Tuesday 21st January 2025 - WWT Slimbridge

 


Whooper Swan - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

It’s always great to get the year off to a good start and after a very successful day out on Sunday we decided to visit Slimbridge as we knew there were several species that would be year ticks for us. Even before we got to Slimbridge we saw Buzzard, Pheasant and Collared Dove, and driving down the road to the centre a flock of at least 10 Cattle Egrets were in a field by the sharp double bends. Once in the car park we started to pick up species flying over such as a huge flock of Lapwing numbering several 100 at a guess. Walking to the entrance a Robin was singing in a bush with a Goldfinch in another, also flying over were several very noisy Greylag Geese. Once in the grounds we headed for the Peng Observatory adding Jackdaw and Dunlin who were flying with another large flock of Lapwings. From Peng we overlook the Rushy which was full of birds including Black Headed Gull. Golden Plover, Wood Pigeon, Mute Swan and a Black Swan that we had been told in the reception area that it was about. Also here were Shelduck, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Plus 2 Whooper Swans that was one of our target species.

Whooper Swan - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

Bewick’s Swans were expected, and lots were seen here, also seen were Coot, Pochard, Moorhen, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Redshank and Curlew and from Rushy Hide we added Mallard, Herring Gull and Starling. Next stop Martin Smith Hide here we found (well David found) several Ruff, Shoveler, Magpie, Carrion Crow, also another of our target species a Spoonbill. Next stop the Willow Hide where we were hoping to find Water Rail, but they did not show on this occasion, but we did see Great Tit and Dunnock that were new for the day. Last stop for the morning was the Tower Hide and here we found the expected Barnacle Geese, Lesser and Great Black Back Gulls and 4 Cranes another target species.

Cranes - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

While scoping the Barnacles I found the Ross’s Goose that no one knows where it came from but has been a resident for years. A Blackbird flew in front of the hide as did a Marsh Harrier. Time to get back to the car for lunch and on the way we looked in at the Willow Hide still no Water Rail be we did see Chaffinch and House Sparrow. After lunch we headed for the South Lake, Grey Heron being our 1st new sighting of the afternoon soon followed by Gadwall, Cormorant, Avocet and Black Tailed Godwit. Nothing else here so we headed for Zeiss hide and on the way I spotted a Chiffchaff fly catching. From Zeiss someone spotted a Water Rail running between the reed beds and a Sparrowhawk flew by. Next stop Kingfisher Hide, we did find a flock of Long Tailed Tits on the way. From Kingfisher we noted Little Grebe and a Little Egret, and David caught up with the Water Rail he missed at Zeiss. A Kestrel flew onto the top of a tree.

Kestrel - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

This proved to be the last sighting here but driving back home we added Common Gulls giving us a day total of 63 species 18 of which were year ticks.

Greylag Goose - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)






 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saturday 11th November 2023 - Newton St Loe.

Image
  NSL Boathouse with the lonely Mute Swan - Bath Birdwatcher When we woke up on Saturday it was such a beautiful day we decided to go for a walk at Newton St Loe as we have not visited since the 26 th of October and we were interested not only in the bird life but the autumn colour’s of the trees. We arrived parking as usual by the church where in the field beyond the church we found our first sightings Magpie, Jackdaw and Rooks all flyover. In the hedgerow opposite the cottages were Blue Tits and Woodpigeons and Long Tailed Tits were in the trees by Ripple Effect. On the footpath were Blackbird and Robin and on reaching Butterfly Alley a Grey Heron was in the trees above the stream, and a Wren flew into the hedge to our right. The lake outlet was a real torrent over the waterfall which was expected due to the amount of rain we have had recently. Waterfall NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)  Up to the bottom lake where 2 Kingfishers were playing chase and I thought I heard a possible 3...
Read more

Sunday 19th January 2025 - Blagdon Lake

Image
  The first, Bath RSPB’s field trip of the year was a visit to Blagdon lake where Nigel Milbourne the site warden led our group of 14 members. When we arrived having seen a Red Kite on the way we were waiting for others to arrive, so I scanned the lake and found Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Moorhen and Black Headed Gull. As others arrived we all got together, and David introduced us all to Nigel and we set off to walk the length of the dam looking for an overwintering Common Sandpiper but unfortunately it didn’t show but we did find Mute Swan, Cormorant, Common Gull, Great Black Back Gull, Pied Wagtail and Herring Gull. Walking back to the cars we added flyover Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon and Starling plus our 1 st Great Crested Grebe of the day. We then drove inside the confines of the lake where we parked and from here our 1 st new bird of the day was a calling Chaffinch and on the lake in front of us were Teal, Pochard and Gadwall. We also looked at a strange duck which had caused...
Read more

Tuesday 4th March 2025 - Marshfield

Image
  A bit f a last-minute decision was to go to Marshfield for this week’s birding trip mainly as we could only spare a half day. Parking at the Bath end of Marshfield we set off towards Bond’s Lane spotting Robin, House Sparrow and Goldfinch. Crossing the A420 we set off down the lane where Jackdaw and Woodpigeon flew past and in a field to our left were 2 Ravens feeding on something unknown in the grass, they flew away and a Carrion Crow flew in taking their place. As we continued David spotted movement in a hedge to our right but looking into the sun made it difficult to identify the birds but one flew up into a bush to our right enabling up to identify it as a lovely male Yellowhammer, a year tick.  Yellowhammer - Marshfield (Bath Birdwatcher) A Dunnock flew down onto the side of the road and a flock of Rooks flew past. A Skylark was singing in the sky above us but hard to find against the blue sky but with binoculars I did find it year tick no2. A Blue Tit and a few Linnets...
Read more