News
Reserve Update Wednesday 13th August
Lovely start to the morning after the rains overnight (if visiting, do consider bringing your wellington boots). The fist Pink-footed Geese have been seen flying across the reserve yesterday morning. A group of 25 passed high overhead the Peter Scott
13 September 2017
Update, Monday 11th September
A bright, sunny start to the day with a Peregrine hunting over the Folly Pond. Yesterdays WeBS (Wetlands Bird Survey) count is included in the list below. Today the Saltcot Loaning is muddy and partially blocked for resurfacing after the hedge work
11 September 2017
Latest Sightings - 9th September - Saltcot Loaning Open
The Saltcot Loaning is open again today after the hedge cutting. There is still some work to do to reinstate the path, heavy machinery and heavy rain don't mix very well, so please bear with us as we get both Avenues back how they should be. Walking boots
9 September 2017
Latest Sightings - 8th September
Finally we have a reprieve from the rain, but only temporarily it would seem. As a result of the heavy rain and agricultural activity, the Avenues are particularly wet and muddy at the moment. Please come prepared with walking boots or wellies. We
8 September 2017
Latest Sightings - 1st September
A dry start to the morning with plenty of bird song in the air. Chiffchaffs are on the move, passing through the reserve as they head back south for the winter. Again, the mud on the Folly Pond is popular with waders, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwi
1 September 2017
Latest Sightings - 26th August
A sunny start to the day on the reserve. The Black-tailed Godwits are again showing well in front of our new hide overlooking the Folly Pond along with at least 6 Snipe very close to the hide. Snipe in front of the new hid
26 August 2017
Latest Sightings - 25th August - Godwits, Harrier and Goshawk
The Folly Pond is still one of the best places on the reserve at the moment. Plenty of mud means the Black-tailed Godwits are feeding there most days despite the work we have been doing around that area. There are over 60 Godwits there this morning. There
25 August 2017
Monday 21st Aug update
Warmer now but temp. dropped to 7C last night. Teal nos are building, with over 300 now and a single pintail. Ospreys and Peregrine are regular out on the merse/estuary, along with Kestrel, Buzzard and distant Marsh Harrier. Wheatear out there too. Some l
21 August 2017
Reserve Update Friday 18th August - Kingfisher
A Kingfisher has been seen fishing in the Back Pond first thing this morning. This will be the second sighting of it this week. Wader and duck numbers are starting to increase around the reserve with 51 Black-tailed Godwit on the Folly Pond fir
18 August 2017
Latest Sightings - 12th August - Bioblitz today - free event for all!
Join us between 10am - 5pm today for our Bioblitz event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve (part of which we manage). We will try to find and identify as many species as possible in a day. This is a free event fo
12 August 2017
Latest Sightings - 9th August
A sunny start to the day, which makes it great for watching butterflies and dragonflies in the meadow. An Osprey has just been seen flying over the reserve, and there appears to be a Goshawk kill in the Avenue. A large Woodpigeon has been killed and eaten
9 August 2017
Reserve Update Sunday 6th August
Avenue Tower is the place to be this morning with a multitude of young birds present in the hawthorn tree at the entrance and also within the cover crop. The goldfinches are still yammering for their parents to feed them while a solitary juvenile spot
6 August 2017
Latest Sightings - 5th August - Bankend Bridge update
We have been told that the contractors working on the B725 at Bankend are behind schedule. The bridge is open this weekend, but will be CLOSED from Monday 7th until Friday 11th, day and night. Please use the diversion via Dumfries. It's a bright & sun
5 August 2017
Reserve Update Thursday 3rd August
Decided autumnal feel to the place this last couple of days. One black-tailed godwit was feeding on folly Pond first thing this morning and eight curlew, two lapwing and 56 teal were present in the Flood Ground Teal next to Avenue Tower. Highli
3 August 2017
Sightings - 28/07/2017
Another juvenile Redstart was present down at Saltcot yesterday, showing very well along the path to the hide. There were 30 Scaup on the Solway at high tide, but they're extremely distant and hard to make out on the choppy water. These numbers w
28 July 2017