Monday 16th September 2024 - WWT Slimbridge.

 

This week the 3 Amigos settled for a Monday, day out, unusual I know, but it was the only day the three of us could make and the 1^st time this month we have been out together. Slimbridge was chosen as lots of passage waders had been reported which gave us a chance of a year tick. Driving over Lansdown a Red Kite flew over the car but as I was in the back I missed it, but I did see 2 Pheasants that the 2 in the front missed and we all spotted a field full of Rooks and Woodpigeon in flight. Walking from the car park to the reception area we noted Robin, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Moorhen and Collared Dove. Once in the grounds we headed for the Peng Observatory and on the way noted some of the feral Greylag Geese loads were seen during the day, we also saw a Grey Wagtail on the café roof. The observatory overlooks a large area of open water with many small islands along with areas of grass and is on 2 levels the higher level in front and the lower level to our left. Lapwing, Black Tailed Godwit, Snipe, Greenshank and Redshank were all seen these being wader species. 

Lapwing (Bath Birdwatcher)

Also seen were the following ducks Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler. 

Teal (Bath Birdwatcher)

Shoveler (Bath Birdwatcher)

David spotted a few House Martins circling high over the water. Moving on adding just a Jackdaw to our list we arrived at the Willow Hide and here we added Great and Blue Tits on the feeders, and from the Knott Hide Little Egret and Grey Heron. 

Little Egret (Bath Birdwatcher)

We walked the summer walkway and in the field to the right of the tower hide were several Canada Geese, a Buzzard flew over, the only one we saw all day, and in the same field as the Canadas were lots of Meadow Pipits maybe 20+, A few Swallows were flying over the estuary and a Magpie was seen on the riverbank. From the lookout by the Shepherds hut we added Carrion Crow, Starling, Lesser Black Back and Great Black Back Gulls plus Shelduck. While we were scanning around we had a fence to our left leading towards the river and noticed birds flying up from the ground and then back up to the fencing or fence posts, it was a little too far for the binoculars to identify them so we put the telescope on them , we were sure one was a Wheatear and the second a male Stonechat and we felt a third bird  was a Whinchat  we weren’t  100% sure so we moved closer where we were able to confirm the identify, a year tick for Bryan and me. 

Whinchat (Bath Birdwatcher)

Herring Gulls were on the estuary where Bryan found a single Curlew. Lunch was calling, well my stomach said it was. On the way back we saw a Cetti’s Warbler high in a bush by the willow hide in full view, a view you seldom get of this reclusive bird, and a Pied Wagtail on the toilet block in the car park.  After lunch which we had in the car we were in the centre where a guy who we had chatted to earlier told us that a wading bird that we had been told of earlier was on site was viewable from the South Hide, so we made our way there only to be told that it had flown away and had probably moved over to the Zeiss Hide. But while here we spotted Ruff, Avocet, Egyptian Goose, Cormorant, Tufted Duck and Pochard. 

Avocet (Bath Birdwatcher)

Next port of call was Zeiss and as soon as we arrived we were told the bird we had been chasing was showing and Lucy had it in her telescope a Pectoral Sandpiper a North American bird that fairly regularly finds its way to this side of the Atlantic and a bird we have seen a few times before but not for several years, so a year tick for the three of us. A Green Sandpiper and a Great White Egret were the last new sightings for the day seen here but, on the way home I managed to catch up with the Red Kite.