Go on a wild goose chase at Caerlaverock
barnacle geese
See one of Scotland’s great wildlife spectacles – the flocks of wintering wild geese and swans – at two wonderful reserves on the Solway Firth.
The Solway Firth is one of the most important places for wintering and migratory birds, not just in Scotland, but in Europe. Over 40,000 wildfowl and 83,000 waders spend each winter along the long coastline of the Solway Firth.
Two places to see birds and other wildlife are Caerlaverock Wetland Centre and the nearby Mersehead RSPB Reserve. These wonderful reserves are great places to see the wintering flocks of barnacle geese and whooper swans - one of Scotland’s great wildlife spectacles.
Thousands of black and white barnacle geese that nest on Svalbard in the Arctic spend the winter on the saltmarshes of the Solway. Witness the unforgettable spectacle of their dawn and dusk flights between October and April.
Another quite beautiful sight and sound is that of the wintering whooper swans. You can enjoy the spell-binding experience of getting close to hundreds of these rarely approachable creatures at the twice-daily wild swan feeds, conducted by the reserve wardens at Caerlaverock.
You can watch this from the comfort of the Peter Scott Observatory, and also get great views of other wildfowl from a number of towers and hides on the reserve.
In summer, stroll along one of the nature trails at Mersehead to find birds, butterflies and wild flowers, while at Caerlaverock you can even see nesting ospreys on CCTV. A pair first bred in 2006 and they have returned every year since.
Another star of the reserve is the natterjack toad - the rarest amphibian in Britain. From May to September, ask a warden if they can show you one of these nocturnal creatures as they rest up for the day.
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