News
Rise and shine natterjacks: Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Diaries no. 10
2025 is going extremely quickly so far - we find ourselves in April ahead of the natterjack toads emerging from hibernation and starting their breeding season. It could be any day now depending on what the weather does. This fussy species like ephemeral p
30 April 2025
Species spotlight: primrose
Primroses have been popping up all around the reserve and their cheery yellow flowers have added some much-needed colour to our paths. The arrival of these flowers usually indicated that spring is on the way but during particularly mild winters they have
25 April 2025
Water dowsing: science, magic or straight up fiction?: The Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Diaries no. 9
What is water dowsing? Dowsing is a type of divination used to locate ground water (and can be used to find other things). It is also known as water finding, water witching and my personal favourite: doodlebugging. The way to dowse is to use a Y sha
23 April 2025
One of the UK’s most elusive spiders spotted at WWT London
One of the UK’s most elusive spiders - the Enoplognatha caricis (E. caricis) - has been spotted at WWT London. The sighting marks only the fourth time it’s been seen in Great Britain in the last 30 years, and the first time in the nation’s capital.
22 April 2025
Volunteer day on the saltmarsh
Last week, we were busy out on the merse with our volunteer group. It was an amazing day with the sun greeting us and skylarks and meadow pipits accompanying with their raucous.fence on the saltmarshIt is an interesting time on the merse as we have many o
7 April 2025
Wetlands and wildlife charity to drop debut album, ‘imMERSE’
In a move sure to set the music world quacking, WWT announces the launch of its highly anticipated debut album, ‘imMERSE’.
1 April 2025
'Delays mean deaths - ban toxic lead ammunition now', experts urge government
Environmental charities and campaigners insist there is still time for the government to save thousands of waterbirds from needless and painful deaths despite another delay on the decision to ban toxic lead ammunition.
18 March 2025
A plastic bottle for every 8m of beach
A plastic cactus and four left shoes are just some of the unexpected items that have washed up on the WWT Caerlaverock tideline. Wardens and volunteers came across the unusual items during their annual spring beach clean. Approximately 6 cubic metre
18 March 2025
Whistles, chirps and chattering: a lesson in bird song
Wandering around, it seems as though there has been a dramatic change in noise on the reserve. With the whooper swans dwindling in numbers, their honks have become more muted against the whistles, chirps and chattering of songbirds. Most passerines are
17 March 2025
Naturalised barnacle geese
Whenever we hear the yapping calls of the barnacle geese in the later days of September, we know that autumn has finally arrived. But what if these yaps were heard all year round? In some areas of the UK they can be, you just need to know where to go..The
12 March 2025
Species spotlight: brown hare
In March, winter begins to come to a close and we take our tender first steps step into spring. As we creep into the season, there is a slow encroachment of bursting life. Week by week more light casts on our lands, more species of bird join the chorus an
8 March 2025
Experts express concern over dramatic loss of Bewick’s swans in Britain
But the solution lies where land meets water.
5 March 2025
More than just birds: The Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Diaries no. 10
Through the Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Project, we have been creating various water bodies like ponds, scrapes and channels. These water features are a variety of ages which means they have different vegetation structures. During this winter, the new wet
3 March 2025
A very good 10 minutes
I often get into work a bit early. (If my manager is reading this is so that I can plan my day for maximum efficiency and value for money.) But there is another secret reason. It means I can have a quality 10 minutes with nature. All on my own.WWT Caerlav
1 March 2025
Hey Google! How do I become a jack-of-all-trades?
A job on a nature reserve is varied work. No day looks the same. You may find yourself jumping from science to building work to counting birds to telling people about it, all in one afternoon. The career aspiration is to become a jack of all trades and a
27 February 2025