9th October Update- Barnacle Goose influx

 

Thousands of Barnacle Geese arrived yesterday, with around 9000 on our reserve. There are a couple of leucistic birds present with them. Reports from observers on the east coast suggest more could arrive today. Here is an image of a few Barnacle Geese flying onto the merse from the waters edge this morning.

 Photo credit- Lottie Glover

There are still around the same number of Whooper Swans present, with some of the named swans being present at most feeds.

A WeBS (Wetland Birds Survey) count was undertaken yesterday, with the figures included below.

Named Whooper Swan arrivals:

ZHP - Andrew K    &    YFZ - Ruth C          A pair with 5 cygnets

YFS - Obi Swan Kenobi   &   YHZ - Princess Layer ( but she has lost her coloured darvic ring)

YSJ - Sheldon Whooper

YTG - Jack

Z6L - Rooby   &   Z7S - Bowie        A pair with 1 cygnet

Z9F - Hendrick   &   Z6T - PP       A pair with 1 cygnet

YRG - Lucky Linda

YSU - Nye

 

Today's high tide is at 15:22, 9.5m

Whooper Swans: 75 in the local area
Barnacle Geese:
9000

Around the reserve:

Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 47
Mute Swan 32
Mallard 138
Gadwall 1♂
Tufted Duck 24
Wigeon 5
Teal 2
Canada Geese 41
Greylag Geese 2
Cormorant 1

Folly Pond

Teal 600
Shoveler 2
Wigeon 4
Greylag Geese 2
Moorhen 1
Curlew 14
Black-tailed Godwit 16

Teal Pond
Gadwall 7
Mallard 5
Moorhen 2

Avenue Tower
Mute Swan 3
Mallard 1
Roe Deer 2

Saltcot Merse Observatory
Kestrel
Buzzard 1
Peregrine 2 adults (pair)
Merlin 1
Hen Harrier - ringtail
Mute Swan 18
Barnacle Geese 9000+ (leucistic 2)
Pink-footed Geese 2000+
Shelduck 1000+
Pintail 860
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Teal 20
Wigeon 140
Black-headed Gull 420
Great Black-backed Gull 116
Herring Gull 317
Common Gull 654
Golden Plover 530
Dunlin 500
Lapwing 485
Oystercatcher 1570
Ring Plover 150
Curlew 10
Little Egret 6
Cormorant 6
Guillemot 1
Linnets - flocks of up to 60
Roe Deer 5
Hebridean Sheep 10
Longhorn Cattle 2

Avenues & Feeders
(notable species)

Reed Bunting
Sparrowhawk
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Treecreeper
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Goldcrest

Webcam

The winter webcam is now 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/

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.

lottie.glover@wwt.org.uk

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