Bright Sun and Butterflies

The sun has been shining on Caerlaverock this week and the butterflies are out and about everywhere enjoying the good weather.

The sun has been shining on Caerlaverock this week and the butterflies are out and about everywhere enjoying the good weather. Red admiral, peacock, small white, green-veined white, orange tip and speckled wood have all been seen in the last few days. You will find them milling around the reserve where ever you go, but Saltcot Loaning does appear to be a spot they particularly favour.

Not only are all the butterflies announcing that spring is here, but swallows are increasing in number and have begun nest building. Willow warblers can be heard singing from many a tree and blackcap numbers are rising too. The resident swans meanwhile, are also been busy nest building. One pair have decided to show off their construction skills and have placed their nest in full view of the Teal Hide. And the goosander pair continue to chill out on the whooper pond.

However, not everyone seems to have got the message about it being spring. The Barnacle Geese are still around in great numbers and can often still be clearly heard yapping away and seen flying from field to field as they hunt out the best grass to feed on. Also, one whooper swan apparently did not catch on that everyone else was leaving and was seen by the whooper pond earlier in the week.

In other news… The otter has been seen again! This time gracing the farmhouse guests with a spot of evening otter watching as it passed through the folly pond. A pair of black-tailed godwit have also been seen on the folly pond and at least one ruff has decided to come over and join them.

The swan feeds may have finished but the webcam is still on the Whooper Pond during the day and still swapping to the badger feeding station after 16:30 to catch those badger antics. Click on the link below.

https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaveroc.

Tide Times:

Sat 23rd 18:31 7.7m

Sun 24th 19:51 7.4m

Mon 25th 08:32 7.7m

Tue 26th 09:49 8.0m

Wed 27th 10:51 8.5m

Thu 28th 11:40 8.8m

Fri 29th 12:22 9.1m

Sat 30th 12:59 9.2m

Photo credit: Alex Hillier

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