Reserve Update Wednesday 2nd November - Snow Goose & Great Egret
Above is a photo taken last night of the Great Egret roosting next to the Teal Pond, observed as we were locking up the Peter Scott Obs.
In other news, a Snow Goose has turned up mixed in with the Barnacle Geese and has once again been seen this morning feeding in the field at the road end down to the reserve. Barnacle numbers have taken a jump upwards again with the last count of over 10,000 birds using the reserve and surrounding area. This morning 300 are feeding on the grass behind Folly Pond, with others down near Avenue Tower or in the fields behind the Whooper Pond.
There has also been large skeins of pink-footed geese flying across the reserve making for an incredible show first thing this morning. They were joined by a small number of White-fronted geese who were heard but not seen.
New Whooper Swans continue to join us for the feeds, although numbers are remaining stable at around 100-150 as some birds continue on their journey further south.
Around the reserve today:
Barnacle Geese: 10,000
Whooper Swans: 95
Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 83 + 9 cygnets
Mute Swan 38 + 7 cygnets
Canada Geese 19
Greylag geese 2
Mallard 111
Wigeon 68
Tufted Duck 34
Moorhen 4
Gadwall 1♂
Teal 3
Little Grebe 1
Folly Pond
Whooper Swan 3
Green-winged Teal 1♂
Teal 45
Wigeon 15
Moorhen 4
Shoveler 34
Mallard 2
Grey Heron 1
Barnacle Geese 300+
Teal Pond
Coot 1
Avenue Tower
Barnacle Geese 10,000+
Wigeon 65
Teal 3
Shoveler 7
Greylag Geese 34
Longhorn Cattle 3
Saltcot Merse Observatory
Barnacle Geese 6000+
Great Egret 1
Peregrine 1
Merlin 2
Sparrowhawk 1
Hen Harrier 2 (male and ringtail)
Kestrel 1
Pink footed Geese 300+
Greylag Geese 20
Canada Goose 300
Pintail 200+
Wigeon 200+
Dunlin 200+
Golden Plover 100+
Knot 200+
Hebridean Sheep 12
Avenues & Feeders
(notable species)
Redwing
Fieldfare
Reed Bunting
Sparrowhawk
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldcrest
Chiffchaff
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
Redpoll
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Treecreeper
Song Thrush
Great-spotted Woodpecker
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 http://www.facebook.com/wwtcaerlaverock.
Osprey Webcam
The winter webcam is now showing the Whooper Pond. The first few Whooper Swans have already shown up and later in the winter we enjoy the superb spectacle of up to 300 of them along with a variety of wild ducks and geese at feed times - 11:00 and 14:00 daily
rhiannon.hatfield@wwt.org.uk
