Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve

En route to wonderful Higham Hall for a few days of walking and yoga I stopped off at this wildfowl reserve. It’s a fast expanse of mudflats and salt marsh, merse as it’s called in these parts, providing a winter feast for water birds.

I hoped to find at least one teal on the teal pond, it was not to be, but just as I was about to leave I spotted this one on of the other lochans.

Several little egrets and a very large number of active badger setts, apparently the small cubs are already exploring above ground during daylight hours.