Reserve Update Friday 24th March - Garganey Returns
Lovely spring morning with the sun shining, birds singing and primroses blooming, what's not to like! The drake Garganey has returned to the Folly Pond and is dozing in the sunshine. Best viewed from the Folly Pond hide as unfortunately the Farmhouse Tower is closed today while new windows are fitted.
Whooper swan numbers continue to drop off with only 18 birds joining us for the 11am feed this morning. Our two pairs of resident Mute Swans have now moved back to their respective nesting ponds at Teal Pond and Flood Ground. Barnacle Geese numbers are remaining fairly constant with approximately 6000 birds still visible most days (and we had a lovely fly past during the Swan feed to liven things up).
Todays high tide is at 8:28, 7.2m
Around the reserve today:
Barnacle Geese: 6,000
Whooper Swans: 18
Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 18
Mute Swan 27
Mallard 34
Wigeon 38
Tufted Duck 16
Canada Geese 3
Moorhen 1
Teal 6
Little Egret 1
Folly Pond
Teal 75+
Garganey 1 ♂
Green-winged Teal 1 ♂
Shoveler 20
Mallard 1
Oystercatcher 1
Redshank 11
Black-headed Gull 2
Teal Pond
Little Grebe 1
Black-headed Gull 2
Teal 9
Wigeon 10
Moorhen 1
Mute Swan 2
Tufted Duck 8
Oystercatcher 2
Avenue Tower
Wigeon 100+
Teal 100+
Shoveler 19
Lapwing 20+
Little Egret 3
Black-headed Gull 30
Curlew 5
Gadwall 8
Oystercatcher 2
Tufted Duck 3
Pintail 1
Lapwing 5
Shelduck 6
Longhorn Cattle 3
Saltcot Merse Observatory
Peregrine
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Pintail
Wigeon
Dunlin (on rising/high tide)
Golden Plover (on rising/high tide)
Grey Plover (on rising/high tide)
Knot (on rising/high tide)
Hebridean Sheep 12
Avenues & Feeders
(notable species)
Water Rail
Reed Bunting
Yellowhammer
Sparrowhawk
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Treecreeper
Great-spotted Woodpecker
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.
Webcam
The webcam is showing the Whooper Pond during the day and the badger feeding area from 5pm onwards.
http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/experience/webcam/
rhiannon.hatfield@wwt.org.uk
