Wildlife at WWT Caerlaverock
Caerlaverock through the seasons
Whether you're looking out on the windswept saltmarsh, in our wet woodland or walking through one of the reserve's colourful wildflower meadow, Caerlaverock provides a home for swathes of wetland wildlife in every season.
What to look for in spring
Orange-tip butterflies are abundant across the site. Osprey and warblers arrive from the south. Hedgerows and reedbeds are busy as nest-building begins and young birds hatch. The first wildflowers come into bloom as natterjack toads begin making noisy calls to attract mates. Hares box in the fields.
Orange-tip butterfly
Natterjack toad
Mallard ducklings
Boxing hares
Caerlaverock's star species
Caerlaverock is famous for several star species, all of which grace the reserve at different times of year and with differing levels of predictability. Geese who flock in spectacular skeins, surprisingly fussy toads and mysterious living fossils are some of our favourites.
Svalbard barnacle goose
Svalbard barnacle geese flock to WWT Caerlaverock in their thousands in the autumn and winter, coming in to roost each day as the sun sets.
Natterjack toad
WWT Caerlaverock is home to the northernmost population of natterjack toads in the UK. On late spring and summer nights they croak up a storm across the reserve.
Tadpole shrimp
Tadpole shrimps are found in only three places in the UK. Resembling small horseshoe crabs, they were recorded 220 million years ago even before dinosaurs roamed the earth.
What's new on the reserve?
Stay up-to-date with the latest sightings, plus musings from the team at WWT Caerlaverock.
We are WWT, the wetland charity
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Thank you.