Reserve Update Tuesday 9th October - Pintail on Folly Pond

Another (very) blustery morning which has mixed things up a bit on the reserve.  There is evidence of coastal flooding outside Saltcot Merse Observatory which has drawn in the Lapwing for feeding.  With today's high tide it could be interesting down there.  Conditions must be rough out on the coast as there are 390 Pintail currently taking shelter on the Folly Pond, good numbers for so close in on our reserve.  The otter was around again on Whooper Pond with only one Whooper currently present.

Good numbers of Barnacle geese around the reserve with numbers having jumped up to 15,000 yesterday utilising Caerlaverock and the surrounding area.  One of the leucistic birds was again seen with the flock down near Avenue Tower this morning.  The blustery weather should see them sticking to the more sheltered fields around the reserve today.

Named Whooper Swan arrivals:

YHS - Solway Siren
Lost Darvic - Hagar
YJL - Linda H
YSJ - Sheldon Whooper

Today's high tide is at 13:12, 9.8m

Around the reserve:

Whooper Pond
Otter 1
Whooper Swan 1

Mute Swan 8 adults 6 cygnets
Canada Goose 29
Mallard 135
Teal 5
Wigeon 5
Little Grebe 1
Tufted Duck 20
Moorhen 3

Folly Pond
Pintail 390
Mallard 17
Teal 1000+
Wigeon 100+
Shoveler 15
Greylag Goose 15
Pink-footed Goose 1
Black-tailed Godwit 3
Moorhen 2

Teal Pond
Shoveler 2
Moorhen 1
Mute Swan 1

Avenue Tower
Mallard
Teal
Shoveler
Wigeon
Gadwall
Curlew
Mute Swan
Barnacle Geese
Longhorn Cattle 2

Saltcot Merse Observatory
Pink-footed Geese
Barnacle Geese
Greylag Geese
Canada Geese
Peregrine
Merlin
Hen Harrier
Buzzard
Mute Swan
Shelduck
Mallard
Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Little Egret
Great Black-backed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Hebridean Sheep 9

Avenues & Feeders
(notable species)
Reed Bunting
Sparrowhawk
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Treecreeper
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Goldcrest

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

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