Some Sand Martins hawking over The Folly Pond just now and our first singing Willow Warbler near The Peter Scott Observatory this morning. There are just a few Whooper Swans remaining (four first thing, eleven yesterday; the formal swan feeds are finishe
3 April 2017
After a few days of awful weather it finally brightened up this afternoon and the weekends forecast isn't looking too bad either! Some nice birds about today, the best of the action being at the avenue tower. A single flock of 2750 Golden Plover are usin
31 March 2017
The weather has been glorious over the last few days, it's a shame the same can't be said about today. However with it, the good weather brought a range of spring migrants and the reserve is always changing at this time of year. Our first Wheatear of the
29 March 2017
Another fine spring day. Perhaps this our sunshine ration for the year...! Whooper Swans are largely away now; 19 at the 11:00 feed today, with a further 60 or so preferring a grass diet in fields at Ruthwell. Still plenty of Barnacle Geese to find, mostl
26 March 2017
Lovely spring morning with the sun shining, birds singing and primroses blooming, what's not to like! The drake Garganey has returned to the Folly Pond and is dozing in the sunshine. Best viewed from the Folly Pond hide as unfortunately the Farmhouse
24 March 2017
It looks like yesterdays bad weather has passed through and the forecast is looking really good for this afternoon and the next few days. There has been a lot of Whooper Swan movement country wide over the last few days, we had a departure of birds overn
23 March 2017
Cold and wet first thing, now much brighter and more spring-like. Our single Garganey has apparently moved off... or is hiding. No new migrants to report so far though a Chiffchaff was singing briefly yesterday from The Teal Pond Hide. 6000 Barnacle and o
20 March 2017
It's dry so far and feeling quite spring-like at the moment. Birds are singing, Primroses are flowering, and so are the Blackthorn bushes! Black-headed Gulls are looking for nesting sites around the Flood Ground, some of them look like they could use our
18 March 2017
A solitary drake Garganey returned to the Folly Pond yesterday afternoon and has been sighted once again this morning, this time using the borrow pit in Corner Field. It is best viewed from the top floor of the Peter Scott Observatory or the small green
16 March 2017
After the excitement of the early Garganey at the weekend, we're back to normal today. There is no sign today so far of the 7 which graced the reserve yesterday... A shame as 7 constitute a record at one site for Dumfries & Galloway, as well being un
13 March 2017
Exciting start to the morning with four Garganey (two pairs) observed on the Folly Pond. Good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Redshank also, so a good place to have a look if you are popping in today! Todays high tide is at 08:38, 7.8m Around the
11 March 2017
Drake Goosander is back on the Flood Ground this morning, where he is joined by a growing number of very noisy Black-headed Gulls! Down the Avenue there were close views of Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper and Goldcrest feeding along the hawthorn trees. S
8 March 2017
Bright sunny and mild today - what's going on?! Whooper Swan numbers today reflect the spring feel, with just 93 at the 11:00 feed. Over 100 feeding just off the reserve though, split between three different sites. Duck nos. appear to have dropped off a
6 March 2017
A drizzly start to the day, and the birds are making the most of the flooded fields rather than the ponds! We have started to see more Brown Hares around the reserve lately, and it is feeling a bit more spring-like with Yellowhammers singing opposite the
3 March 2017
The Folly Pond is still a busy place this morning with large numbers of ducks and waders pushed back from the recent high tides. It was another good afternoon down at Saltcot Merse Observatory with two hen harriers seen yesterday, a male and a ringtail.
2 March 2017