Otter, pochard and shelduck
Recent sightings
The early signs of spring are starting to show themselves here with multiple sightings of oystercatchers and shelduck starting to make their way inland. Each morning, we are slowly seeing a gradual increase in the number of whooper swans coming to the feeds as they gather at Caerlaverock before heading off on their migration over to Iceland. There have also been some changes observed in bird behaviour, with a teal pair seen mating out by the Folly Pond, showing the changes towards the breeding season has begun.
Our most recent rare visitor on site has been the pochard, which has spent up to two weeks now on the Folly Pond amongst the mallards, wigeon and tufted duck there. This is a species we don’t see here often so who knows how long it is going to stick around.
Our newly created scrapes have been shown to attract a fair amount of waders. We have seen large flocks of lapwing, curlew and golden plover out here recently, with sightings of snipe and amongst them too. The barnacle geese still enjoy to spend their time in these fields over winter with these landscape changes, with us regularly seeing groups of 500+ out there.
Our last WeBS count saw large numbers of waders out on the merse, with dunlin spotted in the thousands. A jacksnipe was also seen out on the saltmarsh in front of the Saltcot Merse Observatory as it was flushed on a beach clean. It's been raptor central out there recently as well, with multiple sightings of a merlin and peregrine falcon, as well as hen harriers, sparrowhawks and buzzards spotted over the site too. Otters have also been seen out on the saltmarsh too, as well as closer to the reserve office window more regularly out on the Folly Pond.
Written by Rebekah Allison
Feature image of shelduck by Alex Hillier
