Reserve Update- 20th November (WeBS count figures)

 

A wet start to the day with rain overnight, but this does not stop the birds. Two sparrowhawks each with prey were seen this morning on the way to Avenue Tower. At the Tower there were some great close up views of a few hundred barnacle geese (with 2 barnacle x snow goose hybrids), a few hundred wigeon, and around 40 Black-tailed Godwits.

A WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) was undertaken yesterday (figures included below). 9 Greenshank were counted at the Browell, at the Eastern end of our reserve. Thousands of waders were also seen, visible from Saltcot Observatory at high tide.

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 13:08, 9.3m.

Whooper Swans: 140
Barnacle Geese: around 8,000

Around the reserve:

Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 150
Mute Swan 65
Mallard 197
Gadwall 1
Tufted Duck 37
Wigeon 143
Teal 12
Shoveler 17
Canada Geese 45
Moorhen 3
Greylag Geese 1
Cormorant 1

Folly Pond
Teal 90
Shoveler 25
Wigeon 124
Mallard 55
Canada Goose 11
Black-Tailed Godwit 4
Moorhen 2

Teal Pond
Mallard 8
Wigeon 110
Teal 5
Moorhen 2
Gadwall 5
Shoveler 2

Avenue Tower
Wigeon 163
Teal 52
Gadwall 4
Shoveler 82
Curlew 2
Lapwing 20
Little Egret 6
Black-tailed Godwit 21
Barnacle Geese 250 (2 hybirds)
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 2
Barnacle Geese 2,000+ (leucistic 1)
Pink-footed Geese 2000+
Shelduck 210
Pintail 860
Red-breasted Merganser 13
Teal 90
Wigeon 124
Golden Plover 285
Dunlin 5000+
Knot 3200+
Lapwing 485
Oystercatcher 1630
Curlew 77
Little Egret 6
Grey Heron 5
Great Black-backed Gull 30
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/

lottie.glover@wwt.org.uk

  • Share this article