A jay: Team Office sneak into the lead
Bird Race Update 2
It’s my first time visiting Powhillon (part of the northern reach of the reserve) since the start of the Bird Race. I’m prepping future contract work for the Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Project but it would be rude to not look out for any unusual species whilst I’m out here!
An hour and a half later, I’m finishing up my jobs list at Powhillon and it was not looking particularly hopeful: the new species I had seen were just a meadow pipit and coal tit at that point. Suddenly as I was walking back to the farmyard I could see something flying in the distance. I pointed my binoculars onto it and I saw a flash of white, characteristic pink-brown plumage and finally that electric blue on the wings. Could it be? Yes it was a jay!
Whilst jays are a common bird in the UK, they aren’t spotted often on the reserve as the woodlands we have here aren’t large. However neighbouring land has a bigger patch of woodland. It makes you think about things on a landscape scale, rather than just a reserve scale, and keep an eye out for species spilling over onto our reserve. It also just goes to show that even on a quiet day you need to keep your eyes peeled at WWT Caerlaverock.
Some other highlights include twite spotted up by the Saltcot Merse Observatory, a jack snipe spotted in amongst a group of common snipe in a field near the Peter Scott Observatory and seeing two elusive water rail by the feeders during the freeze we’ve had.
Whilst the cold weather brought out the water rail it has meant that some of our more common species on the reserve still haven’t been ticked off by Team Office, particularly gadwall and pintail. Species like merlin and dunlin are evading Team Office which definitely suggests we need to spend more time at the Saltcot Merse Observatory!
Words by Jake Goodwin
Feature image of jay by Ian Henderson
Current scores
Team placement: 50
Team warden: 64
Team office: 72
