Caerlaverock news
Ladybirds Loving the Sun
The good weather last summer combined with the mild winter weather has seen a bonanza of ladybirds around recently. During our recent fence inspections and repairs, prior to stock going on the reserve for the summer, we have been finding them in all mann
25 April 2019
Swallows prospecting
Swallow numbers are really picking up around the reserve with pairs beginning to prospect for nesting sites around our Saltcot Merse Observatory and Teal Pond hide. Sand Martins are in evidence foraging over the Whooper Pond. House Martin numbers are cl
24 April 2019
Butterflies, Barnacles & Pink-feet
The sun is shining and it is very warm on the reserve. It certainly feels like summer, with lots of butterflies now flying. Our first Orange-tip Butterflies were seen yesterday.Despite the summer-like weather there are still geese around. 1500 Barnacle Ge
20 April 2019
House Martins Nesting
Some of our returned House Martins have begun renovations of their nesting sites on the Farmhouse Tower. There is plenty of mud for them to utilise as the water levels have now dropped on Folly Pond, great for waders such as Black-tailed Godwit and Redsh
17 April 2019
Giant Easter Duck Trail
Go quackers and find the GIANT ducks hidden all over our wetlands!
15 April 2019
Caerlaverock Wildlife Garden
As one of the hosting locations of Chris Packham’s UK Bioblitz last year we were awarded funding towards our on-going development of the Wildlife Garden at Caerlaverock.
15 April 2019
Golden Plover & Warblers
The Corner Field is full of Golden Plover this morning. Many of them with their breeding plumage black bellies.The Avenues are full of bird song with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap the new arrivals.Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit on the Folly Po
13 April 2019
First Willow Warbler
The first Willow Warbler of the year has been heard singing today on the reserve and joins our growing list of returned Spring migrants. The water levels are being dropped on the Folly Pond now that the Whooper Swans have left to create muddy edges that
10 April 2019
Sand Martins, Swallows & House Martins
The Sand Martins are over the Whooper Pond this morning, Swallows and House Martins around the Visitor Centre. No sign of the drake Garganey from Sunday yet but it could still be skulking around the Folly Pond or the borrowpits.High Tide: 15:37, 9.0mOpeni
9 April 2019
Swans depart, Ospreys return
Numbers of birds are now lessening on the Whooper Pond but we still do have a small number of Whoopers there, mostly juveniles. It does look a bit like a creche! These birds will be moving off over the next week or so. On the returns front, we have an
6 April 2019
Blackthorn Blossoming
The Blackthorn flowers are looking lovely in full blossom at the moment. Other flowers are also in bloom such as the Primrose, and in the Wildlife Garden Pulmonaria, Daffodils and Aubretia. These plants are a vital early season nectar source for the quee
3 April 2019
Wheatears arrive
Our first Wheatears of the year have arrived on the reserve. Three males and a female were on fencelines in Saltcot field around the Saltcot Merse Observatory.At least three Chiffchaffs are singing in the sunshine this morning.High Tide: 07:46 7.1mOpenin
30 March 2019
Chiffchaff singing
It definitely feels more like spring now, although there is still a cool breeze at times. Chiffchaffs are now singing in the Peter Scott Trail and Saltcot Loaning, birds are collecting nesting material and we are keeping a keen eye on our Osprey nest came
27 March 2019
Flowers bloom
The sun is shining, flowers are beginning to bloom and the birds are singing; it finally feels more like spring is on the way!Whooper Swan numbers have dropped below 100 today, with some feeding off the reserve still. They will only be here for another fe
23 March 2019
Tracks and Signs
Well one good thing about all the recent rains and the accompanying mud, we get to test out our tracks and signs knowledge! The Loaning is very good at the mo for footprints in the mud which is where this one came from. Any guesses? This footprint belon
20 March 2019