This week
David and Tony, unfortunately no Bryan, made a trip to Slimbridge where a
Collared Pratincole had been present for a few days so we hoped it would still
be there but if not, it is always a good place for seeing lots of different
birds. You read about all the Pheasants that get
released this time of the year well it was apparent this had happened as we saw
many in the fields as well as lots in the road dead. We arrived at Slimbridge
and from the car park saw flocks of Lapwing flying
over must have been 100+. We checked with staff in the entrance if the
Pratincole was still on site, to be told it was on South Lake so that was to be
our first stop. Once in the grounds Mallard, Moorhen and Coot were soon noted and on arriving at South Lake we
were told the Pratincole had flown off 2 minutes earlier. We decided to wait to
see if it would return and while waiting, we spotted Shoveler,
Teal, Ruff, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Pochard,
Grey Heron, Black Tailed Godwit, Pied Wagtail and Little Egret. Then all
the birds took to the air in panic, and we knew a bird of prey was about and a Peregrine flew through low over the water and disappeared.
Continuing our look around we added Shelduck, and Lesser Black Back Gull. We waited for about a quarter
of an hour hoping the Pratincole would return but no joy, so we decided to move
on to Zeiss hide. On the way we passed the rookery that as its name implies was
full of Rooks, we also found Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Carrion Crown House Sparrow,
Jackdaw, Long Tailed Tit, male Blackcap and
a Wren. Once in the hide we noted lots of Canada Geese and also a Marsh Harrier on a kill. A Curlew flew over and a small flock of Snipe flew up the pond.
 |
| Snipe - Bath Birdwatcher |
On the water's edge was a few Dunlin and a flock of Wigeon were
at the bottom end of the pond. David then spotted this strange swallow like
bird weaving about the sky it was the Collared
Pratincole and to see it feeding was very special but only 3 of us saw
it everyone else in the hide were looking elsewhere. |
| Collared Pratincole - Bath Birdwatcher |
Starling
and Mute Swan were the last sightings
here and as it was coming up to lunch time, we decided to go back to South Lake
to see if the Pratincole had returned and yes it was on a small island in the
wader scrape but with its back towards us and also, we were looking towards the
sunshine making it extremely difficult to make out any detail. As we walked
back to the center after lunch a pair of Collared Doves were
on the roof. Back inside we headed for Peng but here it was so quiet we think
they had been doing work in the morning hence the lack of birds, we did however
manage to spot an Avocet, Grey Wagtail, Redshank, Kingfisher
and a Gadwall, while David noticed a Kestrel hovering in the distance. |
| Avocet - Bath Birdwatcher |
In the Robbie Garnet
hide we added 4 Spotted Redshank, for us a great
sighting as when we see them, they are usually single birds. Last stop was the
Tower Hide where 14 Crane were out in the
estuary on a mud bank along with a large flock of Golden
Plover. The long staying Ross’s Goose was
with the goose flock and also seen was a Great White
Egret and a Great Black Back Gull. Time
to go but not the end of the days sightings with Great
Tit seen as we walked back to the car and Redwing
flying over the car park. Driving back to Bath we added Common Gull in a field and at Dyrham 3 Red Kites. These were our last new sightings of the
day giving us 56 sightings, 1 being a lifer (a bird I have never seen before).
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