Trip reports

Coach trip to Slimbridge WWT reserve

Sunday, 4 December 2011

This was a splendid day out enjoyed by 39 members of mixed ages. Fortunately we were blessed with excellent weather, cold and clear. There was so much to enjoy at this venue. The birds in the captive section are very people friendly and visitors can feed the geese, swans and ducks which wander around outside the captive pens. The reserve has captive otters which visitors can watch being fed at 11am and 3pm. There are also captive harvest mice in a special section which are very cute.
The wild area of the reserve is very popular with bird watchers and there are plenty of hides overlooking stretches of water and marshy fields. The Estuary leading to the Bristol channel can be seen from some of the hides. We saw 67 species in total which was a good numberhelped by the fact that there are several areas where bird feeders are situated. There was excellent numbers of lapwing and wigeon flying around in great flocks accompanied by some golden plovers and dunlin. We had excellent views of a 2 peregrine falcons both perched and flying. The visitor Centre is excellent at this reserve with a good restaurant, shop and interactive display areas. A good place for families to visit at any time of year. The day finished with visitors watching in a heated hide the wild Bewick swans and a variety of ducks being fed.
Report by Gill Deacon