Latest sightings
Reserve Update Wednesday 15th June - Kingfisher on Teal Pond
This mornings excitement saw a kingfisher being mobbed by swallows whilst flying over Teal Pond. The swallows were able to dunk it in the pond once but the kingfisher successfully flew out of the danger zone and perched up at the edge of the pond next t
15 June 2016
Reserve Update Tuesday 14th June
The meadow on the summer walk is really starting to come into its own. As well as the numerous northern marsh orchid, the twayblade orchid now has flower stalks and there is yellow rattle, lesser trefoil, red clover and buttercups. This has given th
14 June 2016
Latest Sightings - 12th June - Fox on the Folly Pond
The sun is just breaking through the cloud this morning, and it is still very warm despite some rain last night. A large male Fox was causing some disturbance on the Folly Pond first thing. There are a few Roe Deer around the reserve, they should already
12 June 2016
Latest Sightings - 11th June
Overcast and drizzly this morning, but still plenty of birds in song. Dragonflies and Damselflies a plenty around the Teal Pond at the start of the Summer Walk. Today's high tide is at 17:54 8.0m Around the reserve today: Wildflowers Cuckoo Flower Red
11 June 2016
Reserve Update Friday 10th June
Three ravens have decided that the platform out from Avenue Tower towards the Merse is the place to be this morning. Our flock of Hebridean sheep have been moved up to the paddock next to the farmhouse garden to help us graze it down. I am sure they wou
10 June 2016
Reserve Update Thursday 9th June
Lapwing numbers are starting to creep up on Folly Pond with fledglings also present. Interestingly, small numbers of teal have also remained. The moorhen family have constructed a new nest which is best seen from the Farmhouse Tower. Today's high tide
9 June 2016
Reserve Update Wednesday 8th June
Visitors today were rewarded with a circling osprey above the centre, obviously on its way out to the Nith. Elsewhere the hedgerows are blooming well with hawthorn and dog rose abundant. Great for the bumblebees and butterflies! Today's high tide is at
8 June 2016
Latest Sightings - 7th June
Another scorcher of a morning. The reserve is getting very dry and managing water levels is getting tricky. The Mute Swan family with 7 cygnets are on the Whooper Pond, the youngsters growing quickly! Today's high tide is at 13:56 9.6m Around the res
7 June 2016
Latest Sightings - 6th June
The sun is again shining and the birds are singing! A gang of 10 Grey Herons are on the Flood Ground today suggesting the Heronry has been successful! Today's high tide is at 13:56 9.6m Around the reserve today: Whooper Pond Mallard 58 Mute Swan 2 +
6 June 2016
Reserve Update Saturday 4th June
The black-headed gulls were having a right set-to with three herons that had dared to get too close to the island in the flood ground. There must be chicks on it, we just haven't been able to see them yet due to the vegetation cover. The baby bird count
4 June 2016
Latest Sightings - 3rd June - more sunshine and a Lego Damselfly!
Another lovely sunny day on the reserve. The Meadow is growing at a rate of knots, and more Northern Marsh Orchids can now be seen popping their purple heads up. Good numbers of Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damselflies are around the Teal Pond,
3 June 2016
Thursday June 2nd
Reed Warbler still singing in the Peter Scott Trail, now in the filtration reedbed. Garden Warbler too, along with plenty of young Greenfinches etc around the feed stations. Both Mute Swan broods doing well, with 7 young on the Back Pond and 5 down on the
2 June 2016
Sunday May 29th update
A quick wander around the Peter Scott Trail earlier gave sight and sound of both the Reed Warbler and a Garden Warbler. No sign yet of the three Little Grebe chicks at the Teal Pond despite the presence of both adults... Today's high tide is at 18:33
29 May 2016
Latest Sightings - 28th May - Otters!
A family of Otters has been seen hunting and playing in the Lochar Water from the Summer Walk. Yesterday morning and evening, a mother with 2 cubs has passed along the river. Natterjack Toads were finally heard calling last night, a bit late, butit's a go
28 May 2016
Reserve Update 27th May
Well you never know what you are going to see at Caerlaverock this time of year....three otter cubs seen from the summer walk gambolling up the Lochar Water! They seemed not the slightest bit bothered by the tractor mowing the grass on the walk. Today'
27 May 2016