Marsh Harrier and Otters

In the last fortnight, we've continued to have a significant number of raptors around: people have been reporting hen harrier, peregrine falcon and kestrel, as well as a marsh harrier!

These are a much less common occurrence here than other birds of prey. Marsh harrier like reed beds and marshes as well as farmland near wetlands so the kind of habitat we protect at WWT Caerlaverock suits them perfectly. However, they are scarce breeders in Scotland with most of the breeding populations residing in the River Tay area.

Other highlights include the variety of mammals spotted. An otter pup and its mother were on the Whooper Pond this week and gave our wardens quite a show. They swam right up to the glass and stayed for long enough for them to snatch some video (if you’re keen to see it, it’s on our social media). Roe deer, stoat and mink have also been spotted around site.

The barnies showed up nicely for the Dawn Flight Walk this Sunday, providing quite a spectacle for the attendees.

Photo credits Alex Hillier

Written by Marianne Nicholson

Saturday January 7^th

Folly Pond

• Shoveler
• Mallard
• Teal
• Wigeon
• Curlew
• Black tailed godwit
• Red shank
• Lapwing
• Starling
• Oystercatcher
• Barnacle geese

Peter Scott Trail feeders

• Great tit
• Blue tit
• Goldfinch
• Chaffinch
• Wren
• Dunnock
• Tree sparrow

Back Pond

• Pair of goosander
• Moorhen

Sunday 8^th January

Peter Scott Trail

• Long-tailed tit
• Sparrowhawk

Newfield Hide

• Curlew
• Several flocks of barnacle geese

Folly Pond

• Sparrowhawk
• Black tailed godwit
• Lapwing
• Tufted duck
• Redshank
• Curlew
• Pair of gadwall

Saltcot

• Pinkfooted geese
• Pair of red breasted merganser
• Shelduck

Corner by Peter Scott Observatory

• Yellowhammer

Avenue Tower

• Female goldeneye
• Little egret
• Fieldfare
• Pink footed goose
• Buzzard

Teal Pond

• Heron
• Little grebe

Feeders by carpark

• Lesser redpoll

Monday 9^th January

Peter Scott Observatory

• Ringtail hen harrier

Folly Pond in front of Farmhouse

• Mink

Saltcot Merse Observatory

• Long-tailed tit

Whooper Pond

• Otter

Wednesday 11^th January

Folly Pond

• Oystercatcher

Whooper Pond

• Pair of goosander

Sunday 15^th January

Back Pond Hide

• Sparrowhawk

Peter Scott Trail

• Water rail

Newfield Hide

• Barnacle geese
• Curlew
• Oystercatcher

Whooper Pond

• Male goosander

Avenue Tower

• Ring tail and male hen harrier
• Marsh harrier
• Peregrine falcon
• Buzzard
• Kestrel
• Little egret

Paddock

• Male bullfinch
• Redwing
• Yellowhammer
• Female reed bunting

Teal Pond

• Little grebe

Folly Pond

• Curlew
• Redshank

Saltcot

• Merlin
• Male hen harrier
• Peregrine falcon
• Little egret

Monday 16^th January

Peter Scott Trail

• Chaffinch
• Robin
• Blue tit
• Wren
• Tree sparrow

Whooper Pond

• Mute swan
• Whooper swan
• Mallard
• Tufted duck
• Wigeon
• Moorhen
• Canada goose

Tuesday 17^th January

Folly Pond

• Raven

Saltcot Loaning

• Bullfinch

Thursday 19th January

Merse

• Roe deer

Friday 20^th January

Peter Scott Trail Feeders

• Water rail

Newfield Hides

• Snipe
• Fieldfare

Saturday 21^st January

Peter Scott Trail Feeders

• Water rail
• Green finch
• Great spotted woodpecker
• Stoat
• Great tit
• Blue tit
• Goldfinch
• Chaffinch
• Wren
• Dunnock
• Tree sparrow

Whooper Pond

• Rook
• Pied wagtail
• Wigeon
• Mallard
• Mute swan
• Whooper swan
• Moorhen

Newfield Hide

• Female bullfinch
• Fieldfare
• Snipe

Inland Bird Count 14/01/23

Whooper Swan – 118

Mute Swan – 24

Teal – 485

Wigeon – 282

Mallard – 82

Shoveler – 14

Tufted Duck – 6

Moorhen – 9

Canada Goose – 78

Greylag Goose – 1

Curlew – 10

Redshank – 38

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