Monday's sightings so far...
A north east wind is gathering strength this morning and the exposed areas are cold. Around the Visitor Centre and Farm House Tower it is sheltered from the wind and pleasantly warm, which means a [...]
A north east wind is gathering strength this morning and the exposed areas are cold.
Around the Visitor Centre and Farm House Tower it is sheltered from the wind and pleasantly warm, which means a dozen house martins are flitting in and out of the tower and swallows are hunting. The highlight of the morning was a standoff with a ferocious weasel who eye-balled me as I walked past the feed store, so beware...
Peter Scott Trail:
Swallows are hunting and a chiff chaff and 2 willow warblers are in full voice. The willow warblers are sitting nicely in the tops of small trees waiting for photographers to capture their poses. The Peter Scott Trail was a delight this morning as a chorus of warblers, black birds, song thrushes, green finches, blue and great tits, dunnock and wren were singing away. There is a moorhen sitting on a nest very close to the path; and the rooks were busy feeding their squawking chicks. New Field was very quiet however it was nice to see a stock dove, feeding rooks and oystercatchers. Back Pond had swallows hunting over the water but no sign of an elusive kingfisher. If on a visit to Caerlaverock you see the kingfisher please let us know at Reception.
Whooper Pond:
Is a lonely place now the whoopers have left? This morning there were 6 mute swans, 3 oystercatchers, 9 tufted duck and 36 mallards.
Folly pond:
There is 1 whooper swan left and I can’t help but feel a sense of sadness for this bird that’s going to have to spend summer alone. We suspect a damaged wing; however we continue to monitor this bird, who is feeding well and generally in good physical health. Other species on Folly Pond this morning included 2 black headed gulls on the far island, a pair of oystercatchers, 5 shovelor, 7 widgeon, 8 teal, 22 mallards, 2 shelduck.
Salcot Tower:
Approach Salcot tower you will hear the sound of the merse as skylarks, meadow pipits, lapwings, golden plover, shelduck and redshank call in the brisk wind. There are small flocks of linnet on fields near the tower and the hebridean sheep were sleeping, oblivious to the bird calls and freshening wind. Keep an eye out for brown hare, white wagtail and wheatear.
Teal Pond:
Little grebe are fishing in front of the POD, a mute swan is asleep on the nest and a moorhen is sitting proudly on a nest. The black cap is very quiet today and a calling reed bunting is flitting about. There is a pair of gadwall sleeping closely together which makes a visit to Teal Pond well worth it.
Campbell Hide:
Sheltered from the wind the near ponds are tranquil with teal, widgeon, moorhen and a fishing heron. In the flood ground a lapwing is sitting on a nest and 2 shelduck are sitting on an island. 5 pied wagtails are feeding in the short sward grass so keep an eye out for white wagtails.
Avenue Tower:
Lochar field has 1300 barnacle geese and Ridden Field has 2100 barnacle feeding. Lapwing are warding off crows on Lochar Field and there is a lapwing sitting on a new nest in Tower field. Skylarks and meadow pipits are ground feeding; however there is no sign of a wheatear today so far...
The highlight from Avenue Tower is 3 leverets sat with an adult brown hare in Tower Field.
If you see anything exciting on the reserve today please let us know at reception.
(Rob Martyr, Snr Warden)
