Caerlaverock news
Reserve Update Thursday 25th October - named Whoopers in with cygnets
Exciting morning with some of our named Whooper Swans returning with cygnets. The weather is still mild so new birds arrive daily and some Whoopers continue to feed off the reserve. Will see what happens this weekend with the cold snap and northerly
25 October 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 24th October
Good mix of birds on and around Folly Pond this morning. We have Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit in the waders category, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler representing the ducks, Whooper Swans (obviously a touch late leaving the roosting pond!) and a m
24 October 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 23rd October
Nice flight over of Pink footed Geese this morning. The Great White Egret is showing well on the merse from the Saltcot Observatory. Numbers of swans and ducks are creeping up on the Whooper Pond and it was lovely to see a pair of Pintail on there fir
23 October 2018
Reserve Sightings - Monday 22nd October
We have a new pair of Whoopers on the reserve complete with 1 cygnet! There was plenty of noise and commotion on the Whooper pond this morning and we were joined by 38 Greylags. 14 Little Egrets were spotted from the Avenue Tower in the direction of the L
22 October 2018
Latest Sightings - Friday 19th October - Whooper Swan families arrive
Plenty of Barnacle Geese around the reserve this morning and an influx of Whooper Swans overnight. We now have 58 on the reserve. This includes 3 family groups; with two cygnets, five cygnets & a massive family with eight cygnets. Well done those par
19 October 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 18th October - Redwing
Wigeon are moulting back into their breeding plumage with the males looking stunning with their yellow head stripe back. We keep scanning through the flocks in case the recent storms have blown in any American visitors to join them and the Teal, but no
18 October 2018
Latest Sightings - Wednesday 17th October
Whooper Swan numbers are slightly down this morning, but that is likely due to disturbance on the Whooper Pond by an Otter. Duck numbers on the reserve are reaching a peak, with the Flood Ground and Folly Pond particularly good. Flocks of Redwing have be
17 October 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 16th October
More Whooper Swans are starting to drop in with a couple more named swans in. Duck numbers creep up steadily with good flocks of mixed Wigeon and Teal out on Folly Pond and Flood Ground. The flooded fields are drawing in the waders with Lapwing, Curle
16 October 2018
Reserve Sightings - Monday October 15th - An Egret Morning
It's been a cold start on the reserve this morning but following this weekends bad weather, the birds aren't holding back! We have plenty of duck species across the ponds today with large numbers of Shoveler and Teal and even some Gadwall have made an app
15 October 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 13th October - Wild Goose Weekend
The heavy rain yesterday and today means that wellies are highly recommended when visiting at the moment. Today is the start of our Wild Goose Weekend. Although it is raining, there is still plenty to do today and more events on Sunday. See below for even
13 October 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 11th October - 18,000 Barnacle Geese!
Peak Barnacle Goose counts yesterday of around 18,000 birds utilising the reserve! This could be due to the recent high tides pushing birds off other feeding areas. These geese remain very jumpy having just returned to the area and are in need of dist
11 October 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 10th October
Well what a contrast weather wise compared to yesterday, lovely morning on the reserve with a cracking sunrise. Still large flocks of Barnacle Geese around with them favouring our Corner and Tower fields. Newfield hide is also a good spot to watch the
10 October 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 9th October - Pintail on Folly Pond
Another (very) blustery morning which has mixed things up a bit on the reserve. There is evidence of coastal flooding outside Saltcot Merse Observatory which has drawn in the Lapwing for feeding. With today's high tide it could be interesting down the
9 October 2018
Reserve Update - Monday 8th October - Autumn leaves and bright feathers!
It's a blustery day today on the merse, the winds have encouraged many autumn leaves to fall onto the avenue making a lovely colourful walk. The same can be said about our waterfowl, with many of the shoveler and teal coming out of their eclipse plumage
8 October 2018
Reserve Update Saturday 6th October - Marsh Harrier
Sighting of the day so far was a female Marsh Harrier hunting along the eastern Merses. The Otter was back on Whooper Pond first thing, although Whooper Swan numbers have dropped off again. There were forty Whooper Swans that joined us for the 11am Sw
6 October 2018