Hedges of colour

3 February 2022

Spring is starting to come to life at the reserve with the hedges full of Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch and Greenfinch just name a few! A Long -Eared Owl was also spotted, as well as a Hen Harrier and plenty of waders.

Spring is starting to come to life at the reserve with the hedges full of Bullfinch, both males and females, as well as Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Robin, Great and Blue Tit, Greenfinch and a Song Thrush. Some of these species are even starting to sing, the Song Thrush has already found a nice tall tree to sing from.

Elsewhere we had a possible Long-Eared Owl sighting on the reserve! it was very fleeting but Long-Eared Owls are known to be present at Caerlaverock preferring dense scrub with hawthorn present. This particular individual was spotted on the path leading to the Saltcot Hide So keep your eyes peeled. There's also been fantastic views of Golden Plover, with around 300+ being seen on the site over the week. They're most often seen from the Folly Pond Hide or even swirling overhead in fantastic numbers.

Other waders include Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank. With Shelduck and Pintail also visible from the Folly Pond Hide. Hen Harrier have been keeping busy with a couple of sightings this week over the salt marsh and over the Folly Pond. with a very active Kestrel visible around the site.

Unable to visit us in person or missing your daily fix of swans, waders, and badgers’ antics, then click on the link below to check out our webcam which is set on the Whooper pond during the day, and then set to view the badger feeding area from 5pm onwards.

https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaveroc...

This week's high tide times are:

Fri 04/02- 14:30- 9.7 m

Sat 05/02- 15:09- 9.4 m

Sun 06/02- 15:48- 9.0 m

Mon 07/02- 16:32- 8.5 m

Tues 08/02- 17:18- 8.0 m

Wed 09/02- 18:15- 7.4 m

Thurs 10/02- 19:30- 7.1 m

As well as this week's highlights, you are likely to see the following on the reserve:

Birds	Mammals	Named Whooper Swans
Mute Swan	Hare	Yellow ZHD - Renouf
Greylag geese	Roe Deer	Yellow ZND - Rosie
Canada Geese	Weasel	Yellow ZLD - McMurdoston
Shelduck	Stoat	Orange XLX - Linda Graham
Mallard	Fox	Yellow ZLS - Handel
Gadwall	Otter	Yellow ZXP - Mary
Shoveler	Badger	Red APR - Elsie Barbara
Teal		Orange YFB - Eric Anthony
Moorhen		Yellow ZHV - Wampool
Cormorant		Yellow ZJS - Hendrik
Little Egret		Orange YSJ - Sheldon Whooper
Grey Heron		Orange YTF - Odette
Buzzard		Orange XKU - Solway Siren
Kestrel		Orange XLL - Chris
Peregrine Falcon		Yellow ZLA - Beatrice
Merlin		Yellow ZJI - Indigo Montoya
Sparrowhawk		Yellow ZJX - Polly
Golden Plover		Yellow ZVL - Nobby Nobkin
Oystercatcher		Yellow ZNP - Lucky Linda
Lapwing		Orange XLD - Donald Ivan
Common Sandpiper		Yellow ZFV - Giffnock
Redshank		Yellow ZLP - Keith John
Black-tailed Godwit		Yellow ZNC - Rowena Two
Curlew		Yellow ZSB - Sugar Baby
Snipe		Yellow ZPY - Sigurdswan
Black-headed Gull		Yellow ZJH - Aspen
Common Gull		Yellow ZJN - Nado
Herring Gull		Yellow ZVC - Ava-Grace
Great Black Backed Gull		Orange XLJ - Bernard
Wood Pigeon		Yellow ZJZ - Snoopy
Collared Dove		Yellow ZLJ - TJ Whooper
Great Spotted Woodpecker		Yellow ZNA - George
Skylark		Yellow ZNU - Janis
Yellowhammer
Redwing
Fieldfare
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Wren
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Treecreeper
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Twite