News
Swans a-swimming
Some of the local population of Mute Swans have now started joining us at the Whooper Pond. We have been up to 19 out there but only 3 this morning. It will be a couple of weeks yet potentially before we start seeing the arrival of any Whooper Swans bac
19 September 2020
Sunny Sedum Attracts the Butterflies
The good weather recently has really drawn in the late flying butterflies such as Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell into the Wildlife Garden. Not only is the Sedum (recently renamed as Hylotelephium and otherwise known as Iceplant) proving a valuable l
18 September 2020
Barnies are Back!
The first Barnacle Geese of the Autumn were heard yesterday flying over Caerlaverock! This is the joint earliest date for them to be returning back. This morning 21 of them were feeding out on the Merse to the west of the reserve, mixed in with the cows
17 September 2020
Great Spotted Woodpecker Versus Sparrowhawk
The Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been making more of an appearance around the reserve than we usually see of them. There was nearly one less this morning down the Saltcot Loaning, as a lurking Sparrowhawk erupted out of the undergrowth to make a lunge
12 September 2020
Pink feet begin arriving
The sound of Winter is beginning to return to Caerlaverock with skeins of Pink-footed Geese passing overhead yesterday and this morning. A group of 50 birds looked like it was heading down onto the Merse so do have a scan from Saltcot Merse Observatory a
11 September 2020
Reed Buntings in the Hedgerows
It has been a good morning for Reed Bunting spotting, with activity in the Hedgerows down to the Saltcot Merse Observatory. They also favour the Willow tree in the sheep paddock next to the Observatory with a mix of males, females and juvenile birds obse
10 September 2020
Eel in a Puddle
Rather strange start to the morning with Reserve Manager Joe Bilous discovering an eel in one of the puddles down the Avenue. This was safely caught and placed in the Teal Pond, a location in which we have recorded them in the past. Another unusual sigh
5 September 2020
Autumn Berries
The season is really progressing and the hedgerows are filling with berries. Some of the Hawthorn shrubs down the Saltcot Loaning are heavy with haws that will be beneficial to the migrant Thrushes who will shortly start returning to our shores. The hed
3 September 2020
Phalarope on Folly
Not to sound like a broken record about the Folly Pond but once again it has delivered. A Red necked phalarope has dropped in and is busy feeding in the deeper water. Wader numbers in general are building with over 20 Curlew, still good numbers of Lapwi
2 September 2020
Lapwing on the Folly Pond
Good numbers of Lapwing on the Folly Pond this morning. The Shoveler numbers are also on the increase and a solitary Black-tailed Godwit is present feeding in the water. The Marsh Harrier that has been observed around the Reserve last week is originally
1 September 2020
Marsh Harrier over Folly Pond
Having mentioned yesterday about the Teal numbers starting to creep up on Folly Pond, well the Marsh Harrier discovered the same thing this morning. Cracking views of the juvenile bird flying over and flushing all the birds as observed from Sharp's Looko
29 August 2020
Natterjacks Emerging
After the tidal surges and flooding of the Merses last week, it is very heartening to see that some of our Natterjack tadpoles have made it to the emergence stage. This week has seen little toadlets appearing on the path to the Saltcot Merse Observatory
28 August 2020
Wet, wet, wet
Well recent weather has been decidedly on the wet side. It has meant that the Pasture Pathway has become flooded and as such has been closed. It is however, good for the waders and ducks. Teal numbers are increasing around the reserve with over 400 bir
27 August 2020
Info for Wednesday 26th August
If you are visiting on Wednesday 26th August, please be aware that the Visitor Centre will be closed between 1pm - 2pm. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.The reserve will be open as normal, you will still be able to enter and exit the
25 August 2020
Tidal flooding
Yesterday brought big tides coupled with unseasonally strong winds which meant the afternoon tide flooded the majority of the saltmarsh. This is becoming more regular in winter but for late summer it is quite unusual.Sadly this may have been a disaster fo
22 August 2020