Caerlaverock wildlife highlights, Sunday Dec 27th
Road access from the east (M6, Carlisle, Annan etc) is blocked at Bankend by flooding. Visitors should head for Dumfries and then take the Bankend Road past the hospital to get here. Visitors should also be aware that yesterday's rain has re-flooded the avenues which are passable only for wearers of wellington boots. Our pump is doing its best...
Barnacle Goose nos remain at around 7000. Whoopers are pretty constant at around 120. The Ring-necked Duck is showing well on the Whooper Pond. The even longer staying male Green-winged Teal is again on the Folly Pond. Up to 8 Little Egrets can be found dotted around. 40mm of rain has fallen overnight, so there are large temporary pools in most fields, with a good broadcast of birds, including hundreds of Curlews, Lapwings and Golden Plovers, all resplendent in the very welcome sunshine
High Tide today 13:23, 9.5mtr
Around the reserve today:
Barnacle Geese: 7000
Whooper Swans: 120
Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 120
Mute Swan 50
Ring-necked Duck 1♂
Greater Scaup - no sign yet today
Mallard 50
Tufted Duck 40
Wigeon 45
Gadwall 2
Canada Geese 100
Greylag Geese 40
Folly Pond
Green-winged Teal 1♂
Teal 200
Wigeon 300
Mallard 16
Shoveler 30
Gadwall 2
Redshank 100
Avenue Tower
Flood Ground:
Teal 150
Wigeon 200
Mallard 35
Gadwall 3
Grey Heron 1
Lapwing 600
Golden Plover 400
Curlew 170
Saltcot Merse Observatory
Hen Harrier 1♂ - seen most days
Little Egret 3
Barnacle Geese
Over the high tide:
Dunlin 3000
Knot 1000
Golden Plover 700
Grey Plover 200
Shelduck 3000
Pintail 1000
Peregrine 1
Merlin 1
Back Pond Hide
Kingfisher 1
Peter Scott Trail
Water Rail 2
Avenues & Feeders
(notable species)
Redwing
Fieldfare
Yellowhammer
Brambling
Reed Bunting
Sparrowhawk
Song Thrush
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinch ♂
Linnet
Siskin
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Treecreeper
Lesser Redpoll
Great-spotted Woodpecker
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steven.cooper@wwt.org.uk
