Reserve Update Thursday 18th January - Ice!
Rain, sleet, snow, ice and high winds....winter definitely has made it's presence felt this week! There have been a few interesting sightings the past few days though. Two Greenland white-fronted geese turned up yesterday, feeding in the meadow along with a group of Greylag geese. There was also a flypast by both male and ringtail Hen Harriers. There was another otter sighting on Tuesday morning when it made a brief appearance on the Whooper Pond for the 11am feed. A male Brambling has now been spotted on the feeders in the Peter Scott Trail to join the sighting of the female from a couple of weeks ago. The Water Rail was also back underneath the feeders first thing this morning. Barnacle Goose numbers have crept up again with the last two daily counts recording over 9,000 birds.
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
(Lost coloured ring) - Siljy
Today's high tide is at 14:08, 9.2m.
Whooper Swans: 140
Barnacle Geese: around 9,000+
Around the reserve:
Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 140
Mute Swan 76
Mallard 152
Gadwall 1 male
Tufted Duck 36
Wigeon 67
Teal 25
Canada Geese 43
Greylag Geese 2
Barnacle Goose 1
Moorhen 10
Greater Scaup 1 female
Folly Pond
Teal 92
Wigeon 32
Shoveler 40
Mallard 6
Redshank 2
Teal Pond
Teal
Wigeon
Avenue Tower
Teal 184
Wigeon 292
Pintail 5
Goosander 1 female
Shoveler 7
Gadwall 3
Mallard 11
Cormorant 1
Lapwing 220
Golden Plover 40
Curlew 41
Black-headed Gull 20
Saltcot Merse Observatory
Kestrel
Buzzard 1
Peregrine 2 adults (pair)
Merlin 1
Hen Harrier 1 male & juv/female
Mute Swan 2
Barnacle Geese 2,000
Pink-footed Geese 2000+
Shelduck 210
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 9
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.
You can also ‘Like’ us on Facebook https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/
rhiannon.hatfield@wwt.org.uk
