News
Autumn Berries and Raptors
The hedgerow down to the Peter Scott Observatory is looking great with the Guelder Rose, Dog Rose and Hawthorn all now with berries. Down to the Avenue there are still Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing with Goldcrests starting to make an appearance a
12 September 2019
Folly Pond Filling Up
This does not just refer to the recent weather and all the rain that has fallen but also the number of birds starting to congregate here. Teal numbers have jumped up to over the five hundred mark. The Shoveler are starting to return while there are stil
4 September 2019
Windy weather and big tides
The wind has now dropped so the Avenue and Summer Walk have reopened and the sun is shining!The high tide is at 13:47 and is a big one, with this wind behind it could be quite a spectacle. 500 Pintail, Shelduck and Dunlin were seen over the high tide yest
31 August 2019
Teal are here
The ponds are filling with ducks, with both the Folly Pond and Flood Ground particularly good for Teal, Mallard and Shoveler.Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing and Snipe are feeding around the edges, with House Martins and Swallows over the surface of the wate
22 August 2019
Autumn days
A windy start to the day, with rain expected later.Duck and wader numbers are increasing slowly with more Teal and Shoveler around. Pintail are expected any day now.Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit and Snipe can be seen around the Folly Pond and Flood Ground.
21 August 2019
Good Weather for Ducks!
Well the weather really has thrown everything at us this week, though it is good that the forecast hail did not materialise in the end! We have closed the River Walk section of our Summer walk due to flooding and high tides. Please also bear in mind that
17 August 2019
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