Beautiful Frosty Morning
A kingfisher was being watched perched above the ditch on the approach to the center, this is a regular spot at the moment so always worth a check and a great way to start your day.
Rushy
Some new Bewicks Swans yesterday, 42 overnight. Lots of ice around this morning so 80 Pochard, 220 Tufted Ducks, 80 Pintail and hundreds of Mallards and Geese crammed onto the top pond. At least 1 Little Stint and often 2 pretty resident here, look carefully especially around the central muddy island.
Should be a great commentated feed at 4 pm with so many hungry birds around, the only way to end the day at Slimbridge.
Holden and Walkway
A fantastic pack of 800 Wigeon and 230 Teal close to the Robbie Garnet Hide in a hole in the ice. A peregrine was up in the tall Oaks and 3 Cranes were on the Dumbles. Excellent close views again of a Water Rail at the Willow Hide.
Zeiss and South Finger Hides.
Hard frosts here but Lapwing and Golden Plover numbers building up in the fields. The Whitefront flock numbering 44 were close to the Kingfisher Hide where 4 Reed Buntings, a Cettis Warbler and a squealing Water Rail were also showing well. Another very colorful pack of 250 Wigeon and 400 Teal close to the Van De Bovenkamp and some Fieldfare in the hedge.
South Lake
A sleeping flock of 130 Dunlin and 44 Black Tailed Godwit are waiting for the scrape to thaw and 40 Pochard, 150 Tufted Duck and 130 Teal taking advantage of the ice free water on the main lake.
