Caerlaverock news
Latest Sightings - Saturday 15th September
A clear morning with great views across to the Lake District. Folly Pond is busy with plenty of duck, some waders and geese. Today's high tide is at 16:49, 8.5m Around the reserve: Whooper Pond Mute Swan 2 plus 6 cygnets Mallard 75 Tufted Duck 2 Teal 4 C
15 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Friday 14th September - Saltcot Loaning open as normal
The Saltcot Loaning has now reopened after essential hedge management work. This should prolong the life of the Hawthorns, they will now bush out to provide better habitat for breeding birds, allow more light in & keep the track drier during wet perio
14 September 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 11th September - Saltcot Loaning closed this week
The Mute Swan family have now taken up residence on Whooper Pond which is not such good news for the other Mute Swans trying to land there. So far five interlopers have been seen off. This will all change once we start to get the Whooper Swans returni
11 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 8th September
An overcast morning, but the Avenues are alive with birds. The Swallows and House Martins are gathering on wires and on top of the swan pipe, ready for migration. A flock of Gold and Greenfinches are regularly feeding in the Wildlife Garden. A flock of L
8 September 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 5th September
Autumn is making it's presence known with cooler mornings and the gathering of the Swallows and House Martins. The courtyard around the Farmhouse Tower and the roof of the Peter Scott Observatory have been inundated with them. Small bird activity rema
5 September 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 4th September
Duck numbers continue to build with a solitary Tufted Duck and two Wigeon joining the mallards on the Whooper Pond. The Little Grebe also remains on this pond. If insects are your thing then the Joe Pye Weed and Sedum are spectacular for Butterflies a
4 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 1st September
So much for the sun, it's an overcast and drizzly morning on the reserve. The Summer Walk is now closed for the winter. Plenty of ducks around the site now, many of them still in eclipse plumage. There has been an increase in Canada and Greylag Goose numb
1 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Wednesday 29th August
A sunny start to the day, which means the butterflies are looking fantastic in the Farmhouse Garden at the moment. Two Little Grebes are on the Whooper Pond amongst the moulting Mallards. The Summer Walk will be shut on Saturday morning for another year
29 August 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 25th August
A brilliant sunny morning but a very cool breeze at the moment. The Hawthorns at the Avenue Tower are still busy: Lesser Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock amongst others. An duck ID challenge in the Flood Ground today. All in eclipse plumage, we
25 August 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 23rd August
Good range of species down on the Flood Ground this morning with Shoveler joining the mix. Over 180 Teal were observed there yesterday but numbers have dropped right down again first thing this morning. Rather bedraggled Kestrel perched on the fence l
23 August 2018
Reserve Update - Saturday 18th August
Immature male marsh harrier was spotted yesterday afternoon alongside the Lochar water out from Avenue Tower. The female Sparrowhawk has been frequenting the area around the feeders in the Peter Scott trail. A Kestrel was hunting over the fields out f
18 August 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 15th August
Blustery start to the morning with the promise that the weather might blow in some passage waders. Three Greenshank dropped in briefly yesterday afternoon to Folly Pond but these appear to have moved on. The five Swallow chicks in the Teal Pond hide a
15 August 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 14th August - Hen Harrier again
The male Hen Harrier was back around Avenue Tower this morning with views of it hunting and catching prey over the Merse. It had also been seen on Sunday so seems to be a pretty regular feature at the mo. The buzzard was once again on it's perch at th
14 August 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 11th August - Green Sandpipers & Hen Harrier
Two Green Sandpipers in the Flood Ground again this morning. Viewed from the Avenue Tower. Also a male Hen Harrier flying over. Still good birding in the Hawthorn below the Avenue Tower. Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whinchat & Tree
11 August 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 9th August
Decided Autumnal feeling to the weather first thing this morning. The hawthorn below the Avenue Tower is once again proving to be a draw to passage migrants with Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Tree Sparrow and Goldfinch again seen. Two Green
9 August 2018