Rare White-tailed Plover at Caerlaverock

June 2007. Staff at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) were astounded when an extremely rare White-tailed Plover was spotted on the reserve at the Caerlaverock wetland centre.

This is the first ever recorded sighting of the species in Scotland and only the fourth time it has been seen in the UK. News of the sighting at Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire has spread fast as bird enthusiasts from all over the country have been flocking to the centre today to get a glimpse of this rare species.

White-tailed Plover are extremely rare in the UK. After spending the winter in South Asia, North Africa and the Middle East they migrate to Iraq, Iran and South Russia where they breed. Brian Morrell, Learning Manager at WWT Caerlaverock, said: ‘We have all been very excited by this extremely rare sighting as this is a first for Scotland and the first time there has been a good sighting in the UK since 1975 when it was spotted in Warwickshire. Since then the bird was spotted in 1979 in Sussex and in 1984 in Shropshire and Durham although it was thought that this was the same bird. These other sightings were so brief that most birdwatchers didn’t get a chance to see it. It is a mystery why this bird is in Scotland, it is extremely rare to even see it in Western Europe as they should currently be in the Middle East. It is thought that they are beginning to move further west - there has been also been suspected breeding records in Turkey.’

Click here for more about Caerlaverock, and how to visit.

Ospreys at Caerlaverock
June 2007. A pair of Ospreys have built a fine nest at Caerlaverock which can be seen on a large screen via CCTV at the centre. They have not laid eggs and it is now probably too late forthem to breed this year however it bodes well for 2008.

Latest information
For the latest information on Caerlaverock, call 01387 770200 or email info.caerlaverock@wwt.org.uk