Caerlaverock news

Reserve Update Wednesday 7th March

Reserve Update Wednesday 7th March

Well the Chaffinches have decided that we are back to Spring again and are in full voice down the Avenue.  They were joined by singing Goldfinch, a lovely flock of about twenty Linnet and a Treecreeper.  There are lots of Tufted ducks around at Whooper

7 March 2018

Update, Monday 5th March

Update, Monday 5th March

A Balmy 5C today, with the snow virtually gone (the Blackshaw approach road requires care close to the centre but is easily driven), resulting in "The Return of the Barnacle" - a good few thousand around today after a relative dearth over the snowy period

5 March 2018

Reserve Update Wednesday 28th February- Very Snowy!

Reserve Update Wednesday 28th February- Very Snowy!

  A very snowy morning, with a blizzard going on outside right now. Folly Pond, Back Pond and Teal Pond are nearly completely frozen, so the majority of birds are on the Whooper Pond. A few images below of the reserve this morning. Image: Folly Pond

28 February 2018

Latest Sightings - Saturday 24th February

Latest Sightings - Saturday 24th February

Another brilliantly sunny start to the day, a light frost this morning which is melting quickly in the sun. A brisk north easterly wind keeping things fresh. Plenty of wildfowl on the ponds & fields, birds are singing down the Avenues. A Stoat was da

24 February 2018

Reserve Update Friday 23rd February

Reserve Update Friday 23rd February

Two lovely flocks of Yellowhammer and Goldfinch were seen down the avenue this morning. Teal Pond has more duck on than usual, including Wigeon, Teal and a Little Grebe. The Flood Ground has a good number of birds on, with two female Gooseander's feeding

23 February 2018

Reserve Update Thursday 22nd February

Reserve Update Thursday 22nd February

Today's weather is nice and sunny down on the reserve. The rest of the Wetland Bird Survey counts are below, with a large number of Dunlin and Knot present at the high tide on Sunday. There are a good number of swans around at the moment, with at least 17

22 February 2018

Reserve Update Sunday 18th February

Reserve Update Sunday 18th February

A wet start to the day, with the weather clearing up now. The Wetland Bird Survey takes place today, with some numbers for the inland ponds included below. There is a large number of Pintail on the flood ground, with a good mix of both females and males.

18 February 2018

Reserve Update Wednesday 14th February

Reserve Update Wednesday 14th February

Another changeable weather day with snow showers moving in.  Wader sightings remain good with over 60 Redshank on the Folly Pond together with a few Lapwing and Curlew.  Yesterday there were over 50 Golden Plover there too.  Wigeon and Teal numbers hav

14 February 2018

Latest Sightings - 10th February - Puddle Jumping begins!

Latest Sightings - 10th February - Puddle Jumping begins!

A very wet start to the day but it has now cleared up, the rain has stopped and there is blue sky showing! Plenty of waders in the flooded fields at the moment. Lapwing, Golden Plover, Curlew, Redshank & Black-tailed Godwit can be seen in the Corner F

10 February 2018

Reserve Update Wednesday 7th February

Reserve Update Wednesday 7th February

Cool, crisp start to the morning with a load of frozen ponds and ice skating Whoopers!  Lovely flock of over 30 Linnets perched up in the very tree tops of a Sycamore down near Avenue Tower first thing.  They have a been a regular sighting there over th

7 February 2018

Latest Sightings - 3rd Feb - Otter & White-fronts

Latest Sightings - 3rd Feb - Otter & White-fronts

An Otter in the Whooper Pond at 08:30 this morning was a pleasant surprise, it fished for 20 minutes before disappearing into the Back Pond. The 8 Greenland White-fronted Geese are still here having gone missing yesterday morning. They reappeared yesterda

3 February 2018

Latest Sightings - 2nd Feb - World Wetlands Day

Latest Sightings - 2nd Feb - World Wetlands Day

No sign of the Greenland White-fronted Geese this morning, but they could still be here somewhere. A male Hen Harrier was hunting over the merse at 09:30 disturbing the ducks in the pools. Today is World Wetlands Day and in celebration, we have been build

2 February 2018

Reserve Update Thursday 1st February

Reserve Update Thursday 1st February

Again, the 8 Greenland White-fronted Geese have been seen first thing. They were once again feeding in Low Middle field with best views from the Avenue Tower.  They have since moved on but there exact location is yet to be determined (which is what ha

1 February 2018

Latest Sightings - 31st January - Greenland White-fronts still here

Latest Sightings - 31st January - Greenland White-fronts still here

The 8 Greenland White-fronted Geese are still here. They are currently feeding in a flooded part of Low Middle field, best views are from the Avenue Tower, but they can also be seen with a scope from the Farmhouse Tower and upstairs in the Peter Scott Ob

31 January 2018

Latest Sightings - Saturday 27th January - Busy Folly Pond

Latest Sightings - Saturday 27th January - Busy Folly Pond

A very wet and windy start to the morning. The heavy rain means the Avenues are holding quite a lot of water. Wellies or decent boots are recommended for getting around. The paths do have a hard surface on the vehicle tracks, it is best to stick to the ha

27 January 2018