26/06/2017 - OTTER
The undoubted highlight of the day was an Otter that was fishing on the Whooper Pond for over an hour first thing this morning. It gave some amazing views right in front of the observatory window, some pictures below!
Also today, 5 Raven calling high over the reserve was a nice record, possibly a family group with fledged youngsters.
There are still plenty of young birds about, with Black-headed gull chicks visible of the Flood ground rafts and island. As well as many fledged passerines down the avenue.
A Common Sandpiper has been feeding on the Folly Pond all day, possibly a returning breeding bird, we should see an increase in the number of returning waders in the coming weeks.
Pictures taken by Daniel Gornall
Todays high tide is at 15:00, 9.7m
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 2
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
Black-headed Gull 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
Oystercatcher 2
Moorhen 2
Mallard 3 - with ducklings
Avenue Tower
Black-headed Gull 10 - nesting & with chicks
Shelduck 6
Greylag Goose 1
Moorhen 2
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
