Latest Sightings - 3rd January - tidal flooding!

We are open as normal today, but please take extra care on the roads.

Wellies are highly recommended as there has been a lot of rain overnight. The major tidal flooding means many of the fields are underwater leaving little grass for the Barnacle Geese to feed on, this means they are in big flocks on the available areas.

There used to be Kingfisher perches on the Back Pond, but as you can see below, the water level is a bit higher than it was yesterday...

The Flood Ground and Lochar Fields are holding a bit more water than usual...

The High tide at 1pm today could push a lot of waders and wildfowl into these fields as the merse is still very flooded.

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 12:57, 9.9m.

Whooper Swans: 100
Barnacle Geese: around 4,000+

Around the reserve:

Whooper Pond
Whooper Swan 50
Mute Swan 67
Mallard 232
Gadwall 1♂
Tufted Duck 15
Greater Scaup 1♀
Wigeon 108
Teal 70
Canada Geese 102
Greylag Geese 5
Moorhen 5
Oystercatcher 2

Folly Pond
Teal 420
Wigeon 190
Shoveler 40
Mallard 35
Pintail 4
Black-tailed Godwit 7
Curlew 2

Teal Pond
Mute Swan 2
Teal 2

Avenue Tower
Barnacle Geese
Lapwing
Golden Plover

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)
Brambling
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/

joe.bilous@wwt.org.uk

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