Sightings - Slimbridge
First Bewick`s Swans Depart
Bewick's swan in flight (photo by Colin Butters) Rushy Just 65 Bewicks here this morning and another 25 on the Dumbles, so looking like we lost about 70 Swans last night. Still good numbers of Duck here with 120 Pinta
25 February 2017
Gale force
Storm Doris is certainly giving us some windy conditions this morning, but thankfully the rain cleared early on. Many bird are taking shelter but there is still a great selection around to see. South Lake Hides The flock of Avocet were huddled tightly t
23 February 2017
Here comes Doris
The weather is certainly picking up at Storm Doris makes herself known. The windy conditions may be preventing the Bewick's Swans and some of our other wintering species from leaving, but once the weather system has passed we may see a big departure und
22 February 2017
Misty morning, limited news, sorry.
No hide round due to the dense mist rolling in from the Severn estuary. It cleared by 1100hrs, there were plenty of birdwatchers on site so we may get some additional news via our Twitter account later. Just about visible on the South Lake at 0900hrs were
20 February 2017
Late winter wader bonanza on South Lake
South Lake Unfortunately no Curlew were seen or reported at this site but we still managed to see twelve species of wader here today (numbered in brackets) The Avocet (1) flock increased to 20 and some initial mating behaviour was noted. At least 120
19 February 2017
Avocet increase
South Lake Still good numbers of Shoveler (56) here but it was the good mixed flock of waders that were wowing everyone. Two pairs of Oystercatcher are now on territory and 10 newly arrived Avocets were resting with 123 Black tailed Godwit. Anything up to
18 February 2017
Today's sightings
A nice collection of birds today with the South Lake being the busiest of the hides. We've also had our highest day count of Bewick's Swans for the year with 160 birds present this morning. Zeiss Hide A good mixed flock of 400+ Lapwing and 250+ D
16 February 2017
Today's sightings
Holden Tower Song Thrush, Dunnock and Robin singing, 7 Blackbirds, 60+ Linnet feeding on Tack Piece, 7 Skylark, 30 Meadow Pipit and 10 Pied Wagtail. 200 Barnacle Geese were grazing the saltmarsh. 158 White-fronted Geese, 2 Peregrine (male and female), Oys
15 February 2017
Some morning sightings
South Lake Plenty of action here...Spotted Redshank (also seen on the Tack Piece today), 3 Common Redshank, 8 Ruff, 30 Golden Plover, 110+ Black-tailed Godwit, 700 Lapwing, 500 Dunlin and 4 Oystercatcher on the wader scrape/duck marsh. A single Little Gre
14 February 2017
Another chilly wind but still lots of birds
Holden Tower The Lapland Bunting put in a number of appearances between 0830am to 1.30pm at least. It was initially with 6 Skylark around the Dumbles scrape before moving out onto the grassier areas, it showed again many times with a mobile flock of 40+
12 February 2017
A few extra Bewick Swans.
Rushy There were 143 Bewicks here this morning which included 4 new adults that flew out on the feed. These are probably Somerset wintering birds gathering with the main flock prior to migrating. The wader flock has been great here with several hundred L
11 February 2017
Today's sightings
Holden Walkway The Tack Piece was busy with birds again this morning, and a slight increase in the number of White-fronted Geese, up to 170 birds. Several hundred Wigeon and Lapwing were present, with a mix of Teal, 14 Shoveler, 20 Shelduck and the seem
9 February 2017
Today's sightings
Martin Smith Hide The Tack Piece was busy this morning with the whole flock of 164 White-fronted Geese present along with a few Greylags and Canadas. Around 80 Wigeon were grazing around the scrape, surrounded by a mix of over 500 Lapwing, 41 Curlew, 16
8 February 2017
Tack Piece getting busier
A lovely sunny day here after the cold frozen start and overcast day yesterday. The Tack Piece has benefitted from the intermittent heavy rain showers since last week, puddles have been attracting the wader flocks when they are not frozen, when it has fro
7 February 2017
Goshawk show again
Zeiss Hide/Van de Bovenkamp Hide The male Goshawk appeared again today, it caught, plucked and ate a Teal on the west bund of the Top New Piece flood before flying off toward the Kingfisher Hide. Good views were had from Zeiss and Van de Bovenkamp hides,
5 February 2017