More Barnacles

I always take too many photographs of Barnacle Geese! So a few more - a fabulous design source. 

Caerlaverock - Whooper rings

Finally, a sunny day! Off to Caerlaverock - plenty of Barnacle Geese, nice Teal, Shoveller and Wigeon. A Great Egret  -amazing that they have got so far north so quickly! Good to be able to make few new records for the WWT of the Whoopers that are present. (Funding isn't currently available for the continued ringing and monitoring of ringed Whoopers.)

Circulating Barnacle Geese.

Barnies in the sun!

Teal and Shoveller.

Looking across the Solway to home. 

Great Egret.

The main pond.

Plenty of Whoopers and Canada Geese.

The difference between Mute Swan and Whooper swans is apparent in their bills. The young Mute Swans beginning to get the characteristic black knobble at the top of the bill, the Whoopers with the straighter neck and greyer plumage. 

Visitors are able to record Whooper rings adding to the log of the birds that are present.

Take off....

Jelly Ear fungus ...

..and the colours of autumn in the Willow. 

Caerlaverock NNR ...merse

After visiting the WWT site we went to the adjacent NNR. We've never visited before, despite its proximity to the main bird reserve - we didn't do the full site, but the board walked circular loop through the reed bed to the bird hide and merse edge was great - just wish we'd had time ot stay until the sunset - which was dramatic! 

Criffel.

We could see our house! 

Skiddaw.

Short days. 

Caerlaverock WWT Reserve

A trip to Caerlaverock this morning - it was quite frozen up compared to this side of the Solway and with a couple of the hides being closed it was harder to get the usual close up shots of the birds - lovely lighting though and a nice explore (next blog) at the end of the day. 

Barnacle Geese.

Teal and Whooper Swans.

Teal.

Looking across to Skiddaw and the Lake District.

A photographic diversion - Ice droplets on Goose Grass. 

Plenty of Teal and Wigeon too.

Barnacle geese at Caerlaverock

After finding barnacle geese dead on the coast from avian flu, it was lovely to once again, experience the loud yapping calls, as large flocks of geese flew in and out of the fileds around Caerlaverock. 

Shovelling shovellers!

A few photographs of one of my favourite ducks - bimbling around infront of the Folly Hide at Caerlaverock. 

Caerlaverock WWT - in the sun!

A lovely morning visit to Caerlaverock - in the sunshine and frost! 

The only problem was that we had gone to sketch in the Peter Scott Hide as there is lots of space and it's warm - but as it had been cold overnight there was condensation that covered the outside of the windows so you couldn't see through them .....so no sketches ...a good day out though. 

General view ....

Dozing....

Teal....

Plenty of barnies - so good to see....

Redshank and oystercatcher....

Shoveller....

Whoopers and red willows ....

Wigeon....