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XLatest sightings
18 Dec 2020
First Water Rail of the Winter
Please be aware that we will be closed to all visitors 21st - 25th December inclusive. We will reopen again on Boxing Day!The first Water Rail for this Winter season has been heard at Caerlaverock (no sighting of it yet), making a racket in the Paddock. ...
15 Dec 2020
Christmas closure and a Slav Grebe
Please be aware that we will be closed to all visitors 21st - 25th December inclusive. We will reopen again on Boxing Day!A Slavonian Grebe was on the Flood Ground on Sunday afternoon but hasn't been seen since. A classic example that you never know what ...
08 Dec 2020
Swans and a Scaup
Whooper Swan numbers are holding up well now, as the colder weather has brought them in from the surrounding fields. 75 on the Pond this morning.A male Greater Scaup is amongst the 30 Tuften Ducks on the Whooper Pond this morning, along with 48 Mute Swans...
04 Dec 2020
Waders, Hen Harrier and Reed Bunting
The past week has seen a good number of Waders in attendance. Black-tailed Godwit continue to be found taking a snooze on the small island on Folly Pond during the day, flights of Lapwing and Curlew have been very much evident overhead, with the Curlew t...
03 Dec 2020
Black Swan on Whooper Pond
Unusual sighting for this morning with a Black Swan joining the Whoopers and Mutes on Whooper Pond. It was not entirely sure of the early breakfast feed carried out by the Wardens, flying off to Folly Pond, but it has returned once again to the Whooper P...
27 Nov 2020
Yellowhammer in Hedgerows
Good views of Yellowhammer this morning in the Hedgerow outside the Peter Scott Observatory. They are not the only small birds making their presence felt with Bullfinches and Goldcrests still being seen regularly down the Avenue and up to six Tree Sparro...
25 Nov 2020
Teal Displaying
The recent mild spell has confused the visiting Teal around the Reserve with many behaving like it is already Spring. There is a great deal of displaying going on, with the males doing the characteristic head flick (interesting to watch for, not just whe...
13 Nov 2020
Peregrines out on the Merses
Peregrine Falcons have been a regular sighting out on the Merses this week, the numerous pieces of driftwood washed in by the tides providing ideal perches for them. They are not the only raptors to have been seen. A Merlin and Hen Harrier were both obs...
11 Nov 2020
Tufties Turning Up
Tufted Duck numbers are starting to increase on the Whooper Pond with over 40 birds out there this morning. The Wigeon numbers are also on the rise and the Whooper Swans have finally got the memo that it is Winter with 70 birds joining us. There seems t...
07 Nov 2020
Frosty Morning
Lovely crisp start to the day today after a spell of unseasonably warm weather (it is just not right to still have midges about in November!) The cooler weather has seen some of our Whooper Swans dropping into the Whooper Pond and there is also a gatheri...
06 Nov 2020
Reed Buntings and Bullfinch
Reed Buntings have been very obvious in the Hedgerows around the Reserve this morning. The past few days have also seen a number of Bullfinches in the first part of Hedgerow down the Avenue. Teal and Wigeon numbers are creeping up on the Flood Ground an...
04 Nov 2020
Yellowhammers, Treecreepers and Linnets
The first couple of Yellowhammers of the Autumn were seen yesterday in the hedgerow outside the Peter Scott Observatory. Small bird activity down the Avenues has been good recently with regular appearances of Treecreepers down towards Avenue Tower and Li...
31 Oct 2020
Wild, windy, wetlands
It has been particularly wild recently, with strong winds and rain battering the reserve.The Folly Pond has been particularly busy with big numbers of Teal and Wigeon which has attracted predators, Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier can be seen hunting them mo...
27 Oct 2020
Thrushes galore
There are flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares over the reserve regularly at the moment, with many dropping down onto the Hawthorns to gorge on the berries, or perch in the tops of the Sycamores.A Marsh Harrier was harrying Teal on the Folly Pond this mornin...
17 Oct 2020
Icelandic-breeding Goose Census
Today saw the first of the Icelandic-breeding Goose Census for the winter. Wardens were in early to monitor the Pink-footed Geese as they left the roost on the mudflats out from Saltcot Merse Observatory....or that was the plan at least! The Pink-foots ...
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