Caerlaverock news
Caerlaverock wild highlights, Wed Dec 2nd
Still very wet underfoot, so wellies are still strongly advised for visitors. the avenue tree hazard has been cleared now, so all hides and towers are open as normal, giving views of plenty of Barnacle Geese, Whooper Swans and so on. Greater Scaup and Rin
2 December 2015
Around Caerlaverock, Tues Dec 1st
Wet again today, albeit much less windy. Bring your wellies if planning a visit. Access to Avenue Tower remain closed unfortunately. The Green-winged Teal is still showing well on Folly Pond, as are the Ring-necked Duck and Greater Scaup on the Whooper Po
1 December 2015
Around (a very wet) Caerlaverock, Monday 30th Nov
Very wet and windy today, though a bit calmer at time of writing. Wellies strongly advised!! Yesterday's gales forced the closure of the avenue, with a tree down and blocking access to the Avenue Tower and Campbell Hide. The access there is sadly likely
30 November 2015
Latest Sightings - 28th November
Wet and wild this morning, but the birds are all still here and we could be due for quite a spectacular high tide (if we can see it). Drake Green-winged Teal still on the Folly Pond, and the drake Ring-necked Duck is on the Whooper Pond along with the fem
28 November 2015
Latest Sightings - 27th November - More Whoopers!
Apologies for the lack of updates this week, not much has changed though. Still very mild and quite wet, but nice weather for ducks, as they say. Drake Green-winged Teal still on the Folly Pond, and the drake Ring-necked Duck is on the Whooper Pond havin
27 November 2015
Latest Sightings - 24th November
A bit overcast this morning, but the birds are all here. Drake Green-winged Teal still on the Folly Pond, and the drake Ring-necked Duck is on the Whooper Pond having been on the Back Pond first thing. Also on the Whooper Pond is the Greater Scaup. Keep a
24 November 2015
Latest Sightings - 21st November - New arrivals, Ring-necked Duck!
A fantastic sunny and cold morning with puddles frozen over. Yesterday saw the arrival of a second American duck on the reserve. To go with the regular Green-winged Teal, we now have a drake Ring-necked Duck amongst the Tufted Ducks on the Whooper Pond.
21 November 2015
Latest Sightings - 20th November - a cold morning!
Finally, some cold, clear weather. A lovely morning on the reserve, more like winter weather for us. More Whooper Swans are in now, thanks to the colder weather, 62 on the Whooper Pond this morning; and maybe more to come over the next few days. An unusua
20 November 2015
Latest Sightings - 19th November - wet wet wet
Highlights at the moment are a male Hen Harrier around the reserve most days, also a Short-eared Owl has been hunting over the merse from the Avenue Tower the past few weeks. A Water Rail has now been seen most days in the Peter Scott Trail. The tracks ar
19 November 2015
Around Caerlaverock, Tues 17th Nov
There was a roost of six Little Egrets last night, in a Scots Pine within the Peter Scott Trail behind the picnic area. These can be found dotted around the fields and merses during the day. Barnacle Goose numbers remain good, with 7000-8000 daily. The Sn
17 November 2015
Latest Sightings - 14th November - Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers and an Otter!
The colder weather yesterday and today has done it's job and brought in the first Yellowhammers of the winter. A small flock of 5 in the hedge running down to the Peter Scott Observatory. A fantastic flock of 13 Tree Sparrows has joined them this morning,
14 November 2015
Latest Sightings - 13th November - big tide at 1pm
The BBC are off site now and things are returning to normal. If you would like a free pumpkin from the Autumnwatch set, pick one up from the main entrance! The tracks are very wet at the moment, so if you are coming down, please be prepared and wellies wo
13 November 2015
Caerlaverock update, 11th Nov
The wind has dropped for the time being but a lot of water forming temporary flashes lies in the fields, giving a good spread of duck, with over 3000 Teal and about 800 Wigeon plus a few Pintail. Flocks of Golden Plover are making brief appearances, espe
11 November 2015
Around Caerlaverock, Nov 10th
The site feels rather quiet now that BBC Autumnwatch has gone and things are settling back into the usual routines. A good number of duck, principally Teal and Wigeon, are broadcast across the fields, enjoying the many temporary wet flashes resulting from
10 November 2015
Latest Sightings - 7th November - BBC de-rigging
The BBC are packing up and most of their equipment has already left the site. The reserve is starting to get back to 'normal' now. The tracks are very wet at the moment, so if you are coming down, please be prepared and wellies would be recommended. Today
7 November 2015