Latest sightings
Cuckoo and Cranes
Holden Tower and Walkway. Juv Cuck showing well close to path near Willow Hide Lapwing 21 ad + 5 young Avocet 5 Green Sandpiper 11 mainly on drying Pillbox pool to left of Holden. Shelduck Broods Teal 3 Barnacle Goose 5 Little Egret 1 Crane 1 South Lake
7 July 2018
Young Cuckoo
Holden Tower and Hides Fantastic views of a Juvenile Cuckoo being fed by Reed Warblers along the walkway close to the Willow Hide, Guides will be here with a telescope to give amazing views through the day. At least 9 Green Sandpipers From the Robbie Gar
6 July 2018
Today's sightings
Another sunny day out on the reserve. We're managing out water levels as best we can to keep our scrape and pools topped up for the birds but the weather isn't helping. Rushy Hide Several broods of duck were out on the Rushy this morning including two M
4 July 2018
Cuckoo juvenile still begging
Rushy Hide At least 12 Avocet chicks from 5 pairs. Lapwing and Green Sandpiper as well as Shelduck, Gadwall, and Tufted Duck broods. Martin Smith Hide Drake Wigeon and a Lapwing. Tack Piece 97 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Lapwing, 10 Teal, 14 Avocet, 3 Pied Wag
2 July 2018
Juvenile Cuckoo continues to show
Common Tern fishing over the South Finger settling pool, from viewing screen. Rushy Hide Avocet, Shelduck and Tufted Duck families and loafing Black-headed Gulls. Tack Piece 154 Black-tailed Godwit (commuting to South Lake), 8 Avocet, 1 Green Sa
1 July 2018
Chicks and ducklings
Its been a busy day for new families on the reserve with a few new arrivals seen and some unexpected treats. First off was a female Shoveler with 2 ducklings on the pool in front of the Martin Smith Hide, using the loafing edges we created just a few
30 June 2018
28th and 29th June Sightings
Thursday 28th June Zeiss hide 10 Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 27 Avocet, 22 Lapwing, 26 Redshank, Oystercatcher, 8 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall plus brood ducklings, Little Grebe South Lake 146 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, Oystercatcher, 12 Redshank,
29 June 2018
Out in the sun
The mowing season is well and truly underway and the Reserve Team are hard at work opening up views from hides and selectively cutting small areas to improve habitat for our wildlife. Yesterday the team were working in front of the Martin Smith Hide and
27 June 2018
24-26 June sightings
Returning waders are appearing on the scrapes, some in stunning breeding plumage. A single Greenshank has been favouring the Dumbles scrape and Tack Piece scrape, a smashing Spotted Redshank was see yesterday (25th) on the Top New Piece and two male Ruff
26 June 2018
Spoonbill on the Tack Piece
Tack Piece 2 Spoonbill in front of the Robbie Garnett Hide along with 2 Little Egret, 2 Green Sandpiper, 7 Lapwing and 2 adult Avocet with 2 well grown young. Rushy 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Oystercatcher, 3 families of Avocet, 2 Lapwing, a brood of 10 Sh
23 June 2018
Swift Awareness Week and Swifts at WWT Slimbridge
Swifts are a familiar species here at WWT Slimbridge, we expect to see large numbers migrating north in the Spring and often spot them from mid April. We usually have large feeding flocks over the reserve in the summer, presumably birds from local towns
19 June 2018
WeBS count
Totals from today's WeBS count were.. 26 L. Grebe, 6 G.Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 8 Little Egret, 10 Grey Heron, 1 GW Egret, 76 Mute Swan, 60 Greylag, 5 Canada G, 40 Barnacle G, 196 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 69 Gadwall, 46 Teal, 709 Mallard, 23 Shoveler, 1 Poc
18 June 2018
Crane families doing well
South Lake Both adult Cranes present and apparently feeding young but difficult to see in tall vegetation, Please tweet in if you get sightings of the young. The Black Tailed Godwit flock (59) are feeding close to the hide. Avocet 57 in total and several
16 June 2018
Business end of the breeding season
The scrapes and pools are busy with young wetland birds. Lots of wader chicks and duck broods are bursting onto the scene. While it's encouraging to see so many hatching, it's all about productivity, the number of young fledged (as in can now fly and inde
11 June 2018
3 Crane Families
South Lake Med Gulls 2 full adults extra to the breeding birds which remain hidden in nettles on the island. Avocets 29 including several incubating birds. Blackwit just 1 on the main scrape at first but main flock moved in from Hogarth end later in morni
9 June 2018