Latest sightings
There's a chill in the air
Winter is fast approaching and we've had news today that the first Bewick's Swans have arrived over at Welney in Norfolk. When will the first birds arrive here at Slimbridge is now the main question! Speaking of winter arrivals, the White-fronted Gees
20 October 2016
Today's sightings
Holden Tower A flock of 27 White-fronted Geese were on The Dumbles this morning with the Greylag and Canada flock. Also out on the floodwater were 500+ Wigeon, 50+ Golden Plover, 7 Ruff, 8 Dunlin, 10+ Shelduck, 80+ Pintail whilst a Peregrine and a Marsh
19 October 2016
All about The Dumbles
Another big high tide and another morning with lots of action on The Dumbles with flocks of several species making the most of the fresh feeding opportunities whilst trying to evade the ever present Peregrine! Holden Tower One of the best p
18 October 2016
Wetland Bird Survey and big tides
At least 28 European White-fronted Geese were grazing near the Holden Tower today The Severn tides flooded over the Dumbles last night and again this morning, a repeat of the high tides again tomorrow. A full WeBS survey was made today, we counted 8,65
17 October 2016
Autumn birding
Rushy Pen Hide/Peng Observatory Although we still have a few things to finish in the Rushy and at the duckery, the island work has been completed, the water levels on top lake are back up and the Peng Observatory is open again. Late in the month we will
16 October 2016
The tides are coming
Over the next few weeks we'll be seeing some big high tides, reaching the 10m mark or more with some 3 and 4 star Severn Bores coming up the river too. The high tide this morning moved lots of waders on to the Top New Piece as viewed from the Zeiss Hide
14 October 2016
White-fronts arriving
Big increase in the number of White-fronted Geese overnight with at least 28 now on site, up from 5 yesterday. More good news is the arrival of our first juveniles, 12 in all. The tides are starting to increase now and the South Lake has been reaping
13 October 2016
Ducks moving in
Our Reserve Team have been working hard over the last few weeks on the Rushy Pen and along the Holden Walkway hides, and the ducks are really appreciating our efforts. The Martin Smith Hide is providing great views of Pintail, Wigeon, Teal and this morn
12 October 2016
Foggy morning, limited sightings
A misty start hampered the hide rounds so we won't have too much to report, work continues in the Rushy Pen and Robbie Garnett, Stephen Kirk and Knott Hides so a bit of disturbance is likely, these areas are a bit quiet at the moment anyway. South Lake T
10 October 2016
Pectoral Sandpiper...
A new bird arrived on the reserve today- a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, this long distance migrant breeds in Arctic Canada and Far Eastern Siberia but is an annual visitor to these shores. This is the first record for the reserve in 2016, we usually recor
9 October 2016
Todays Sightings
Generally a little quiet with north winds and clear skies allowing migrants to move through. Zeiss Hide Over 700 Teal here this morning and an impressive 460 Wigeon. There were 12 Ruff and 2 Redshank among 250 Lapwing. A big flush may have been the Goshaw
8 October 2016
Moulting through
Its a great time to test your duck ID skills as the flocks of Teal, Wigeon, Pintail, Tufted Duck and Shoveler are moulting into their finery for the winter. The Shoveler especially have been showing really well in front of the Discovery Hide on the So
7 October 2016
Overnight arrival
A third White-fronted Goose was out on The Dumbles this morning, much to the disappointment of the two who arrived yesterday as they spent a short while trying to chase the bird off from their immediate vicinity. They'd best get used to company, fingers
7 October 2016
A Yellow-browed Warbler at last and winter geese
Hearing news of so many Yellow-browed Warblers having arrived in the UK and even the West country we were expecting to finally see one here. This morning Andy and Gordon were on the hide rounds and heard and spotted a Yellow-browed Warbler in the canoe
5 October 2016
67 species...
On the advanced birding session this morning I was reliably informed by one attendee that was diligent enough to take notes that we had recorded 67 species of bird from 0800-midday. Holden Tower Over high tide... 55 Shelduck, 200 Wigeon, 10 Pintail, 9 Gre
4 October 2016