Water Rails and Frosty Weather

As we approach the end of the year, it’s been pretty quiet at WWT Caerlaverock, especially when the big frost came. Everything was iced over for a week and there was a significant decline in waders and geese numbers (with zero barnies seen on the 12^th of December during the bird count!). Despite this, a highlight this month, for visitors and staff alike, has been the water rails. Three were seen skittering over the icy pond on the Peter Scott Trail, searching for holes in the surface to forage for invertebrates and small fish.

Water rails are small and fairly common birds, but are highly secretive: they are more often heard than seen. You have a greater chance of catching a look at these elusive birds during the winter time than in the summer when they are breeding. They are opportunistic omnivores that are very versatile and consistently return to good hunting areas, suggesting our site suits their feeding habits.

There has also still been lots of raptors visiting the reserve, with hen harriers, peregrine falcons and kestrels being spotted regularly from both the Saltcot Merse Observatory and Avenue Tower. Both little and great white egrets have been seen frequently and the yellowhammers that hang out by the intersection of the Saltcot and Avenue Loanings continue to brighten up these cold winter days.

Written by Marianne Nicholson

13^th December

Merse

• 2 red shank
• 3 jack snipe
• 4 common snipe
• 3 otters
• 1 hare

17^th December

Campbell Hide

• 3 roe deer
• Stonechat

Peter Scott Trail

• Moorhen
• Blue tit
• Great tit
• Greenfinch
• Blackbird
• Robin
• Tree sparrow

Newfield

• Around 200 barnacle geese

Avenue

• Treecreeper
• 3 long tailed tits
• Wren

18^th December

Peter Scott Trail

• Goldcrest

Newfield Hide

• Curlew
• Fieldfare

Cornerfield

• Around 450 barnacle geese

Avenue Tower

• Hen harrier
• 2 fieldfares
• Otter
• Raven
• 8 pink footed geese
• Kestrel

Saltcot Loaning

• Sparrowhawk

Saltcot

• Peregrine falcon
• 5 curlew
• Male hen harrier

Outside Peter Scott Observatory

• 20 – 30 yellowhammer

19^th December

Whooper Pond

• Tufted duck
• Canada geese

20^th December

Peter Scott Observatory

• Little egret

Peter Scott Trail

• Water rail

18/12/22 - Inland bird count

(Lower numbers due to heavy frost and ponds iced over)

Whooper swans – 122

Mute swans – 31

Mallards – 174

Wigeons – 31

Teal – 26

Shovelers – 1

Moorhens – 8

Barnacle geese ~2900

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