Reserve Update Wednesday 21st March
Spring is here! Now admittedly there is still a bit of a chill breeze but we have observed our first Wheatear of the season yesterday afternoon. It turned out to be a slightly strange day with a Bar-headed goose mixed in with the flock of Barnacle Geese down at Avenue Tower. The Garganey was re-discovered on the small pond to the left of the Folly Pond, although despite best efforts this morning there is no sign of it once again. Swan numbers on the reserve are decreasing but there are good numbers feeding on fields to the east. Brown Hares are also making themselves more apparent in our fields. The Black-headed Gulls are taking an interest on the rafts in the Flood Ground and there was a stand-off between an Oystercatcher and a Mallard over the Folly Pond raft.
Named Whooper Swan arrivals:
XKU - Solway Siren
ZHP - Andrew K & ZXJ - 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
XKA - 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
XLN - Gylfi
YRN - Douglas Flintoff
ZXD - 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 and 4 cygnets)
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
ZFP - Siljy
ZJA - Annabel
Today's high tide is at 14:04, 9.5m
Whooper Swans: 83
Barnacle Geese: around 3,000
Around the reserve:
Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 83
Mute Swan 72
Mallard 47
Gadwall 1
Wigeon 47
Teal 12
Shoveler 4
Tufted Duck 16
Canada Geese 1
Moorhen 4
Oystercatcher 2
Shelduck 1
Folly Pond
Teal 30
Wigeon 50
Shoveler 9
Mallard 6
Curlew 4
Lapwing 3
Oystercatcher 1
Teal Pond
Tufted Duck 10
Teal 12
Mallard 5
Wigeon 9
Avenue Tower
Teal 69
Mallard 7
Goosander 2 (female)
Little Egret 1
Black-headed Gull 17
Grey Heron 1
Wigeon 7
Shelduck 5
Saltcot Merse Observatory
Kestrel
Buzzard 1
Peregrine 2 adults (pair)
Merlin 1
Hen Harrier 1 male
Mute Swan
Barnacle Geese
Pink-footed Geese
Shelduck
Wigeon
Red-breasted Merganser
Mallard
Golden Plover
Dunlin
Knot
Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Little Egret
Great Black-backed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Hebridean Sheep 9
Longhorn Cattle 2
Avenues & Feeders
(notable species)
Brambling - occasional
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
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
