife.

The Red deer range is open now for the summer leading guided walks to see and meet Britain's largest land mammal, up close! Tours start at 10am Sunday - Thursdays and last roughly 1 1/2 hours. See Rannoch the alpha stag and meet the females along with their calves that were born in June. A truly memorable experience. £3.50 Adult £2.50 conc. under 16 £2.50 Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £10

Red kite minibus tours are also being led this year with the next due to go on the 8th August 10am - 3pm. FCS and RSPB staff will lead you around the Galloway red kite trail stopping at many points of interest to discover more about Galloway's red kite Reintroduction programme. Lunch at Clatteringshaws visitor centre is included. £30 Adult £15 Conc. To book you place call us on 01671 402 420.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Y

If you go down to the woods.....

...on Saturday.

Just a quick reminder that 10@Kirroughtree is taking place this weekend at Kirroughtree visitor centre. 10@Kirroughtree is a continuous 10 hour, 10 mile mountain bike race organised by no fuss. For more information on the event please log onto www.nofussevents.co.uk

The event will include parts of the blue and red route out as far as the start of the 'White Witch'. The way marked trails will still be open but please give way to the 500+ competitors taking part.

Diversions: Green route closed 10 July 2010

Have a good weekend
Y

Flitting about Fritillaries

The warm weather in Galloway recently has been great for spotting sun loving insects. Golden ringed dragonflies are on the wing along with my first sightings of the season of small pearl bordered fritillaries! Their colour and patterns are amazing especially in the warm afternoon sun as they went from thistle to thistle in search of nectar.

The flowers weren't fully open so they didn't stop for long on any one plant.

If you are near any of our three visitor centres and spot any butterflies pop in and add your sightings to our wildlife board. You can see what other visitors have spotted on their walks too!

Bye for now

Y

Deer calf and nosebag

This clip, taken by Hugh the red deer ranger, sees the new calf at the deer range appearing while the others are feeding. Look out too for one of the deers' "hello mum" moment towards the end.

I'm tripod, pleased to meet you!

At the Red Deer Range on Wednesday I caused great interest amongst the hinds. Well not me but my camera and tripod! One hind came straight up to me to inspect my lens and then with her friend went over to my tripod. Almost immediately it was being sniffed and licked by two very curious deer.

After a couple of nose prods the tripod fell over but that didn't put them off and they continued to inspect every bit of it.

I got these photos which I thought you might like to see.

Have a good bank holiday weekend

Yogi

It's all about location

The swallows that have nested at Glentrool visitor centre for the last few years are back and have started on home decorations already! They have been around for a couple of weeks and staff at Glentrool were unsure whether they would take up residency in last years nest as the birds didn't seem that interested in it and they started checking out other possible locations.

However after a few days they made their minds up, they have settled with last years location and have set about tackling repairs and making it cosy for the little ones that wont be far off.

We have a little camera set up on the nest with live footage beamed back into the centre for you to enjoy whilst you stop for lunch or just a wee refreshment break.

Will post some pictures when we have them.

Good luck swallows!
Yogi

Isn't nature incredible!

A few weeks ago I mentioned that Rannoch, one of the red deer stags at the deer range, had cast his antlers. well, they have started to grow back and are really taking shape. We thought you might like to see what he looks like just now, so Hugh the range manager has been out with his camera.

You will notice that Rannochs antlers still have quite a bit of growing to do and that what he does have is covered in what looks like velvet. This covering will eventually fall off once the antlers are fully grown. Rannoch will find a natural feature like a tree or large rock and rub his antlers against it. This velvet will then rub off and he will then rub his antlers in the mud to make them look more dull and not bright white, like bone.

Ill post another photo when Rannochs antlers have grown a bit more. The size of his antlers last year were very impressive so I'm looking forward to seeing them fully grown this year!

Yogi