Tuesday 17th December 2024 - Slimbridge

 

David and Tony today visited Slimbridge as over the weekend Whooper Swan and Little Stint had been reported. Both would have been year ticks. I didn’t start logging species until we got into the grounds and walking to the Peng Observatory Greylag Goose, Coot and Moorhen were our 1st three sightings. From the Peng lots of wildfowl were seen including Shelduck, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Bewick’s Swan, Mallard and Teal. While we were looking out something put up a huge cloud of waders including many hundreds of Lapwings and Golden Plover along with smaller numbers of Dunlin. A Carrion Crow was by the water and a Redshank was on an island on the lower pond, a Mute Swan and Canada Goose were in the duck trap and a few Pintails were scattered around the bank. A small flock of Starlings and a few Jackdaws and Rooks flew over. Moving on to Martin Smith hide Wigeon were on the bank in front of the hide.

Wigeon - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

Shoveler were also seen and on the Tack Piece were at least 10 Ruff one with a very distinctive all white head and 5 Cranes, 2 Snipe were tucked in the reeds and a Blackbird flew along the hedgerow. As we scanned out from the hide David found a Curlew and as we searched we found several more. Next stop was the Willow Hide here we added Chaffinch, Long Tailed Tit, Wren, House Sparrow, Robin, Blue Tit and Dunnock, but the bird we hoped to see Water Rail failed to show even though one had been seen minutes before we arrived. Next was the Tower Hide looking over the flood plain to the river severn here the area is usually packed with birds but today they were few and far between we did add Great Black Back Gull, Barnacle Goose and Cormorant plus a Grey Heron crouched behind a hedge a group of gulls included Herring Gulls, and a Pied Wagtail flew to one of he pools. Nothing else new was found so we decided to make our way back to the car for lunch, on the way we looked in at the Willow Hide again and this time BINGO the Water Rail was under the bird feeder. 

Water Rail - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

Also seen was a Great Tit. Walking to the car we added Woodpigeon and Collared Dove to our days list. After lunch we headed for the South Hide and here we added Black Headed Gull and one of the target species Spoonbill not a year tick but a bird always nice to see. Avocet and Black Tailed Godwit were also seen. Leaving the hide a flock of birds flew into the Alders and included Goldfinch and Siskin and in the distance a hovering Kestrel. Next Zeiss Hide and looking out I don’t think I have ever seen so few birds and certainly no new wildfowl, but we did find a Stonechat in a far hedge. Last stop was the Kingfisher Hide and here we added Gadwall, Little Grebe and Magpie. Nothing else was new was seen so we decided to call it a day and head home. On the way back we did see three more species Buzzard, Pheasant and a Red Kite.

When you see 58 species of bird in a day normally you would be ecstatic but when you fail to find 2 key species then it slightly takes the edge off the day. This is probably our last day out before Christmas so I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope you will all come back next year for more birding days out.

Lapwing - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)



 

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