News
It's a Wader Day
There are two Green Sandpipers and a Ruff on Folly Pond this morning. They are joined on the pool by Snipe, Lapwing, a Black-tailed Godwit and a juvenile Shelduck. If you look closely in the photo of the Folly Pond taken this morning from the Scottish W
8 August 2019
A Charm of Goldfinches
With the Thistles now going to seed there are large flocks of Goldfinches around the reserve making use of this bounty. Up to twenty were seen down the Saltcot Loaning this morning. Another good spot to keep an eye out is along the Meadow and River Walk
7 August 2019
Green Sandpiper and Swallows
A Green Sandpiper is still on the reserve having been chased off the Whooper Pond by Swallows first thing this morning. It could be on the Back Pond or Folly Pond now. Plenty of Snipe also on the Folly Pond with at least 8 in front of the Scottish Water H
3 August 2019
Marsh Harrier
A female Marsh Harrier has been seen over the merse from Saltcot Merse Observatory this morning and at 16:30 yesterday it was flying over the Peter Scott Observatory.A Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper were on the Folly Pond yesterday and could still b
31 July 2019
Snipe on Folly Pond
Good views of Snipe on Folly Pond with a max count of 9 individuals. Obviously they are enjoying the rainy spell! The Green Sandpiper was back on the Whooper Pond briefly so it too is worth keeping your eyes peeled for that. The first of the Swallow br
27 July 2019
Tree Sparrow Nesting
After the disappointment earlier in the summer when the nestbox down the Avenue we thought had Tree Sparrows in turned out to have Great Tits, we have now discovered this week that the Tree Sparrows have successfully raised a brood in another box up towar
26 July 2019
Little Egret Making an Appearance
We had three Little Egret fishing around Whopper Pond this morning. They were joined there by the Little Ringed Plover, and demonstrating that Autumn migration for waders is truly commencing, a flypast by 16 Curlews. Flocks of Linnet are being seen more
17 July 2019
Autumn wader migration underway
Waders are already starting their Autumn migration, using WWT Caerlaverock as a stopping point on their journeys.Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit have been on the reserve this week, along with a number of Com
12 July 2019
Little Ringed Plover
The past couple of days have seen the appearance of a Little Ringed Plover on the Reserve. Yesterday on Folly Pond, today on a small sand bank on the left hand side of Whopper Pond. It is rather flighty and got disturbed early on by a Roe Deer munching
10 July 2019
Insects everywhere!
With the sun shining and a light breeze, it's the perfect day to see insects on the reserve.The meadow and Summer Walk are particularly good at the moment with plenty of butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies to see amongst the wild flowers.High Tide: 15:5
6 July 2019
Green Sandpiper & Black-tailed Godwits - Wader passage has begun!
It seems Autumn wader passage has begun already with the first Black-tailed Godwits on the Folly Pond and a Green Sandpiper on the Whooper Pond first thing this morning. It flew, so could be on the Folly Pond or Flood Ground now.Plenty of butterflies out
29 June 2019
Common Blue Butterflies flying
The first Common Blue Butterflies are now flying, a few have been seen along the River Walk yesterday.Four-spotted Chaser Dragonflies are also beginning to emerge from the ponds.The Swallows have hatched chicks in the Teal Pond hide. Enter slowly and sit
22 June 2019
Black-headed Gull chicks and Reed Warbler singing
More baby birds to report! The Black-headed Gull colony in the Flood Ground have begun hatching chicks. This morning there were at least 5 chicks on the rafts, hopefully with more to come. We will aim to keep the water levels up to deter predators and giv
19 June 2019
Shelduck Chicks
More baby birds to report! During yesterday's monthly Wetland Bird Survey a pair of Shelduck with 7 chicks were observed out on the Merse in front of the Saltcot Observatory. It also appears that the Oystercatchers on Folly Pond are once again sitting on
17 June 2019
Eclipse is Coming
No, this is not anything celestial related but the Autumn moult of duck species. Already the Mallard and the Shoveler are starting to look decidedly worn in appearance. It is a rather strange summer as we still seem to have small numbers of our winter d
15 June 2019