Caerlaverock blog
Roe Deer in the Sun
Roe Deer have been very evident around the reserve the past week with up to 8 individuals seen in just one section of Merse alone. This morning a couple were sauntering across the fields down near Avenue Tower. They have not been the only species of mam
7 October 2020
Wonderful wildfowl
Wildfowl are now flocking to the reserve, with numbers increasing daily.Up to 7 Whooper Swans have been seen on the Whooper Pond, although they do feed elsewhere too so it's the luck of the draw if they are here during your visit.The Barnacle Geese, up to
5 October 2020
First Whoopers!
The first Whooper Swans of the season have returned to Caerlaverock!! So far only in small numbers with 6 birds having been observed. No sign of any leg rings yet to identify them though two of the birds seem quite settled on the Whooper Pond and appear
26 September 2020
Splendid Saltcot
Unfortunately it would appear that the Common Cranes that dropped in for a visit yesterday have now decided to continue on with their journey. Saltcot Merse Observatory is still providing some excellent viewing opportunities though with a distant Peregri
25 September 2020
Swans a-swimming
Some of the local population of Mute Swans have now started joining us at the Whooper Pond. We have been up to 19 out there but only 3 this morning. It will be a couple of weeks yet potentially before we start seeing the arrival of any Whooper Swans bac
19 September 2020
Sunny Sedum Attracts the Butterflies
The good weather recently has really drawn in the late flying butterflies such as Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell into the Wildlife Garden. Not only is the Sedum (recently renamed as Hylotelephium and otherwise known as Iceplant) proving a valuable l
18 September 2020
Barnies are Back!
The first Barnacle Geese of the Autumn were heard yesterday flying over Caerlaverock! This is the joint earliest date for them to be returning back. This morning 21 of them were feeding out on the Merse to the west of the reserve, mixed in with the cows
17 September 2020
Great Spotted Woodpecker Versus Sparrowhawk
The Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been making more of an appearance around the reserve than we usually see of them. There was nearly one less this morning down the Saltcot Loaning, as a lurking Sparrowhawk erupted out of the undergrowth to make a lunge
12 September 2020
Pink feet begin arriving
The sound of Winter is beginning to return to Caerlaverock with skeins of Pink-footed Geese passing overhead yesterday and this morning. A group of 50 birds looked like it was heading down onto the Merse so do have a scan from Saltcot Merse Observatory a
11 September 2020
Reed Buntings in the Hedgerows
It has been a good morning for Reed Bunting spotting, with activity in the Hedgerows down to the Saltcot Merse Observatory. They also favour the Willow tree in the sheep paddock next to the Observatory with a mix of males, females and juvenile birds obse
10 September 2020
Eel in a Puddle
Rather strange start to the morning with Reserve Manager Joe Bilous discovering an eel in one of the puddles down the Avenue. This was safely caught and placed in the Teal Pond, a location in which we have recorded them in the past. Another unusual sigh
5 September 2020
Autumn Berries
The season is really progressing and the hedgerows are filling with berries. Some of the Hawthorn shrubs down the Saltcot Loaning are heavy with haws that will be beneficial to the migrant Thrushes who will shortly start returning to our shores. The hed
3 September 2020
Phalarope on Folly
Not to sound like a broken record about the Folly Pond but once again it has delivered. A Red necked phalarope has dropped in and is busy feeding in the deeper water. Wader numbers in general are building with over 20 Curlew, still good numbers of Lapwi
2 September 2020
Lapwing on the Folly Pond
Good numbers of Lapwing on the Folly Pond this morning. The Shoveler numbers are also on the increase and a solitary Black-tailed Godwit is present feeding in the water. The Marsh Harrier that has been observed around the Reserve last week is originally
1 September 2020
Marsh Harrier over Folly Pond
Having mentioned yesterday about the Teal numbers starting to creep up on Folly Pond, well the Marsh Harrier discovered the same thing this morning. Cracking views of the juvenile bird flying over and flushing all the birds as observed from Sharp's Looko
29 August 2020