Latest Sightings - 4th January - still wet
A wet start to the day, on top of the flood water from yesterday means there is a lot of standing water around the reserve.
Not as much grass for the geese, as the fields are flooded, so they are concentrated onto a few areas around the Avenue Tower and Saltcot Merse Observatory.
As it has been raining all day, wellies are now essential for getting down both Avenues.
Named Whooper Swan arrivals:
YHS - Solway Siren
ZHP - Andrew K & YFZ - Ruth C A pair with 5 cygnets
YFS - Obi Swan Kenobi & YHZ - Princess Layer ( but she has lost her coloured darvic ring)
YSJ - Sheldon Whooper
YTG - Jack
Z6L - Rooby & Z7S - Bowie A pair with 1 cygnet
Z9F - Hendrick & Z6T - PP A pair with 1 cygnet
YRG - Lucky Linda
YSU - Nye
YPA - Eleanor
YSF - Topsy
YJL - Linda H
YTC - Margaret Ruth
APR - Elsie Barbara & YFB - Eric Anthony
ZGJ - Balthazar & YFP - BekahJo
YKJ- Hagar (lost coloured darvic ring)
YHV - Wowsie
YHD - Fionnaghal
Z4A - Argyll
YRK - Gylfi
YRN - Douglas Flintoff
YJF - Professor Sponge
YPK - Euan David
(Lost coloured ring) - New York Lady
ZDL - Rose (in with her mate and 2 cygnets)
YDK - Rowena (in with a mate and 1 cygnet)
Z5N - Andy
Z9T - Suzanne (in with her mate, possibly cygnets - so watch this space)
YHC - Charlie (in with a mate and 1 cygnet)
ZAB - Atty & YJH - Kate Two
APC- George
(Lost coloured ring)- Aspen
Z7G- Charners
YSK- Countess of Boulogne & YRS - Steven A pair with 5 cygnets
YFN - Fearn
(Lost coloured ring) - Snoopy
(Lost coloured ring) - Blackbill Cupcake
YHH - Lady Ela
ZGL - Elin
YPH- McMurdoston & YTF - Odette* A pair with 2 cygnets
Today's high tide is at 13:45, 10m.
Whooper Swans: 85
Barnacle Geese: around 4,000+
Around the reserve:
Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 85
Mute Swan 67
Mallard 230
Gadwall 1♂
Tufted Duck 30
Greater Scaup 1♀
Wigeon 100
Teal 70
Canada Geese 100
Greylag Geese 5
Moorhen 5
Oystercatcher 2
Folly Pond
Teal 420
Wigeon 190
Shoveler 40
Mallard 35
Pintail 4
Black-tailed Godwit 7
Curlew 2
Teal Pond
Mute Swan 2
Teal 2
Avenue Tower
Barnacle Geese
Lapwing
Golden Plover
Saltcot Merse Observatory
Great White Egret 1
Kestrel
Buzzard 1
Peregrine 2 adults (pair)
Merlin 1
Marsh Harrier 1 juv
Hen Harrier 1 ♂ & juv/♀
Mute Swan 2
Barnacle Geese 2,000+ (leucistic 1)
Pink-footed Geese 2000+
Shelduck 210
Pintail 860
Red-breasted Merganser 13
Teal 90
Wigeon 124
Golden Plover 285
Dunlin 5000+
Knot 3200+
Lapwing 485
Oystercatcher 1630
Curlew 77
Little Egret 6
Grey Heron 5
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Hebridean Sheep 10
Longhorn Cattle 2
Avenues & Feeders
(notable species)
Brambling
Yellowhammer
Lesser Redpoll
Siskin
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting
Sparrowhawk
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Treecreeper
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Goldcrest
Redwing
Fieldfare
Webcam
The winter webcam is now showing the Whooper Pond during the day and the badger feeding area from 5pm onwards.
https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/experience/webcam/
Twitter & Facebook
Follow us on Twitter @WWTCaerlaverock for instant WWT Caerlaverock bird news, wildlife news and upcoming events to your mobile phone or computer. This is a great way to get instant news as we update from our mobile phones as we are finding the birds.
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joe.bilous@wwt.org.uk