Accessibility during autumn and winter

During the colder months, the reserve can be wet and muddy so waterproof footwear is recommended. Those with limited mobility or using push wheelchairs may find traversing the Avenue and Saltcot Loaning unsuitable. Please call us on 01387 770200 for more info.

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Caerlaverock news

Whither Shall I Wander?

Whither Shall I Wander?

An exhibition of stunning textile work based on the natural world.

3 October 2020

Wild Goose Festival 2020

Wild Goose Festival 2020

A new festival in Dumfries to celebrate the return of the wild geese to Dumfries and Galloway!

2 October 2020

Swan Spectacular

Swan Spectacular

The whooper swans have started arriving back at Caerlaverock!

29 September 2020

The geese are arriving!

The geese are arriving!

The Svalbard barnacle geese that visit the Solway each winter are on their way and some have already arrived!

29 September 2020

First Whoopers!

First Whoopers!

The first Whooper Swans of the season have returned to Caerlaverock!! So far only in small numbers with 6 birds having been observed. No sign of any leg rings yet to identify them though two of the birds seem quite settled on the Whooper Pond and appear

26 September 2020

Splendid Saltcot

Splendid Saltcot

Unfortunately it would appear that the Common Cranes that dropped in for a visit yesterday have now decided to continue on with their journey. Saltcot Merse Observatory is still providing some excellent viewing opportunities though with a distant Peregri

25 September 2020

Autumn Equinox

Autumn Equinox

The autumn equinox is a signal for migration to begin!

22 September 2020

Swans a-swimming

Swans a-swimming

Some of the local population of Mute Swans have now started joining us at the Whooper Pond. We have been up to 19 out there but only 3 this morning. It will be a couple of weeks yet potentially before we start seeing the arrival of any Whooper Swans bac

19 September 2020

Sunny Sedum Attracts the Butterflies

Sunny Sedum Attracts the Butterflies

The good weather recently has really drawn in the late flying butterflies such as Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell into the Wildlife Garden. Not only is the Sedum (recently renamed as Hylotelephium and otherwise known as Iceplant) proving a valuable l

18 September 2020

Barnies are Back!

Barnies are Back!

The first Barnacle Geese of the Autumn were heard yesterday flying over Caerlaverock! This is the joint earliest date for them to be returning back. This morning 21 of them were feeding out on the Merse to the west of the reserve, mixed in with the cows

17 September 2020

Great Spotted Woodpecker Versus Sparrowhawk

Great Spotted Woodpecker Versus Sparrowhawk

The Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been making more of an appearance around the reserve than we usually see of them. There was nearly one less this morning down the Saltcot Loaning, as a lurking Sparrowhawk erupted out of the undergrowth to make a lunge

12 September 2020

Pink feet begin arriving

Pink feet begin arriving

The sound of Winter is beginning to return to Caerlaverock with skeins of Pink-footed Geese passing overhead yesterday and this morning. A group of 50 birds looked like it was heading down onto the Merse so do have a scan from Saltcot Merse Observatory a

11 September 2020

Reed Buntings in the Hedgerows

Reed Buntings in the Hedgerows

It has been a good morning for Reed Bunting spotting, with activity in the Hedgerows down to the Saltcot Merse Observatory. They also favour the Willow tree in the sheep paddock next to the Observatory with a mix of males, females and juvenile birds obse

10 September 2020

Stewartry Camera Club

Stewartry Camera Club

We are pleased to announce the re-opening of our gallery space at WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre!

9 September 2020

Eel in a Puddle

Eel in a Puddle

Rather strange start to the morning with Reserve Manager Joe Bilous discovering an eel in one of the puddles down the Avenue. This was safely caught and placed in the Teal Pond, a location in which we have recorded them in the past. Another unusual sigh

5 September 2020