Reserve Update Saturday 16th December
Another cold and crisp start to the day! The Bewick's Swan has not been seen now since Tuesday but who knows with this cold snap it could draw more swans back onto the reserve. Whooper Swan numbers peaked for this year on Tuesday afternoon with over 200 birds in for the 2pm feed. Elsewhere, the cold snap is bringing in more of the smaller birds. There were 12 Yellowhammers outside the Peter Scott Observatory on Thursday, along with a male and female Bullfinch and a male Reed Bunting. There have been Redpoll and Brambling in the Peter Scott trail and the Long-tailed tits and Goldcrest remain down the Avenue.
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
Today's high tide is at 11:05, 8.7m.
Whooper Swans: 128
Barnacle Geese: around 4,000+
Around the reserve:
Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 128
Mute Swan 77
Mallard 311
Gadwall 1
Tufted Duck 9
Wigeon 78
Teal 45
Shoveler 30
Canada Geese 9
Greylag Geese 1
Folly Pond - frozen
Whooper Swan 1
Teal 70
Wigeon 3
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Teal Pond - frozen
Avenue Tower
Ice
Saltcot Merse Observatory
Great White Egret 1
Kestrel
Buzzard 1
Peregrine 2 adults (pair)
Merlin 1
Marsh Harrier 1 juv
Hen Harrier 1 ♂ & juv/♀
Mute Swan 2
Barnacle Geese 2,000+ (leucistic 1)
Pink-footed Geese 2000+
Shelduck 210
Pintail 860
Red-breasted Merganser 13
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 10
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
