Latest sightings
Sunday March 26th
Another fine spring day. Perhaps this our sunshine ration for the year...! Whooper Swans are largely away now; 19 at the 11:00 feed today, with a further 60 or so preferring a grass diet in fields at Ruthwell. Still plenty of Barnacle Geese to find, mostl
26 March 2017
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
24 March 2017
Sightings 23/03/2017
It looks like yesterdays bad weather has passed through and the forecast is looking really good for this afternoon and the next few days. There has been a lot of Whooper Swan movement country wide over the last few days, we had a departure of birds overn
23 March 2017
Monday 20th March update
Cold and wet first thing, now much brighter and more spring-like. Our single Garganey has apparently moved off... or is hiding. No new migrants to report so far though a Chiffchaff was singing briefly yesterday from The Teal Pond Hide. 6000 Barnacle and o
20 March 2017
Latest Sightings - 18th March - feeling spring-like
It's dry so far and feeling quite spring-like at the moment. Birds are singing, Primroses are flowering, and so are the Blackthorn bushes! Black-headed Gulls are looking for nesting sites around the Flood Ground, some of them look like they could use our
18 March 2017
Reserve Update Thursday 16th March - Garganey returns
A solitary drake Garganey returned to the Folly Pond yesterday afternoon and has been sighted once again this morning, this time using the borrow pit in Corner Field. It is best viewed from the top floor of the Peter Scott Observatory or the small green
16 March 2017
Update, Monday March 13th
After the excitement of the early Garganey at the weekend, we're back to normal today. There is no sign today so far of the 7 which graced the reserve yesterday... A shame as 7 constitute a record at one site for Dumfries & Galloway, as well being un
13 March 2017
Reserve Update Saturday 11th March - Garganey!
Exciting start to the morning with four Garganey (two pairs) observed on the Folly Pond. Good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Redshank also, so a good place to have a look if you are popping in today! Todays high tide is at 08:38, 7.8m Around the
11 March 2017
Reserve Update Wednesday 8th March
Drake Goosander is back on the Flood Ground this morning, where he is joined by a growing number of very noisy Black-headed Gulls! Down the Avenue there were close views of Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper and Goldcrest feeding along the hawthorn trees. S
8 March 2017
Quick update, Monday March 6th
Bright sunny and mild today - what's going on?! Whooper Swan numbers today reflect the spring feel, with just 93 at the 11:00 feed. Over 100 feeding just off the reserve though, split between three different sites. Duck nos. appear to have dropped off a
6 March 2017
Latest Sightings - 3rd March - Yellowhammer singing!
A drizzly start to the day, and the birds are making the most of the flooded fields rather than the ponds! We have started to see more Brown Hares around the reserve lately, and it is feeling a bit more spring-like with Yellowhammers singing opposite the
3 March 2017
Reserve Update Thursday 2nd March
The Folly Pond is still a busy place this morning with large numbers of ducks and waders pushed back from the recent high tides. It was another good afternoon down at Saltcot Merse Observatory with two hen harriers seen yesterday, a male and a ringtail.
2 March 2017
Latest Sightings - 1st March
Apologies for the late update, our internet has been down this morning. It's been a lovely morning on the reserve, very calm after the storm at the weekend. The Folly Pond is very busy at the moment with good numbers of duck feeding. Our new nesting raft
1 March 2017
Sightings 27/02/2017 - Divers!
It has been a good morning for birds. With quite a high tide, large numbers of Dunlin were swirling around over the shore with 1700 briefly dropping into field 3, which already contained over 2000 Golden Plover, quite a sight! A large feeding flock of Sta
27 February 2017
Latest Sightings - 25th February - Wet and wild
As forecast, it is a very wet and windy start to the day. Wellies are recommended for getting down the Avenues. The Whooper Swans are battling the wind and waves on the Whooper Pond and the fields are becoming increasingly flooded. Golden Plover are feed
25 February 2017