Sightings - Slimbridge
A little rain at last
A little rain has already brought the levels up in the Top and Bottom New Piece fields at the south end of the reserve. This has brought large flocks of Wigeon and Teal to feed. Rushy Bewicks Swan 32 Pintal 35 Pochard 20 Buzzard Holden Tower Whitefronted
12 November 2016
Happy Birthday!
Today is the 70th Anniversary of the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust. The sun is shining, the birds are busy feeding in front of all the hides so what better day to come down and celebrate with us? Bewick's Swan numbers have increased too, we're up to 26
10 November 2016
An overnight downpour
You may have noticed that last night was rather wet and not a great night for birds to migrate, so we've no obvious new arrivals this morning. The rain has topped up many of the pools and scrapes across the reserve, so we've now got thousands of ducks a
9 November 2016
Peregrine strike
One of the adult Peregrines gave the few earlybirds in the Holden Tower a very close encounter this morning, it took a drake Wigeon in flight over the hide and dropped into the Tack Piece nearby. It was unable to feed on its kill as two Buzzard and 2 C
7 November 2016
A couple more Bewick's Swans
A cold night resulted in frozen water on the shallow scrapes, it thawed rapidly to allow the birds back on. Rushy Pen Another two Bewick's Swans arrived this morning and joined the pair (Tool and Times) with cygnet. The duck numbers continue to build as t
6 November 2016
Another three Egret day
Egrets staring again this morning but also a high-ish tide this morning and wader flocks very mobile so difficult to get total counts but at least 47 Knot is a pretty good count for November. Rushy Great White Egret flew south over the Rushy at 08.00 thi
5 November 2016
Unforecast rain
A bit wet this morning with bands of light rain moving through, not what the forecast had in store. Its not dampened the bird activity though with the high tide pushed lots of birds on to the Zeiss Hide including several hundred waders and the White-fro
4 November 2016
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Cattle Egrets- the six arrived on South Lake by 3pm yesterday and left the roost at 0825am today. South Lake 95 Black-tailed Godwit, 36 Lapwing, 12 Redshank, 3 Ruff and Grey Heron. Holden Tower 7 Fieldfare, 2 Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, Sparr
2 November 2016
Another misty dawn
The worst of the fog cleared off a bit earlier than yesterday allowing a view to the Severn estuary. Siberian Chiffchaff- not heard or seen during a search this morning at least, one Common Chiffchaff calling near Knott Hide. Cattle Egrets- six came in t
1 November 2016
A very still day
This mornings Birdwatch event (0800-1030hrs) went very well, very calm, still (if a little misty first thing) conditions made is easier to locate and watch species such as Goldcrest and Cetti's Warbler. Most of the birds of the reserve were seen during th
30 October 2016
Cattle Egrets and a big Wigeon count
Highlights A gloomy morning but the 6 Cattle Egret and 2 Little's shone out roosting in the Duck Decoy and were watched on the South Lake until 08.40. Best views through the day in the field opposite Slimbridge school. A large flock of 1420 Wigeon in fr
29 October 2016
Egrets bring a plus 1
Early opening this morning at 7:30am to see the Cattle Egret at roost, but the birds didn't arrive until just before 8am so they must be roosting elsewhere on site and then arriving at the South Lake for a bit of a stretch and freshen up before heading ou
28 October 2016
A nice wader day
The Cattle Egrets roosted again last night on the South Lake and then flew out to the fields opposite the Primary School in Slimbridge village by 8:30am. We've also seen a nice selection of waders on the pools and scrapes today, including a Little Stint
27 October 2016
A 3 Egret Day!
The clock hadn't even struck 8:30am and staff and volunteers had clocked up all three species of egret on site! The 5 Cattle Egret from yesterday were found on South Lake first thing with a Little Egret, which left at 8:04am and flew towards the canal.
26 October 2016
More White-fronts
Most of the White-fronted Geese have taken to feeding with the Wigeon on the Bottom New Piece, giving good views from the Kingfisher Hide. Duck numbers are slowly creeping up on the Rushy now our feeding as started. Kingfisher Hide We've got a la
24 October 2016