Latest sightings
Latest Sightings - 16th February - Tawny Owl back in its box
A cold wind is making temperatures feel a lot lower than they are today. Drake Greater Scaup and drake Green-winged Teal still in their usual places this morning. The Tawny Owl is back in its box overlooking the Whooper Pond. It is best viewed from the Pe
16 February 2016
Latest Sightings - 13th February - another sunny day!
A fourth sunny day in a row, we are certainly on a roll now. A lot of Barnacle Geese on the merses this morning, hopefully they move into the fields as it warms up. Drake Green-winged Teal is back in its usual spot on the Folly Pond and the drake Greater
13 February 2016
Latest Sightings - 12th February
Another bright but cold morning on the reserve. Today's high tide is at 14:53 9.9m Around the reserve today: Barnacle Geese: 2500 Whooper Swans: 147 Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 147 Mute Swan 55 Mallard 40 Tufted Duck 15 Wigeon 50 Canada Geese 30
12 February 2016
Reserve update Wed Feb 10th
A beautiful bright, calm and crisp day. 14 Little Egrets today is a reserve record. The Flood Ground especially looks great in the low winter sun, with a good variety of duck in good numbers, wspecially Teal and Wigeon of course. Decent nos. of Whoopers a
10 February 2016
Reserve update Tues Feb 9th
Two leucistic Barnacles and a hybrid on the reserve currently for anyone looking for the Snow Goose to be aware of. No sign of the latter as yet, but probably lurking out there somewhere. There is the best part of 200 Whoopers around, if we include the 27
9 February 2016
Monday, Feb 8th
A bit calmer today, and dry currently, though quite a drop of rain overnight. Decent swan nos. first thing, and the Greater Scaup drake still on the Whooper Pond. The Snow Goose is around again, though just off the reserve at nearby Newmains, on the road
8 February 2016
Update, Sunday Feb 7th
Very windy today, but not too wet so far. Birds pretty much as yesterday, with drake Greater Scaup on the Whooper Pond and 10 Pintail close in down on the Flood Ground. Folly Field is currently heaving with Curlews, Lapwings and Golden Plovers as the tid
7 February 2016
Latest Sightings - 6th February
A dull morning again today. Nice surprise to see a Tawny Owl in the owl box overlooking the Whooper Pond this morning. The drake Greater Scaup is still on the Whooper Pond, but it would appear that the drake Green-winged Teal has gone for a change of scen
6 February 2016
Latest Sightings - 5th February - Early morning Hen Harrier
A dull morning, but dry at the moment. The drake Greater Scaup is still on the Whooper Pond, the drake Green-winged Teal is on the Folly Pond as usual, and a male Hen Harrier has been hunting over the merse first thing. About 70 Whooper Swans have been fe
5 February 2016
Reserve update, Wed Feb 3rd
A dry bright day today for a change. Good goose nos. from the Farmhouse Tower, up to over 7,000 Barnacles. The otter has been disturbing the Whooper Pond again today - bit of a mixed blessing. Water Rails continue to confide under the bird feeders on the
3 February 2016
Reserve update, Monday Feb 1st
No road problems today... so far... Visitors should bring wellies as despite our best efforts the avenues are still very wet. 160 Whoopers at the early feed, with well over 200 in the lacal area. Green-winged Teal on station on Folly Pond, Greater Scaup w
1 February 2016
Reserve update, Sunday Jan 31st
Still largely dry, with no road problems, though there is a "Road Closed" sign up on the B725 just west of Ruthwell. Visitors from the direction of M6/Carlisle/Annan should ignore this. Plenty to see on the reserve, with a good broadcast of duck and eg La
31 January 2016
Latest Sightings - 30th January
A better morning, with no rain at the moment, but it's not far away as usual. Today's high tide is at 16:02 8.3m Around the reserve today: Barnacle Geese: 5000 Whooper Swans: 173 Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 173 Mute Swan 61 Greater Scaup 1♂ Mallard
30 January 2016
Latest Sightings - 28th January - More flooding
The B725 from Annan is closed at Bankend due to flooding. Roads from Dumfries are currently open, but with a horrendous forecast they could become difficult this afternoon. Please take care if visiting us today. The rain is relentless at the moment and we
28 January 2016
Still wet and windy Caerlaverock, Wed Jan 27th
As yesterday, conditions are less than ideal, with floods and diversions on approach roads. Swan nos. at the early feed were at 120, with a further 100 or so at nearby Upper Locharwoods. Yesterday the otter joined the warden for the 2pm feed...! Once agai
27 January 2016