Around Caerlaverock, Wed Jan 6th
No problems with access today, though boots/wellies are still recommended for the avenues. Up to 12 Little Egrets can be found dotted around, especially on the merses from Saltcot Merse Observatory. 7000 Barnacle Geese are similarly quite widely distributed, again with the heaviest concentrations on the merses. The Water Rails on the Peter Scott Trail can still quite easily be seen under the feed station, the Green-winged Teal and Ring-necked Duck likewise on their respective ponds. A good array of raptors is possible - there are regular sightings of Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard, Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk, with a female of the latter taking all of yesterday to demolish the feral pigeon she killed in the morning
Today's high tide is at 09:31, 7.8m
Around the reserve today:
Barnacle Geese: 7,000
Whooper Swans: 136
Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 136
Mute Swan 49
Ring-necked Duck 1♂
Mallard 20
Tufted Duck 60
Wigeon 60
Canada Geese 90
Greylag Geese 1
Oystercatcher 2
Folly Pond
Green-winged Teal 1♂
Teal 120
Wigeon 200
Mallard 10
Shoveler 30
Teal Pond
Mallard 20
Gadwall 2
Teal 2
Snipe 2
Peter Scott Trail
Water Rail 2
Avenue Tower
Teal 120
Wigeon 160
Mallard 8
Tufted Duck 2
Little Egret 2
Roe Deer 2
Saltcot Merse Observatory
Barnacle Geese
Little Egret 7
Peregrine 1
Merlin 1
Hen Harrier 1♂ - seen here yesterday
Over the high tide
Dunlin 3000
Knot 2000
Pintail 1000
Shelduck 3000
Oystercatcher 500
Golden Plover 700
Avenues & Feeders
(notable species)
Redwing
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting
Brambling (occasional)
Sparrowhawk
Song Thrush
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
Siskin
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Treecreeper
Lesser Redpoll
Great-spotted Woodpecker
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steven.cooper@wwt.org.uk
