06/07/2017- Mandarin
Another successful walk down to the avenue tower this morning, when a female Mandarin was picked up among the ducks on the flooded Lochar field. This species has only been recorded on the reserve a handful of times. Although only feral populations exist, it's a very nice looking duck! Also viewable from the avenue tower were 3 Pintail, the first returning birds of this species, 50+ Teal, plus a handful of Gadwall and Mallard.
A Green Sandpiper was seen on a nearby flood last night, it is worth keeping an eye out for this species, as July can be the peak time to see them on return passage from the breeding grounds.
Mandarin pictures taken by Daniel Gornall
Todays high tide is at 11:30, 8.1m
Around the reserve today:
Wildflowers
Elder flower
Guelder Rose
Dog Rose
Red Campion
Cuckoo Flower
Herb Robert
Northern March Orchids
Common Spotted Orchid
Lesser Trefoil
Common Vetch
Tufted Vetch
Forget-me-not
Mousear
Red Clover
White Clover
Yellow Rattle
Insects
Peacock Butterfly
Large White Butterfly
Green-veined White Butterfly
Small Tortoiseshell
Large Red Damselfly
Common Blue Damselfly
Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly
Common Darter Dragonfly
Early Bumblebee
Tree Bumblebee
Common Carder Bumblebee
Red-tailed Bumblebee
Beefly
Drinker Moth caterpillar
Mammals
Brown Hare
Weasel
Roe Deer
Fox
Badger
Otter
Soprano Pipistrelle Bat - evening
Wood Mouse
Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 1
Mute Swan 2 plus 4 cygnets
Mallard 29
Tufted Duck 1
Canada Goose 1
Folly Pond
Mallard 8
Moorhen 2 & 2 chicks
Shelduck 6
Oystercatcher 2
Common Sandpiper 1
House Martins nesting on Farmhouse Tower
Teal Pond
Swallows - with 4 chicks on the left hand side and above entrance - enter slowly and quietly
Gadwall - Female and 2 ducklings
Moorhen 2
Mallard 3 - with ducklings
Avenue Tower
Black-headed Gull 10 - nesting & with chicks
Lapwing 106
Greylag Goose 4
Teal 50
Brown Hare 5
Roe Deer 2
Longhorn Cattle 3
Saltcot Merse Observatory
Peregrine
Kestrel
Osprey
Buzzard
Skylarks singing
Hebridean Sheep 10
Avenues & Feeders
(notable species)
Reed Bunting
Sparrowhawk
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Treecreeper
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
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
See live footage of our local Osprey nest here: http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/experience/ospreys/
The camera is online between 10am and 5pm daily.
Daniel.gornall@wwt.org.uk
