Caerlaverock news

Latest Sightings - Friday 25th May

A dry but breezy day today. Plenty of activity in the Peter Scott Trail, with our colony of Tree Sparrows using 5 of the nest boxes around the feeding station. The meadow is starting to grow quickly now with the first Northern Marsh Orchids coming out. T

25 May 2018

Reserve Update Tuesday 22nd May

Yesterday saw the appearance of five Long-tailed Tit chicks in the Wildlife garden. The adults can still be heard calling in the undergrowth this morning so the family is probably hanging around still. Temminck's Stint dropped into Folly Pond for the

22 May 2018

Reserve Update Thursday 17th May

Plenty of Large-Red Damselflies down the avenue this morning. The Lapwing chick in Lochar Field is growing quickly, and there is still one adult on a nest. A Buzzard was witnessed swooping over the field, but thankfully the Lapwing saw it off! There are s

17 May 2018

Reserve Update - Wednesday 16th May

The pitter patter of little feet continues with Moorhen chicks hatching out on our raised pond this weekend (so take care if pond dipping around there!) There have also been mallard ducklings on Folly Pond....but still no Mute Swan or Oystercatcher chic

16 May 2018

Reserve Update Saturday 12th May - Garganey pair

Pair of Garganey are showing well on the Folly Pond this morning. If you venture up the Farmhouse Tower watch the aerobatics of the House Martins as they collect mud down below and carry out renovation works on their nests just outside the windows. St

12 May 2018

Reserve Update Thursday 10th May

4 Brown Hares were seen this morning on the reserve, 1 in Corner Field, 1 in Lochar Field and 2 along the avenue. A Garden Warbler was heard, then later seen, making this the 2nd one on site. A single Ruff has been on the Folly Pond today, with a lone Dun

10 May 2018

Reserve Update Wednesday 9th May - Lapwing Chicks!

One of our pair of Lapwings on the Lochar Field now has two fluffy chicks running around them. They are regularly going back to sit underneath the parents due to the continued cold weather. The Swallows are back prospecting within the Teal Pond hide s

9 May 2018

Reserve Update Thursday 3rd May

Lovely to hear a Grasshopper Warbler 'singing' over the banking from Teal Pond Hide entrance this morning. There is quite a chorus building with Willow Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Blackcap and Goldfinch all making their presence known in that one area. �

3 May 2018

Latest Sightings - Tuesday 1st May

Nesting season is underway with our Ospreys sitting on at least 2 eggs now, see them on the live webcam (link below). Oystercatchers are using three of the four nesting rafts on the reserve. The pair on the Teal Pond have 3 eggs, the pair on the Fo

1 May 2018

Latest Sightings - Saturday 28th April - Summer Walk Open

A warm start to the day with little wind so it's feeling much more like summer today. The Summer Walk is now open! Access is from the Sir Peter Scott Observatory only. Due to flooding we have had to keep the gate from the Avenue closed until water levels

28 April 2018

Reserve Update Wednesday 25th April- Warblers and Osprey Egg!

There are plenty of warblers to be heard singing down the avenues, with at least 4 male Blackcap's on the way to Avenue Tower. Several Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers have been heard/seen too. The House Martins are flying around the Farmhouse Tower wit

25 April 2018

Reserve Update Saturday 21st April

Well the sun is shining, the birds are singing....and our lonely Whooper Swan was back on the pond this morning! He has the company of a couple of Mute Swans and a good number of Tufted Ducks. The first House Martin was spotted around the Farmhouse To

21 April 2018

Reserve Update Wednesday 18th April

Our new arrival Willow Warblers and Blackcaps are making a valiant effort to make themselves heard over the gusting wind. There are good numbers of Golden Plover in Corner field, pushed up closer due to the high tide yesterday. There is due to be anot

18 April 2018

Latest Sightings - Saturday 14th April

One Whooper Swan is on the Whooper Pond this morning, with a few remaining Mute Swans. The resident male Mute Swan is trying to chase these last few away as his mate is building a nest on the Teal Pond. Good numbers of Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit on

14 April 2018

Ospreys return!

The Caerlaverock ospreys have returned! Our regular pair arrived back on 7th April, two days earlier than last year. The female has a white ring, 'TR' and the male is unringed but we were able to identify him from the distinctive markings on his head.

13 April 2018