A big welcome to Meg!
We are pleased to have welcomed some new team members recently so have some important introductions to make: starting with Meg, one of the new placement students!
Hi, I'm Meg.
I have recently started as a reserve management placement here at Caerlaverock. I made the move up here at the end of August, quite a change of scenery from South Wales. Having arrived at the tail-end of summer, I have been lucky to witness the seasonal changes across the site as autumn has slowly begun. During the first couple of weeks in early September, the site was buzzing with invertebrate activity. Spotting several species of butterflies and dragonflies was a daily occurrence. This activity has dropped as the temperatures are decreasing and we await their return in spring, something I am particularly excited for.
Small tortoiseshell butterfly
The last couple of weeks has seen the arrival of many of our migratory birds, my favourite being the barnacle geese in their high numbers. My favourite spot to watch them is the Avenue Tower, hours fly by watching them peck their way through the fields. I was lucky to see the first solitary whooper swan of the season on the merse from the Saltcot Observatory: the arrival of the masses is eagerly anticipated.
Barnacle geese flock on field
Reading about both of these species' incredible journey to arrive at Caerlaverock for winter makes witnessing them extremely special and highlights the importance of conserving this vital habitat for them. I feel incredibly lucky to be spending the year working here and learning all I can about managing these habitats, ensuring these amazing species have somewhere to spend the colder months.
Words and images by Meg Grisewood-Foley
