Wed 8th & Thur 9th August Sightings at Slimbridge
As the weather has cooled off a little here in the Severn estuary the birds have continued to be as entertaining as always.
The three remaining Crane youngsters have been providing spectacular views as they learn to fly. From the Zeiss or Kingfisher hides one of these birds can be seen sporadically throughout the day, while the other two are best seen in the afternoon from the Hogarth or Discovery hides. Take a while to observe their behavioral interactions, it is not often that one gets the opportunity to see such a large, intelligent bird displaying a complex social interaction right in front of a hide.
Passage birds have included an extremely mobile Wood Sandpiper which has been seen on the Discovery, Robbie Garnet, Martin Smith, Zeiss, and Rushy hides. Beware of the numerous Green and Common Sandpipers that are currently present across the site, the Wood Sandpiper can be distinguished by its prominent eye stripe (supercillium) and tall, long neck and leg structure.
Yellow Wagtail, Hirundines (including Sand Martin), Dunlin, Ruff, Knot, Snipe, Avocet, Shoveler, and Black Tailed Godwit have been present.
The Discovery Hide has produced particularly good bird watching with Ruff in a variety of plumage, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Cranes, Common Tern, Shoveler, Gadwall, Black Tailed Gidwit, and a Great Crested Grebe with a youngster all showing reasonably consistently.
