Water rail on the trail

Water rail on the trail

This week we've had some spectacular sunrises and sunsets which turned Criffel to a lovely dusky pink on most evenings (Criffel is a 569 metres hill which we get amazing views of). This past week visitors, staff and volunteers have been graced with daily sightings of the elusive water rail (Rallus aquaticus) on the Peter Scott trail, this secretive bird was also seen skimming across the Folly pond, unfortunately we didn’t have our camera at the ready.

Our barn owls (Tyto alba) have been making daily appearances for our farmhouse guests, and staff often start and finish the day with the sounds of their distinctive scream. We’ve had an array of mammal sightings from the local roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) taking a liking to our Natterjack toad (Epidelea calamita) field, badgers (Meles meles) strutting down the avenue and extending their setts, playful stoats (Mustela erminea) and nimble bank voles (Myodes glarolus) foraging for food.

Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) numbers are increasing daily and this morning while checking on our Hebridean sheep I had the pleasure of watching numerous gregarious long-tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus) excitably flying from one branch to another. The shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) is still hanging around on its own on the Folly pond and oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) are back there too. Mornings we often see skeins of pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) flying in their distinctive V-shaped formation, it's good to see them flying over the reserve again.

Visitors are continually being enraptured by raptors down at the Saltcot observatory on a daily basis. This week staff took part in the international swan census for whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus), numbers visiting the Whooper pond for the daily swan feeds have reached 116 individuals, with local celebrities Renfrew and Paisley taking centre stage and occupying their personal spot (lo and behold any other swan who tries and stands on their turf).

Unable to visit us in person or missing your daily fix of swans, waders, and badgers’ antics, then click on the link below to check out our webcam which is set on the Whooper pond during the day, and then set to view the badger feeding area from 5pm onwards.

https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaveroc...

This week's high tide times are:

Mon 20/12- 12:54- 8.9 m

Tues 21/12- 13:27- 8.9 m

Wed 22/12- 14:00- 8.8 m

Thurs 23/12- 14:36- 8.7 m

Fri 24/12- 15:13- 8.5 m

Photo credit: Alex Hillier

As well as this week's highlights, you are likely to see the following on the reserve:

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