Somerset Wild Walks: Slimbridge

Saturday, 24 February 2018

Bewick's Swans 12/2 Slimbridge

One of our reasons for a visit to Slimbridge was to see the Bewicks before they soon return to Russia. Early at 8:15 there was still a good number on the 'rushy' sorting themselves out for their day ahead.

Usually the swans at the 'rushy' depart in the morning for the fields but later in the day when we returned there were still quite a few gathered in the water.

It was interesting to watch them call and display to each other no doubt affirming bonds before their long journey home.

Early afternoon and a few more swans had gathered on the 'Tack Piece' some of them in family groups though it looked as though some young were being asked to leave.

So the photos below are in honour of the beautiful Bewicks Swans, may they have a safe journey home and we'll look forward to their return late Autumn.

Preening time

Mute aggression

Starting to pair and bond

Interesting to watch the displays

Already a pair?

Take off

Adults seem to be chasing of the young

Flexing

Family squabble

Bathing

Seem to enjoy splashing around

Saturday, 7 January 2017

Slimbridge 3/1/17 - Bittern, Cettis, Bewick's etc

A cold, frosty and sunny day for our visit to Slimbridge with many of the water areas and pools remaining frozen all day. Only one half of South lake was unfrozen and it was here that there was good numbers of Pochard, Tufted, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck & Greylag Geese. It was fascinating to watch unusual behaviour from a group of Shoveler as they spinning round and round in a group dabbling in the water in a tight little raft. A new feeding strategy?

Bewick's swans were still in the Rushy area and seen from the other hides. A family group were quite happy on the ice and they had no problem skating for take off!

Not too much was seen from the Holden Tower except for Barnacle, Canada and Greylag Geese.

All the usual small species of birds were clambering around the feeders at the Willow hide as well as an opportunistic rat.

As we arrived at the Kingfisher hide we were lucky to get a 2 minute view of a Bittern before it flew across to some reeds. At almost the same moment a Cettis Warbler sat nicely for a few seconds.

Back to a last visit to the Rushy hide where quite a long way out were a Dunlin & a Little Stint plus plenty of Pintail.

In summary we were a little surprised by the lack of birds on the 'tack piece' and estuary fields viewed from the Holden Tower. It was however a very enjoyable day at Slimbridge with 52 species seen and a nice little kick start to our new year list.