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Sightings and news to week ending 28 September

Sightings from around the Slimbridge Reserve

Sightings and news to week ending 28 September

Image - Spotted Redshank MJM


Saturday 27 September

Midpoint

33 Curlew, 21 Cranes, 9 Grey Plover, 3 Spoonbill, 5 Little Egrets, Ross’s Goose among the Barnacle geese flock, 1 Great Egret, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Grey Heron

Zeiss Hide

99 Lapwing, 17 Shoveler, Cetti’s heard, 275 Greylags, 5 Wigeon, 46 Black tailed Godwit, 81 Barnacle geese, 4 Ruff, Snipe, Water Rail heard, 6 Pintail, 352 Teal, 4 Canadas.

Van de Bovenkamp Hide

2 Roe Deer in Tin Shed Ground.


Kingfisher Hide

44 Lapwing on Four Score, 5 Wigeon, a few Blue Tits feeding in the reeds

Decoy Hide

 15 Tufted Duck, 1 juvenile Cormorant

Canoe safari

Male Sparrow hawk


Friday 26 September

Middle Point

3 Grey Plover, 3 Spoonbill, Bar-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Snipe over, 103 Shelduck, 34 Curlew, ~200 small waders inc. Ringed Plover, Dunlin & Sanderling, 10 Swallows, 17 Common Crane. And on the Cross fence 3 Stonechat, 4 Meadow Pipit and 2 Reed Bunting

Zeiss Hide

83 Black-tailed Godwit, 26 Wigeon, Ruff, 432 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 184 Greylags, Bean goose, 6 Canadas, 25 Lapwing.

Later in the day there were 3 Bittern and 2 Glossy Ibis as well as 10 Ruff and 2 Pintail.

Kingfisher Hide

12 Lapwing on Four Score, Water Rail heard, 1 Swallow over.

Decoy Hide

8 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant

Dumbles from Estuary Tower

Pink-foot amongst 124 Barnacles, plus Ross’s Goose. 43 Canada and 4 Greylags. Mixed Tit flock including Chiffchaff & Blackcaps.

Robbie Garnett Hide

On the Tack Piece it is starting to feel autumnal with 51 Wigeon, 156 Teal, 4 Shoveler & vocal Cetti’s Warbler, 244 Greylag, 1 Barnacle and 2 Canada Goose.

South Lake

21 Black-tailed Godwit, 311 Teal, 9 Shoveler, 15 male, 2 female Pochard, 10 Cormorant, 31 Tufted Duck.


Thursday 25 September

Middle Point

20 Crane and 98 Curlew, 2 Spoonbill feeding on the river and at 11:20 a Common Scoter was seen drifting down river

Zeiss Hide

On the Top new piece, 29 Wigeon, 1 Ruff and 4 Snipe, Grey Heron

South Lake

17 male, 2 Female Pochard

Kingfisher Hide

14 Ruff in the four-score field with flock of Lapwing


Wednesday 24 September

Estuary Tower

14 Cranes and 114 Curlew.

Middle Point 

10 Ringed Plover, 2 Stonechat, Dunlin too.

Zeiss Hide

2 Spoonbill, 110 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Redshank, 7 Ruff, 8 Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, 295 Teal, 4 Pintail, 8 Wigeon, 11 Shoveler, Peregrine, 50 Dunlin, 1 Spotted Redshank and 2 Glossy Ibis.

Hogarth Hide

64 Teal, 12 Shoveler.

Discovery Hide

8 Ruff, 170 Black-tailed Godwit, 18 Pochard, 37 Tufted Duck, 350 Teal.


Tuesday 23 September

Zeiss Hide

On Top new piece 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Spoonbill, 2 Glossy Ibis, 1 Greenshank, 120 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Ruff, 25 Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, 5 Pintail, 2 Golden Plover and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Discovery Hide

3 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 6 Redshank and 12 Black-tailed Godwit.

Middle Point

2 Wheatear, 35 Curlew, Dunlin flying off the mud at high tide.


Monday 22 September

South Lake

2 Goosander from Hogarth Hide at 1127hrs.

Kingfisher Hide

Marsh Harrier on the Bottom New Piece.

Rushy hide

2 Garganey with the Teal/Shoveler on the top pond, at least 3 Spotted Redshanks early morning with Snipe, Ruff and Redshank also present.

Zeiss Hide

On Top New Piece there were 2 Glossy Ibis seen till 1135hrs at least.

Estuary Tower

At least three Wheatear on the Dumbles and fence at Middle Point, also 3 Stonechat at latter.

Middle Point

5 Spoonbill, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit with the Curlew and flocks of Dunlin seen on the Severn today.

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