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.

Caerlaverock

Metcheck was showing good weather to the west of Gilsland, and rain to the east so it was an easy decision to head to Caerlaverock.
TT came with me, he hasn't been during the winter months so hasn't seen the mass of swans and geese that overwinter on the Solway coast.
We arrived just in time for the 11am feed, I have no idea how swans tell time but they obviously do because with a few minutes to the hour they start arriving at the feeding point.

Whooper Swans and Mute Swans gathering to be fed

Wouldn't this be a great jigsaw puzzle?

When the wheat is cast there's a boiling of the waters until it's a mass of swan bodies and you can see where the expression 'pecking order' comes from.

Fancy seeing you here.

There's a hide overlooking the feeding area, the windows don't open so while the swans can see people behind the glass they don't appear to feel threatened. You get great close up views of the birds and the staff seem to keep the glass of the hide clean so it's easy to get photographs.

Eventually the food is all eaten, the smaller ducks wade in for their share and all is tranquil until the next feeding time comes around.

Whooper Swans and Tufted Ducks, calm after the feeding frenzy

Lots of other ducks and birds to see and this has been a great year for unusual, even rare birds at Caerlaverock, if you check the site news you'll be able to see what you might find when you visit.

Tufted duck has a 'bad hair' day in the windy weather

Swans and Geese should be around for another month.

I can't describe the sound of 6,000 geese taking off it's magical and something not to be missed.

All photographs used in this blog are copyright of Joan Thirlaway and cannot be used without written permission.