Tuesday 19th March 2024 - Slimbridge

 

This Tuesday we paid our 1st visit of the year to Slimbridge but only myself and David as Bryan was otherwise engaged, and what a day, we had 60+ sightings with 12 year ticks. On the drive to Slimbridge we saw 2 flocks of Golden Plover totaling in excess of 250 birds quite a total for this time of the year as they had all disappeared from Slimbridge a week or more ago. We also found Pheasant and Rook but as it turned out we also saw them at Slimbridge. Starling was the only other sighting that we didn’t see later in the day. One in the grounds at Slimbridge Moorhen, Mallard and Greylag Goose were soon seen. 1st stop was Peng and here Shelduck, Mute Swan and Tufted Duck were soon logged as was out 1st year tick Whooper Swan 2 have been here for several months.

Whooper Swan - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

 We also found Pochard and Teal. Next was 3 more year ticks Avocet, Black Tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher, also seen were Pintail before we moved to overlook the bottom pond and here a Red Kite flew by and a Redshank plus a Spotted Redshank were feeding close together 2 more ticks, along with our 1st Gadwall of the day. 

Avocet - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

Next stop Martin Smith hide and walking there we ticked Great Tit, Goldfinch, Robin and Collared Dove. In the hide our day list was swelled with Curlew and Barnacle Goose both year ticks, plus Shoveler, Marsh Harrier, Fieldfare, Jackdaw, Little Egret, Magpie, and Wigeon all seen. On to our next stop, adding Lesser Black Back Gull,  to the Willow Hide and here we saw Dunnock, Wren, House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Chaffinch, and while walking to the Estuary Tower we spotted a singing Chiffchaff above our heads. From the Tower more day ticks with Canada Goose, Lapwing, Skylark, Goldeneye and Cormorant plus 2 more year ticks White Fronted Goose and Spoonbill. Time for lunch but before leaving just time to add 2 Herring Gulls. On the way back to the car we popped into Robbie Garnett as we were told a Ruff had been seen there, another year tick. 

Ruff - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

During lunch we added Pied Wagtail and Carrion Crow. Back in the grounds nothing extra from South or Hogarth Hides but we did add Blackbird and flyover Peregrine and Buzzard. Again nothing new from Zeiss so last stop Kingfisher Hide and here it lived up 2 its name as a female Kingfisher was seen and also 2 Snipe. 

Kingfisher (f) - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

Time to leave and on the way back we met a guy we knew that we had seen earlier in the day and we had discussed a sleeping Swan we had seen but could not identify but it did wake up before he left and could confirm it was a Bewick’s Swan another year tick and finally Feral Pigeons were added as we left.

Robin - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

Whooper Swan - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

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