Slimbridge, 18 December 2024

Above: Bewick and Mute Swans, Pintail, Wigeon and Shoveler Duck © Phillip Delve

Leaders: Lucy Starling and  Phillip Delve

Five members and two non members joined Phillip Delve and me to explore this wonderful reserve, especially exciting at this time of year for waders and wildfowl. We started viewing from the Estuary Tower, with a high tide on the River Severn, looking down on hundreds of birds feeding on The Dumbles and Tack Piece: Canada, Greylag and Barnacle Geese, Common Crane, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pintail and Shelduck. Lapwing, Golden Plover, Common Redshank and Ruff seemed very restless, taking flight on several occasions, very likely because of a female Sparrowhawk which I located flying low before it pitched up in the hedgerow.

We did not have to wait long at The Willow Hide to see a Water Rail and the Tufted Duck, Pochard and Pintail were very much enjoyed at close quarters from Robbie Garnett Hide where we also found quite a number of Curlew and Bewick’s Swan. There were many Mallard and Teal and a few Wigeon on the pool at the Martin Smith hide where we could really admire their intricate plumage. 

Rushy Pen and Peng Hide (where we had our packed lunch) produced nothing significant, so we moved on to Discovery Hide at South Lake.

Water levels were very high and there were few birds (waders or wildfowl) so we did not linger but headed toward the Zeiss Hide.

Birding can be difficult here with most species at some distance and telescopes are invariably required. Luckily, we had three to share and that worked well, in particular, when Phillip picked out the Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) from North America. It has been on show at Slimbridge for many weeks but can be tricky to find among the very numerous Eurasian Teal!!

Here we also added Little Egret. It was disappointing that the flock of White-fronted Geese were nowhere to be found. At close of play, before the rain came, my total reached 51 species seen and/ or heard.

I never tire of visiting this fantastic and special place only some 35 miles from Bath.

Lucy Starling