NIK III
Well-known member
A good weather forecast between Xmas and New Year had me on the phone trying to get in to Caerlaverock WWT's own accommodation. It's said to be worth staying there just to see them feeding the badgers every night. No chance though ringing the day before, but I did get B&B at a small hotel 15mins drive from the Centre. Two mornings later I was sat in the early morning sunshine looking out at the Solway Firth. Everything had a bit of a pink glow. Mudflats at the edge of the river Nith had Herons, Shelduck, Redshank and a Green Sandpiper. Herring Gulls were dotted about here and there, and small skeins of Barnacle Geese and Whoopers passed overhead. On my way to the Centre I came across a field with thousands of Barnacles. When I got out of the car I expected them to take flight. A severe case of the munches had them concentrating on feeding though, and they just shuffled nearer and nearer. Every now and again a thousand or more would lift and move to a different part of the field. It was quite a sight, and sound with them all making their barking calls. I could hear the Whooper Swans calling as I pulled into the Centre car park. A heated observatory looks onto a pond giving very close views of the birds. Some were in family groups of 2 adults with 3 or 4 first winter young. Two had GPS satellite tracking devices attached. Also here were Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Ducks, and Moorhen. It was a bit zooish but none were captive birds. There are several observation towers, the furthest about 800yds from the car park. From the top of this tower I could see a large flock of Barnacle Geese about 200yds away. Occasionally they would lift giving spectacular views of a large flock in the air. Other skeins came in to join them passing close to the tower. It was a bit like being in the air with them. In the trees and bushes were Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and Treecreepers, together with many of our garden birds. There were lots of other hides but very little to see from them, a Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, but mainly empty fields. Late in the afternoon Whoopers come to roost at another pond. They cruise in low, and were quite a sight in the late afternoon sunshine. What a din they make when they all get together at the roost.
The following day I went to Mersehead. It's a very picturesque reserve on the shore on the Solway Firth with views south to the Lake District, and hills to the north. Here I just meandered about soaking up the views. I saw a few interesting birds including a couple of Buzzards sharing some carrion with a Crow. A Little Egret did a fly by. A few skeins of Barnacles came across the blue sky. I took the beach trail and didn't see one seabird, but it was a nice walk. I would have liked to visit Ken-Dee Marshes RSPB and the nearby Red Kite feeding station but didn't manage it. Something to look forward to next time.
Pics 1-5 Whoopers & Barnacles at Caerlaverock
Pics 6-10 Caerlaverock WWT
Pics 11-15 Mersehead RSPB
The following day I went to Mersehead. It's a very picturesque reserve on the shore on the Solway Firth with views south to the Lake District, and hills to the north. Here I just meandered about soaking up the views. I saw a few interesting birds including a couple of Buzzards sharing some carrion with a Crow. A Little Egret did a fly by. A few skeins of Barnacles came across the blue sky. I took the beach trail and didn't see one seabird, but it was a nice walk. I would have liked to visit Ken-Dee Marshes RSPB and the nearby Red Kite feeding station but didn't manage it. Something to look forward to next time.
Pics 1-5 Whoopers & Barnacles at Caerlaverock
Pics 6-10 Caerlaverock WWT
Pics 11-15 Mersehead RSPB
