Editing WWT Caerlaverock

{{short description|Wetland nature reserve in southwest Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{coord|54.984|-3.500|display=title|region:GB_scale:20000}}
'''WWT Caerlaverock''' is [[wetland]] [[nature reserve]] in southwest [[Scotland]], one of ten reserves in Britain operated by the [[Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust]]<ref name = visit>{{cite web | url = https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres | title = Visit a Wetland Centre | accessdate = 17 March 2020 | publisher = Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust}}</ref> founded by Sir [[Peter Scott]].<ref name = WWTH>{{cite web | url = https://www.wwt.org.uk/who-we-are/our-history | title = Our History | accessdate = 17 March 2020 | publisher = Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust}}</ref>
[[File:WWT Caerlaverock - geograph.org.uk - 149062.jpg|thumb|WWT Caerlaverock]]
It covers a {{convert|587|ha|acres}} site at Eastpark Farm, on the north shore of the [[Solway Firth]] to the south of [[Dumfries]]. It is a wild nature reserve with a network of screened approaches and several observation towers. There is a visitor centre.<ref name = VS>{{cite web | url = https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/wwt-caerlaverock-wetland-centre-p251901 | title = WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre | accessdate = 17 March 2020 | publisher = Visit Scotland}}</ref> The site received 16,105 visitors in 2019.<ref name="ALVA 2019 visitor numbers">{{cite web |title=ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions |url=https://www.alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=423 |website=www.alva.org.uk |accessdate=18 November 2020}}</ref>

Caerlaverock is home to one of only two UK populations of the "living fossil" ''[[Triops cancriformis]]'', the horseshoe shrimp.<ref name = guardian>{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/jul/29/rare-tadpole-shrimps-found-scotland | title = World's most ancient creatures found in Scottish field | accessdate = 17 March 2020 | date = 29 July 2010 | author = Ian Sample | publisher = The Guardian}}</ref> It is also home to the UK's most northerly population of the [[natterjack toad]].<ref name = kvg>{{cite web | url = https://kingfishervisitorguides.com/dumfries-galloway/wwt-caerlaverock/ | title= WWT Caerlaverock | date= 15 November 2019 | accessdate = 17 March 2020 | publisher = Kingfisher Visitor Guides}}</ref>

Almost the entire [[Svalbard]] population of [[barnacle goose]] overwinters in the Solway Firth area, with many of the birds often at Caerlaverock for part or all of the winter; their protection by the reserve has enabled the population to recover from just 500 birds in the 1940s, to over 25,000 now.
<ref name = BoS>{{Cite book|title=The birds of Scotland|date=2007|publisher=Scottish Ornithologists' Club|last=Forrester|first=Ronald W.|last2=Andrews|first2=I. J.|last3=McInerny|first3=Christopher J.|last4=Scott|first4=Harry I.|isbn=978-0-9512139-0-2|location=Aberlady|oclc=191752207}}</ref> In 2016 the peak count on the reserve was 15,980 in October. Other high counts of wildfowl that year included 221 [[whooper swan]], 2,457 [[Northern pintail]], 3,000 [[Eurasian teal]], 1,230 [[Eurasian wigeon]] and 150 [[greater scaup]]. These numbers attract raptors such as [[peregrine falcon]], [[common buzzard]] and [[hen harrier]]. [[Vagrancy (biology)|Vagrant]] birds recorded on the reserve include [[common crane]], [[long-billed dowitcher]], [[red-breasted goose]], [[snow goose]], [[ring-necked duck]] and [[white-tailed plover]].<ref name = SOC>{{Cite web|title=Online Scottish Bird Report|url=https://www.the-soc.org.uk/about-us/online-scottish-bird-report|website=Scottish Ornithologists' Club|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>

In January 2002, a new education centre was officially opened by [[Harald V of Norway|King Harald V of Norway]].<ref name = ORS>{{cite web | url = https://www.ournorwegianstory.com/story-related-to/the-royal-visit/ | title = The Royal Visit | accessdate = 17 March 2020 | publisher =  Dumfries’ Norwegian Story}}</ref>

A pair of [[osprey]]s have nested on the reserve since 2005. Their nest can be observed by webcam through the reserve's web-site during the day in the nesting season (April–August).<ref name = Ospreys>{{cite web | url = https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/experience/ospreys/# | title = Ospreys | accessdate = 17 March 2020 | publisher = Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust}}</ref> At other times the webcam shows the whooper pond or a [[Western barn owl|barn owl]] nest.<ref name = DOWTK>{{cite web | url = https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/attractions/wwt-caerlaverock-wetland-centre-a5920ff1 | title = WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre | accessdate = 17 March 2020 | publisher = Day Out With The Kids}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Wetlands}}
* [[Caerlaverock Castle]]
* [[Caerlaverock NNR]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/caerlaverock/ WWT Caerlaverock website]

{{Wetlands}}
{{Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust}}
[[Category:Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust centres|Caerlaverock]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in Scotland]]
[[Category:Nature centres in Scotland]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Dumfries and Galloway]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Dumfries and Galloway]]