Slimbridge 30/10 The winter birds are arriving

An early start for a visit to Slimbridge as a good fine day was forecast.   We were able to get through the gate at 08:15 for a great view of the birds at Rushy.  Loads of Greylags, Pintail, Lapwings, Teal etc plus a couple of Black tailed Godwits and a single Redshank.  The walk down to the Tower was full of smaller birds Goldcrests, Chaffinch, Great, Blue and Long tailed Tits as well as Redwings. The feeders at Willow hide very busy.  The Tack Piece was home to a small flock of Dunlin and at least 50 Curlew. Also here were a mix of Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon.

South Lake was home to over 100 Black tailed Godwits and a good number of Redshank.  A single Avocet was seen here plus the usual Pochard and Tufted Duck on the lake area.  

The area between Zeiss and Kingfisher hides provided hundreds of Wigeon, Little Stints, and Dunlin.

58 species of birds seen today but not in any great volume. Superb Autumn colours though but we are now waiting for the Bewicks and greater numbers of birds to arrive .....

   Chaffinch 

               

                   Blue Tit posing with bling

               

                  Great Tit

   Redwing 

               

   Dunlin flock on the Tack piece

              

   The early bird gets the worm! Lapwing playing tug of war

               

               

                   A few of the 50 Curlews flying in

               

                  Curlew flock

               

                  Curlew flight formation

    

               

   Over a hundred Black tailed Godwits in poor light!

                

                    Grey Wagtail 

               

                    Anything but grey!

                

                   Wigeon on the move

   Leucotistic Canada Goose?

               

                    Treecreeper 

                

                  

   Old blue eyes a Jackdaw

               

                   Common Cranes

                

    Teal, just love their colours

 

               

 

               

                    Wigeon

               

                   Shoveler

   Buzzard - you can usually find one on the fence 

               

                

                    Preening Pintail

 

                

                

                    Pintail, a different view

                

   Teal

                

                    Shelduck

    Pochard