Coach Trip to Slimbridge - February 3rd 2008
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Such was the demand for our trip to Slimbridge that a coach was arranged to take us to this famous WWT reserve. A cloudy and very windy, but unexpectedly dry day allowed us to enjoy a wide range of wetland species. The pre-lunch session saw us divided into 3 groups, each group initially occupying separate hides before meeting at the Holden Tower to overlook the Dumbles. The Tack Piece, an area of flooded grassland that can be viewed from each hide, held the greatest variety of birds. Wigeon, pintail, shelduck and Bewick's swans were the dominant wildfowl, and lapwing, golden plover, dunlin, and redshank the most numerous waders. Careful searching added ruff and several spotted redshank, with one or two members catching a brief glimpse of a snipe. From the top of the Holden Tower, very distant views of European white-fronted geese, and barnacle geese were available, and a Tundra bean goose was observed by some of the party. Members who took their lunch break here had the spectacular sight of the local pair of peregrines diving onto a buzzard that had muscled in on a catch. The afternoon was spent variously enjoying the captive collection, visiting the Zeiss hide for closer views of some of the geese, and the South Lake hide, where a black-tailed godwit was amongst the many teal and pochard. Unsurprisingly, many members also partook of the warmth and refreshments available in the restaurant. The keenest birders made a further trip to the Holden Tower and were rewarded with 'scope views of a little stint.
Cormorant, Grey Heron, Bewick's Swan, Mute Swan, Tundra Bean Goose, European White Fronted Goose, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Buzzard, Peregrine, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Little Stint, Black tailed Godwit, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Snipe, BH Gull, Herring Gull, GBB Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Chaffinch, Greenfinch.
Reported by Steve Oakes
