Sightings - Slimbridge
A thaw and some visible migration
Ice is melting slowly and a few waders and Ducks returning to the fields and scrapes. There was some steady visible migration this morning with several flocks totalling 240 Redwing and 80 Fieldfare. Zeiss Hide and South Finger Wigeon 2000 in a dense flock
3 December 2016
Marsh Harrier
Temperatures slowly increasing but most of the reserve still frozen so rather quiet with the bulk of activity around the open water of the Rushy and South Lake and distantly on the estuary. Flocks of waders and Wigeon starting to return to the scrapes an
2 December 2016
Colder still?
A very cold morning with even more ice around, drastically reducing the number of birds on show as many have made their way out to the river as the only unfrozen area nearby. Rushy Hide & Peng Observatory A total of 75 Bewick's Swans this morning inc
1 December 2016
Today's sightings
Rushy Hide & Peng Observatory A total of 87 Bewick's Swans this morning after a few left early on. Many are staying for the morning feed, heading out to graze and then coming back for the afternoon feed at 4pm. Why not join us and see these amazin
28 November 2016
More in overnight
We've had more arrivals over night, not least with the Bewick's Swans who are up to at least 90 birds now on site, including a few more familiar faces and a some new birds making their first visit to us. And its not just bird arriving, the skies are fil
27 November 2016
Lapland Bunting showing well and a Great White Egret
Rushy More arrivals of Bewick's Swans with at least 84 onsite this morning. Teal 247 Ring Necked Duck hybrid 1 female Ferruginous Duck hybrid 1 male. Holden Tower Lapland Bunting 1 male showing well from 08.00-10.30 at least. Feeding on right hand side of
26 November 2016
A bright and busy day
Its a glorious sunny morning here over the reserve, and the birds are equally delightful too. Star bird of the morning is a Lapland Bunting seen foraging amongst the wader flock around the edge of the scrape on The Dumbles. The bird was last seen shor
25 November 2016
Eyes to the skies
We're seeing a steady passage of Redwing and Fieldfare this morning with several hundred of each over head as flocks move through. There are also a few Chaffinch on the move, and even a few Meadow Pipit so listen out for birds flying overhead. South la
23 November 2016
Water levels rising
Not surprisingly the water levels have risen after the day of heavy rain. Rushy Pen At least 29 Bewick's Swans were at the 8am feed along with the ever increasing duck flocks and Greylag Geese. Holden Tower Chiffchaff and Fieldfare in the bushes, Mistle a
22 November 2016
Rain all day but it didn't stop play
Rushy Pen The two Whooper Swans roosted and remained to feed, they flew off together and hadn't returned by 4pm. At least 38 Bewick's Swans were also at the roost as well as 45 Pintail and 60 Pochard. Tack Piece Tractor topping this afternoon revealed a J
21 November 2016
Three swans species
Rushy Pen Two Whooper Swan flew in late afternoon to join the Bewick's Swan flock (38 at roost this morning) and two Mute Swans. The latter pair are being slightly aggressive toward the newcomers. It is a great opportunity to compare and learn the differe
20 November 2016
Little Stint and Spotted Redshank.
Holden Tower Hard frost this morning so thawing slowly Good mixed flock of Geese, several hundred each of Barnacle, Canada and Greylag. Whitefronted Goose 38 mixed with above. Golden Plover 300 Lapwing 350 Dunlin 50 Peregrine 2 Fieldfare 20 Redwing 12 Ree
19 November 2016
Bright weather and a high tide.
Holden Tower The high tide just about came over the northern edge of the Dumbles so a great opportunity for some counts. Whitefronted Goose 38 showing well in the Tack Piece Canada Goose 640 a massive count for here, not everybody's favourite but they are
16 November 2016
Super moon, great tides
Lapwing, Dunlin and a Ruff Very high tides and ever increasing wader and wildfowl numbers hint at the spectacle to come. The Dumbles and Top New Piece are particularly busy with birds. A visit to the Zeiss Hide and Holden Tower was very rewarding. Rushy
15 November 2016
Low tide counts
Three sectors were covered today on the monthly Low Tide Counts and what a difference in numbers compared to last Sunday. At least 5 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron, 72 Pintail, 97 Curlew, Redshank and numbers of gulls of five species were recorded but the l
13 November 2016