With hats, gloves and wearing many layers, members of Birdwatching 1 were well prepared for the biting wind when they visited Caerlaverock Wetland Centre to see the wintering swans, geese, ducks and waders.
Much of the birdwatching was from the well-equipped hides on the reserve which look out over the different ponds. Among the ducks sighted at the first pond were widgeon, teal, shoveller, mallard and tufted ducks as well as waders such as lapwings, curlews and also barnacle and other geese. Two hen harriers flew over adding to the species list for the day of almost 40.
The highlight of the visit was to see the swan feeding time from the comfort of the Sir Peter Scott Observatory. There were over 100 whooper swans which come south to the reserve each year from Iceland as well as mute swans and barnacle geese from Svalbard. There was much pecking, shoving and splashing as they were fed!
Unfortunately the starlings seem to have had moved on to Gretna so there was no murmuration but instead from the viewpoint of the tower members saw the swans taking off from one pond and flying over and landing on another.
This most enjoyable visited ended with a welcome hot drink in the centre café.
Despite the dreich February weather members of Birdwatching 1 visited 
The Stewartry U3A bird watching group visited the hides at Threave Castle, near Castle Douglas to look for the first of the winter arrivals. A few skeins of geese were spotted as they flew south.
