Once again

Once again I find myself heading off to Dumfries and Galloway for a bit of wildlife watching.
It seems this area has an abundance of goodies to share with anyone interested in wildlife, and you don't have to go it alone, there's a great programme of events to take you through the Autumn months.
On this particular early morning outing I was heading off to Caerlaverock to see the Geese come up of the Merse as the sun rises. There must have been a few bitten finger ends because, with the gale force winds we've been having, all blowing from the south the numbers of migrants were seriously down. 
Then on the Wednesday  we had winds from the North East and many of those waiting birds arrived.
About a dozen of us met up at the visitor centre before walking down the Avenue towards the Saltcote Tower and then out onto the Merse, an area not normally open to visitors.
As the sun rose so did the geese, hundreds of them from every direction, heading for the fields around Caerlaverock to feed for the day. 
As well as a sight for the eye's it's also a feast for the ears, as those powerful wings beat the air and that mournful, or joyful honking surrounds you. Then it was over and we headed back for tea and bacon sandwiches, both excellent.

 Some Whooper Swans fly past

After breakfast there was time to check out the reserve ponds.

Dabchick

This Mute Swan looks to be enjoying its bath

I went onto Dumfries to check out the River Nith for Goosanders, I love watching these little birds dive head first into a raging torrent. Still haven't managed one with a fish yet but maybe next time.

12 02 11

A few shots from Caerlaverock WWT reserve in Dumfries and Galloway.

Unlike other WWT reserves there are no captive birds at Caerlaverock and in winter they get huge flocks of Barnacle Geese and Whooper Swans.

Amazing to see them flying around the site and the noise of their wings is like music.
The honking, and there's a lot of honking, is not musical at all.
The swans are fed three times a day and know exactly when to arrive for food, you can see them fly in and land with a great splash,  the black on the beaks of the Whoopers make them look as if they're smiling, which is infectious.

Waiting to be fed

Folly Pond, Solway and LakeDistrict beyond

Splash Landing

Wild Whopper Swans flying over Caerlaverock WWT reserve

Wild Whooper Swan in close-up, most hides have windows that open but where the swans are fed, and they come in really close, you must photograph them through glass. It is kept clean.

Blue sky and Whooper Swans

Widgeon

Lots of various ducks, Curlew, Lapwing, Peregrine, Yellowhammers, Reed Bunting, deer and of course Geese about on the site at this time of the year.

The Caerlaverock website does list what's been seen on site on a regular basis although obviously these are wild birds so come and go.

all photographs used in this Blog are copyright of Joan Thirlaway and cannot be used without written permission