Bird Movement at Slimbridge 23/03/18

23 March 2018

Summary of week commencing 19th March

Over the course of the past week we have seen larger numbers of Black Tailed Godwit, Avocet, Shellduck and Oystercatcher on site as they leave their wintering grounds elsewhere in the search of breeding sites.

Despite this we have been seeing a Jack Snipe, a classic winter bird, feeding and roosting in close proximity to the Knott Hide from Monday 19th through to Wednesday 21st.

The Glaucous Gull has been showing intermittently out on the Estuary, at distance, from the Holden Tower. Our flock of Whitefronted Geese are still around, usually best seen from the Holden Tower.

Good, although decreasing, numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Redshank, Pintail, Gadwal, Shoveler, Dunlin, and Lapwing are still present around the site, with Cranes, Snipe, Golden Plover, and a single Ruff also present although more elusive.

Two Little Grebe have been seen and a pair of Great Crested Grebe have been performing their fascinating courtship display sporadically through the week, do keep an eye out for the on the South Lake as the Spring progresses.

Buzzard, Kestrel, and Peregrine have been present and visible every day. The Dumbles, from the Holden Tower or Zeiss Hide, is the best place to see the Peregrines, they tend to perch on driftwood above the grass.

The feeding stations have yielded Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker among others.

On Thursday 22nd a Drake Garganey was spotted on the Tack Piece, visible from the Holden tower Walkway hides.