Latest sightings
Oystercatchers on Eggs
Our Oystercatcher pair on the Teal Pond raft are now down on eggs. At least one egg has been seen so far but if you happen to catch sight of any more while visiting then please do let us know. Small bird activity around the site is really picking up. I
2 May 2019
Summer Walk Open!
While it might not feel exactly the right weather, we have opened our Summer walk for the season today. Come and explore the Cuckoo Flower out in the meadows or see if you can catch sight of an otter on the River. This walk will be open from 10am in the
1 May 2019
Butterflies, Barnacles & Pink-feet
The sun is shining and it is very warm on the reserve. It certainly feels like summer, with lots of butterflies now flying. Our first Orange-tip Butterflies were seen yesterday.Despite the summer-like weather there are still geese around. 1500 Barnacle Ge
20 April 2019
House Martins Nesting
Some of our returned House Martins have begun renovations of their nesting sites on the Farmhouse Tower. There is plenty of mud for them to utilise as the water levels have now dropped on Folly Pond, great for waders such as Black-tailed Godwit and Redsh
17 April 2019
Golden Plover & Warblers
The Corner Field is full of Golden Plover this morning. Many of them with their breeding plumage black bellies.The Avenues are full of bird song with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap the new arrivals.Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit on the Folly Po
13 April 2019
First Willow Warbler
The first Willow Warbler of the year has been heard singing today on the reserve and joins our growing list of returned Spring migrants. The water levels are being dropped on the Folly Pond now that the Whooper Swans have left to create muddy edges that
10 April 2019
Sand Martins, Swallows & House Martins
The Sand Martins are over the Whooper Pond this morning, Swallows and House Martins around the Visitor Centre. No sign of the drake Garganey from Sunday yet but it could still be skulking around the Folly Pond or the borrowpits.High Tide: 15:37, 9.0mOpeni
9 April 2019
Swans depart, Ospreys return
Numbers of birds are now lessening on the Whooper Pond but we still do have a small number of Whoopers there, mostly juveniles. It does look a bit like a creche! These birds will be moving off over the next week or so. On the returns front, we have an
6 April 2019
Blackthorn Blossoming
The Blackthorn flowers are looking lovely in full blossom at the moment. Other flowers are also in bloom such as the Primrose, and in the Wildlife Garden Pulmonaria, Daffodils and Aubretia. These plants are a vital early season nectar source for the quee
3 April 2019
Wheatears arrive
Our first Wheatears of the year have arrived on the reserve. Three males and a female were on fencelines in Saltcot field around the Saltcot Merse Observatory.At least three Chiffchaffs are singing in the sunshine this morning.High Tide: 07:46 7.1mOpenin
30 March 2019
Chiffchaff singing
It definitely feels more like spring now, although there is still a cool breeze at times. Chiffchaffs are now singing in the Peter Scott Trail and Saltcot Loaning, birds are collecting nesting material and we are keeping a keen eye on our Osprey nest came
27 March 2019
Flowers bloom
The sun is shining, flowers are beginning to bloom and the birds are singing; it finally feels more like spring is on the way!Whooper Swan numbers have dropped below 100 today, with some feeding off the reserve still. They will only be here for another fe
23 March 2019
Tracks and Signs
Well one good thing about all the recent rains and the accompanying mud, we get to test out our tracks and signs knowledge! The Loaning is very good at the mo for footprints in the mud which is where this one came from. Any guesses? This footprint belon
20 March 2019
Oystercatchers Prospecting
Our nesting raft on the Folly Pond has drawn some interest from a pair of Oystercatcher, although, as in previous years, they have some competition from the Mallards. The flooded pasture is proving a real draw with mobile flocks of Golden Plover and Lapw
14 March 2019
Water, water everywhere!
Well Caerlaverock Wetlands are really living up to their name! Recent heavy rains have inundated the site making it perfect for waders, geese, swans and ducks. Please bear in mind that if you are visiting then wellington boots are a requirement for getti
12 March 2019