Caerlaverock news
Reserve Update Monday 25th July
The osprey chicks are proving to be a very entertaining spectacle on the big screen for visitors to the coffee shop on the reserve. They are getting more experienced with their flying and have started to feed themselves on the plentiful fish stocks tha
25 July 2016
Reserve Update Saturday 23rd July
Both osprey chicks have now taken their maiden flights, they will need a bit more practice before they attempt their long journey south! It will be interesting to see where they end up this winter. A little egret was spotted back at Folly Pond first thi
23 July 2016
Reserve Update 22nd July - Ospreys fly
The first osprey chick made its maiden flight yesterday and has been away from the nest this morning. The second chick is making tentative hops and flutters towards joining its sibling today but is yet to take off. It has chosen to pick one of the mos
22 July 2016
Reserve Update Thursday 21st July
Natterjack Toad success at last!!! Staff have discovered tadpoles present in one of the pools on the wider reserve which is great news considering this year was looking like a washout for the species (or should that be a "dry out" considering the heatwa
21 July 2016
Caerlaverock reserve update Tues 19th July
Plenty of damsel and dragonfly action around the meadow pools in the (very) warm sunshine today, just watch out for those clegs!! Still birdsong going on as yesterday, with Whitethroat, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler particularly. Little Grebes currently invi
19 July 2016
Reserve update Monday July 18th
Little Grebe chicks from The Teal Pond have relocated to The Flood Ground, with a single older chick now established on The Back Pond. A few passerines still in song periodically, notably Blackcap, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat Today's high tide is at 12
18 July 2016
Reserve Update Saturday 16th July
The Tawny Owl is back on its perch down towards Folly Pond Hide this morning. There are still two Brown Hares out on the re-seeded field alongside Avenue Tower, Swift overhead along the Lochar on the summer walk and masses of Meadow Brown butterflies in
16 July 2016
Osprey chicks ringed and now live online!
The two Osprey chicks have now been ringed by our colleagues at the Forestry Commission for Scotland. We have a male blue PW9 and female blue PW0 in the nest. They have also been fitted with satellite trackers, so we will be able to follow them throug
14 July 2016
Latest Sightings - 14th July - Osprey chicks ringed and live online!
The two Osprey chicks have now been ringed by our colleagues at the Forestry Commission for Scotland. We have a male blue PW9 and female blue PW0 in the nest. They have also been fitted with satellite trackers, so we will be able to follow them throug
14 July 2016
Latest Sightings - 12th July - Dragonflies emerging
Common Darter Dragonflies are just starting to emerge from the ponds. This photo shows the newly emerged adult next to the larval exoskeleton from which it has broken out of! At this stage, dragonflies are very vulnerable as their bodies have not hardene
12 July 2016
Monday July 11th update
Little change from yesterday, with the addition of five returning Black-tailed Godwits, resplendent in breeding plumage still, on The Folly Pond Today's high tide is at 18:01, 7.8m Around the reserve today: Wildflowers Red Clover White Clover Red Campio
11 July 2016
Update, Sunday July 10th
Two Blackcaps in full song down The Avenue. Three young Dabchicks viewable from The Teal Pond Hide, though it's best not to linger too long as despite fledging their first brood, the Swallows there look like going for another. Today's high tide is at
10 July 2016
Latest Sightings - 9th July
A wet start to the day, but it doesn't seem to bother everything. Five Brown Hares are running around our newly reseeded field at the Avenue Tower. A Sparrowhawk was hunting down the Avenue first thing this morning. The Tawny Owl is again in it's usual tr
9 July 2016
Latest Sightings - 8th July - Ospreys doing well & Common Lizard seen
Apologies for the lack of news, the Reserve Team have been away at Martin Mere the past few days, but we are back now. Water levels are looking good after some more rain last night, perfect for waders which should be heading this way after breeding in the
8 July 2016
Latest Sightings - 2nd July - More Osprey action
A bright start, but now the showers are on their way. Water levels are much better on the reserve, and we have already had 3 Black-tailed Godwits turn up on the Flood Ground. Probably failed breeders heading south early, so keep your eyes peeled for any
2 July 2016