Sightings - Slimbridge
Today's sightings
Rushy Pen One common sandpiper, two oystercatchers, nine black-tailed godwits, one green sandpiper and two avocets. There was also a kingfisher perched close to the Rushy Pen hide. Holden Tower and Tack Piece From the Robbie Garnett hide there was one gre
4 July 2017
Today's sightings
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece Female/immature Marsh Harrier, hunting bird went through the flood to Bottom New Piece this morning, a Hobby also visited as did a Peregrine. On the flood the Avocets were joined by 70 Lapwing, 4 Little-ringed Plover (1 adult, 3 j
3 July 2017
Highlights for today
Top New Piece A Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, 62 Redshank, 74 Avocet, 80 Lapwing, 3 Little-ringed Plover, Dunlin, 22 Teal, 16 Shoveler and uncounted no's of Gadwall, Mallard and Shelduck. Rushy Pen An adult Wood Sandpiper with 9+ Green Sandpiper, the pair o
2 July 2017
Alive with young birds
South Lake Just bursting with young birds here. The Black Headed Gulls are most noticeable with lots of brown youngsters all over the place. There were 25 Avocets 15 at least of which were well grown or fledged youngsters. The Crane was seen with its yo
1 July 2017
A day for Wader's
With a sunny start to the day there's lots of waders to be seen across the site, with a count of 9 different species of wader seen from the Zeiss Hide. Rushy Pen On the middle causeway there was 63 black-tailed godwit roosting, with a 2 oystercatchers lur
30 June 2017
Crane update-sad news
Crane saga The South Lake Crane family 'Bart and Ruby' have done very well rearing their chicks until today, a rather sad and brutal event occurred this morning. The older Crane chick actually killed it's sibling, this is normal behaviour and happens fr
27 June 2017
Today's sightings
The tides are creeping higher over the weekend with today's tide producing a roosting flock of 67 Curlew and 66 Shelduck with a mix of larger gulls. South Lake Hides Many of the fledged Avocet are now moving to the Top New Piece leaving a mixture of young
23 June 2017
Today's sightings
A little bit of movement this morning with nine Knot dropping in briefly to the Top New Piece, as viewed from the Zeiss Hide. Green Sandpipers are up to with eight on the Tack Piece alone. South Lake Hides A single Black-tailed Godwit was with 10 Redsha
22 June 2017
Today's sightings
The weather is forecast to be cooler and cloudier for the rest of the week, but dry. The reserve continue to fill up with new life as several broods of Tufted Duck are now appearing, especially on the Decoy. Rushy Hide A flock of 86 Black-tailed Godwits
21 June 2017
Record count of Avocet
At least 126 Avocet seen on the scrapes today! A new record count. Zeiss Hide CATTLE EGRET- 2 breeding plumaged birds among the Longhorn herd and resting on the posts, a gathering of 107 Lapwing- 107 were commuting between the Dumbles, estuary, Top and
20 June 2017
First Common Tern chicks hatch
South Lake The Crane family (x2 chicks) are still roaming the duck marsh as viewed from the Hogarth Hide, a Green Sandpiper was also present here. Over 50 Avocet on the scrapes, lots of chicks of varying ages. A Little-ringed Plover was present but moved
18 June 2017
Today's sightings
Another lovely sunny day with things getting warmer again for the weekend. Its a great time to catch up with insects across the reserve with lots of dragonflies and damselflies now on the wing. Look out for butterflies and moths too. This Hummingbir
16 June 2017
Today's sightings
Rushy Hide Three Mediterranean Gulls were present this morning, a single second-summer plumaged bird and two in first-summer plumage. A Green Sandpiper was on the lower pond along with 6 Avocet. Another pair of Avocet are still incubating on the upper
15 June 2017
Crane and Kingfisher updates
Cranes Bart and Ruby are still tending their offspring well, we are pleased to see the active chick being taken for a walk onto the wader scrape, it's now being fed by a parent proving they know exactly what to do. It was vital this chick began eating tod
12 June 2017
Crane pair hatch their first chick
Cranes Crane pair 'Bart and Ruby' have finally hatched a chick, after a number of false starts during recent years they incubated their two eggs carefully and have hatched at least one chick so far, we will wait to see what happens with the second egg. T
11 June 2017