Image- Autumn (Migrant) Hawker, MJM.
Upcoming Events
4x4 Photo Safari - Wednesday 16 September
Greater Flamingo on the River Severn
A second calendar year greater flamingo has been sighted on the River Severn close to WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Identified by her green ring ‘LHH’, the young female flamingo belongs to Birdland Park and Gardens, in Bourton-on-the-Water, from where she has recently taken flight and become separated from her flock. Working closely with our colleagues at Birdland, we are monitoring her movements and keeping them updated. She currently appears healthy, coping well and not causing a disturbance to other birds.
Seasonal habitat work, essential maintenance and farming
*Please note that you may encounter farming activity, seasonal habitat management, infrastructure maintenance or survey work around the reserve. This can include the use of machinery. We typically work in one area at a time with a large team to get the job done quickly and safely. We manage the other wetland areas to offer a quiet place to feed and rest, short-term localised disturbance is possible. Our birds simply move to another spot for a time and return once we finish, the first phase of work in the Rushy led to outstanding views of waders on the Tack Piece.
It's important to allow quiet during the evenings and very early mornings when birds are roosting so most work is carried out when a full team is on site between 0800-1630hrs. This work is essential for biodiversity and the annual cycle of the reserve and also to keep the place operational, pumps, filter, pipes and much more need attention. This work also allows us to keep views open to our scrapes and lakes following the breeding season.
Monday 7 September
Tack Piece
Nine Ruff, 2 Green Sandpiper, 100 Teal.
Estuary Tower
A few Yellow Wagtails among the cattle and a Golden Plover on the Dumbles. On the Long Ground Pool a flock of Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe and a Green Sandpiper.
South Lake
Green Sandpiper, 160 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 17 Ruff, 70 Teal, flocks of Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall with a few Pochard among the Tufted Ducks.
Top New Piece
Spoonbill, 170 Teal, 10 Shoveler, flock of Greylag and a few Yellow Wagtails.
Bottom New Piece
Barnacle Goose flock with Ross's and Snow x Bar-headed Goose hybrid
Middle Point
A juvenile Grey Phalarope still SW of the point at 0950hrs, feeding with Shelducks and Black-headed Gulls. In the general vicinity of a dumped green container that is stuck in the mud. Also viewable distantly from Estuary Tower from where it was initially spotted.
