Latest Sightings - 18th November - Hen Harrier, Great Egret & plenty of Geese

A fantastic morning on the reserve and we were out at dawn to count Pink-footed Geese coming off the roost for the Icelandic Breeding Goose Census.

The Pink-feet have headed inland to feed but there are plenty of Barnacle Geese in the fields this morning.

A male Hen Harrier was perched up on a fencepost in front of the Saltcot Merse Observatory at sunrise along with a Peregrine and the Great Egret was also out on the merse.

Named Whooper Swan arrivals:

YHS - Solway Siren
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
YPA - Eleanor
YSF - Topsy
YJL - Linda H
YTC - Margaret Ruth
APR - Elsie Barbara & YFB - Eric Anthony
ZGJ - Balthazar & YFP - BekahJo
YKJ- Hagar (lost coloured darvic ring)
YHV - Wowsie
YHD - Fionnaghal
Z4A - Argyll
YRK - Gylfi
YRN - Douglas Flintoff
YJF - Professor Sponge
YPK - Euan David
(Lost coloured ring) - New York Lady
ZDL - Rose (in with her mate and 2 cygnets)
YDK - Rowenna (in with a mate and 1 cygnet)
Z5N - Andy
Z9T - Suzanne (in with her mate, possibly cygnets - so watch this space)
YHC - Charlie (in with a mate and 1 cygnet)
ZAB - Atty & YJH - Kate Two
APC- George
(Lost coloured ring)- Aspen
Z7G- Charners
YSK- Countess of Boulogne & YRS- Steven      A pair with 5 cygnets

Today's high tide is at 12:03, 9.2m.

Whooper Swans: 122
Barnacle Geese: around 8,000

Around the reserve:

Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 122
Mute Swan 54
Mallard 69
Gadwall 1
Tufted Duck 43
Wigeon 48
Teal 9
Shoveler 4
Canada Geese 11
Moorhen 1

Folly Pond
Teal 500
Shoveler 30
Wigeon 400
Mallard 4
Canada Goose 3

Teal Pond
Mallard 6
Wigeon 79
Teal 1
Moorhen 4
Mute Swan 3
Whooper Swan 1
Greylag Geese 6
Gadwall 7
Shoveler 2
Grey Heron 1

Avenue Tower
Wigeon 80
Teal 80
Shoveler 8
Pintail 3
Curlew 16
Lapwing 505
Little Egret 18
Golden Plover 1000+
Black-tailed Godwit 20
Cormorant 1
Redshank 1
Dunlin 6
Roe Deer 5

Saltcot Merse Observatory
Great White Egret 1
Kestrel
Buzzard 1
Peregrine 2 adults (pair)
Merlin 1
Marsh Harrier 1  juv
Hen Harrier 1 Male 
Mute Swan 18
Barnacle Geese 7,500+ (leucistic 1)
Pink-footed Geese 2000+
Shelduck 1000+
Pintail 860
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Teal 20
Wigeon 140
Golden Plover 530
Dunlin 500
Lapwing 485
Oystercatcher 1570
Curlew 10
Little Egret 6
Cormorant 6
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
Goldcrest
Redwing
Fieldfare

Webcam

The winter webcam is now showing the Whooper Pond during the day and the badger feeding area from 5pm onwards.

https://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 https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/

joe.bilous@wwt.org.uk

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