Reserve Update Wednesday 6th December

It was a good day to be down at Saltcot yesterday with cracking views of the Peregrine, male Hen Harrier, Merlin and the Great White Egret also returned.  There is another high tide today at lunch time and with the strong winds forecast this might see more birds being pushed closer to the Observatory for viewing on the Merse.  There are four Pintail down on the Flood Ground this morning, three males and a female.  The Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting have been back around the Hawthorn trees outside the Peter Scott Observatory.

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 - Rowena (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
YFN - Fearn
(Lost coloured ring) - Snoopy
(Lost coloured ring) - Blackbill Cupcake
YHH - Lady Ela
ZGL - Elin
YPH- McMurdoston & YTF - Odette*       A pair with 2 cygnets

Today's high tide is at 14:55, 9.8m.

Whooper Swans: 132
Barnacle Geese: around 8,000+

Around the reserve:

Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 132
Mute Swan 68
Mallard 71
Gadwall 1
Tufted Duck 41
Wigeon 37
Teal 6
Shoveler 1
Canada Geese 140
Moorhen 3
Greylag Geese 1

Folly Pond
Teal 103
Shoveler 20
Wigeon 69
Mallard 29
Moorhen 2
Black-tailed Godwit 7
Redshank 5

Teal Pond
Wigeon 6
Teal 1
Mallard 2
Grey Heron 1

Avenue Tower
Wigeon 157
Teal 62
Pintail 4
Shoveler 7
Little Egret 1
Curlew 17
Lapwing 3
Greylag Goose 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 ♂ & juv/♀
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)
Yellowhammer
Lesser Redpoll
Siskin
Bullfinch
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/

Rhiannon.hatfield@wwt.org.uk

  • Share this article