WWT Caerlaverock facts for kids
WWT Caerlaverock is a special wetland nature reserve in southwest Scotland. It's one of nine reserves in Britain run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, which was started by Sir Peter Scott.
This reserve covers a huge area of 587 hectares (that's about 1,450 acres!) at Eastpark Farm. It's located on the north shore of the Solway Firth, south of Dumfries. Caerlaverock is a wild place with hidden paths and tall observation towers where you can watch animals without disturbing them. There's also a visitor centre and a place to stay at the farmhouse. In 2019, over 16,000 people visited this amazing reserve.
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Discovering Wildlife at Caerlaverock
WWT Caerlaverock is home to some truly unique creatures!
The Ancient Horseshoe Shrimp
One of the most interesting animals here is the Triops cancriformis, also known as the horseshoe shrimp. People call it a "living fossil" because it looks almost exactly like its ancestors from millions of years ago! It's one of only two places in the whole UK where you can find this special shrimp.
The Natterjack Toad
You can also find the UK's most northerly group of natterjack toads here. These toads are a bit different from other toads; they have a yellow stripe down their back and prefer to run rather than hop!
Winter Home for Barnacle Geese
Caerlaverock is super important for barnacle gooses. Almost all the barnacle geese from Svalbard (a group of islands far to the north) spend their winter here in the Solway Firth area. Many of these birds stay at Caerlaverock for part or all of the cold season. Thanks to the protection offered by the reserve, their numbers have grown a lot! In the 1940s, there were only about 500 of these geese, but now there are over 25,000! In October 2016, nearly 16,000 barnacle geese were counted at the reserve at one time.
Other Amazing Birds
Lots of other wild birds also visit Caerlaverock. In 2016, high numbers of birds included:
- 221 whooper swans
- 2,457 Northern pintail ducks
- 3,000 Eurasian teal ducks
- 1,230 Eurasian wigeon ducks
- 150 greater scaup ducks
These large groups of birds attract powerful birds of prey, like peregrine falcons, common buzzards, and hen harriers. Sometimes, rare birds that have wandered off course, called "vagrants," are also spotted here. These have included the common crane, long-billed dowitcher, red-breasted goose, snow goose, ring-necked duck, and white-tailed plover.
Osprey Nesting Site
Since 2005, a pair of ospreys have made their nest at the reserve. Ospreys are large birds of prey that mainly eat fish. You can even watch their nest live on the reserve's website through a webcam during their nesting season, which is from April to August. At other times, the webcam might show the whooper pond or a barn owl nest.
Learning and Visiting
WWT Caerlaverock is a great place to learn about nature and conservation.
The Education Centre
In January 2002, a new education centre was officially opened by King Harald V of Norway. This centre helps visitors, especially young people, learn more about the wetlands and the amazing animals that live there.
