Squares of the Month – April: NX9661 and NS5618

East Ayrshire: NS5618

Our Ayrshire Square of the Month is NS5618, located south of Cumnock.

The square currently has no records at all in the database. The square encompasses Horsecleugh Burn, Horsecleugh Farm, Bowes Farm, Cairn Farm and part of Cairn Road and the A76. There is a field just south of Netherfield and a small area of the Caponacre Industrial Estate in the square as well.

Horsecleugh Burn looks particularly interesting and appears to have considerable riparian woodland and wetland vegetation. Much of the rest of the square is improved grassland and well grazed rushy wet grassland.

We aren’t sure how accessible the burn or areas of the square area but remember that even a record for a Carrion Crow, Rush or Orange-tip Butterfly will be more than we knew for the site previously.

 

Kirkcudbrightshire: NX9661

Our D&G Square of the month is NX9661, located on the east side of Criffel.

Criffel is one of the regions most visited hills, offering an accessible climb with great views. It may be surprising to know then that a square on Criffel’s flanks had no records at all in our database. That has recently been corrected with Malcolm climbing the hill to snipe a few bird and plant records in January.

Nonetheless there is much scope left to be had and with spring well underway potentially interesting wildlife records could be afoot. The square is off the main Criffel tracks and the site is quite steep so access is limited, but recorders may be able to spot wildlife by using binoculars or scopes to scan the slopes and it is possible to get to the summit of Drumburn Hill with care.

The square includes habitats typical of mostly unmanaged uplands including moorland, scrub and rocky scree. The square also includes some of Drum Wood which is mostly coniferous plantation.

Criffel has turned up some interesting wildlife records over the years including Red Grouse, Wild Boar/Feral Pigs, Adder and Emperor Moths, any of which may feasibly turn up in this square.

As always, we recommend recorders take particular care surveying in upland areas; it is always a good idea to go with someone or let someone know where you are going beforehand in case of emergency.

 

As of Feb 2026,  there were 1389 1km squares without any detailed records in the SWSEIC database — roughly 14% of the terrestrial squares that cover the area. To encourage our recorders to rectify this we have created an interactive map on our website that will allow you to view and investigate these ‘not-spots’.

Malcolm Haddow

SWSEIC Support Officer