Latest sightings
First Redwings of the autumn...
With the easterly airflow and now being October we saw the first 4 Redwing of the autumn flying over the visitor centre. The Black-tailed Godwit flock on site has increased to 372, a single Siskin and Greenfinch were on the move over Middle Point. Rushy P
3 October 2016
Grounded passerines...
The wet weather of the previous two days and misty conditions this morning have delivered a variety of migrant passerines (perching birds). The saltmarsh and foreshore fields had at least 240 Meadow Pipit, 25+ Reed Bunting, 3 Wheatear, 110 Linnet and a fe
2 October 2016
Spoonbill
Zeiss Hide Fewer small waders coming in on the tide this morning but good views of the Spoonbill which became more mobile later. Still 1 Greenshank and Spotted Redshank, 11 Ruff. Teal count up yet again with 1325 here and around 1800 on the whole site. So
1 October 2016
High Tide and Waders
Zeiss Hide Good high tide this morning pushed a lot of Ducks and Waders onto the Top New Piece. There were over 1200 Teal with a scattering of Pintail and Shoveler among them, 150 Wigeon were grazing in the field when another 150 were flushed from the est
30 September 2016
More stints...
A quick hide round between 0800 and 0930 produced the following species of note.... Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece At least 5 juvenile Little Stint feeding on the (left-hand) gravel island in the SW corner of flood. Among the 1000+ Teal at least 4 Dunlin, 2 adu
29 September 2016
Spoonbill is still here but elusive...
South Lake Black-tailed Godwit 128, Redshank 30, Ruff 6, Greenshank 1, Lapwing 213, Shoveler 39, Great Crested Grebe. Zeiss Hide/ Top New Piece Redshank 10, Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Dunlin, 350 Lapwing, 500 Teal, Cetti's Warbler, Wigeon 68,
28 September 2016
Spoonbill again...
Spotted Crake and Hen Harrier- Again no sign of either today, they have probably moved on. Holden Tower The adult Spoonbill was viewable from the Holden Tower at 0800hrs feeding in the main channel near the Zeiss Hide, unfortunately when I got to the To
27 September 2016
Spoonbill reported...
Spotted Crake It wasn't seen on a ten minute look at 0845hrs, no subsequent reports from visitors to 1400hrs at least though it may still be present and unreported. Zeiss Hide A Spoonbill was reported to visitor centre staff at lunchtime. Other birds note
26 September 2016
Autumnal...
Overnight showers and cooler air had given the reserve a more autumnal feel, this is reflected by the increase in wildfowl and seeing the small passerines, tits, warblers, Treecreeper, Goldcrest etc flocking together. Spotted Crake The juvenile continues
25 September 2016
Spotted again
The Spotted Crake remains in front of the Van de Bovenkamp Hide on the South Finger, showing well on the small dragonfly pool feeding on any invertebrates it can find in the vegetation. Spotted Crake, Slimbridge South
23 September 2016
Spotted Crake is still here...
Van de Bovenkamp Hide The juvenile Spotted Crake continues to show well on the small drained dragonfly pool adjacent to the hide and path. Please note that we are currently repairing and replacing the wheelchair access bay at the North end of the hide. Th
22 September 2016
Overnight arrivals
** Update **: Spotted Crake showing well on and off from Van de Bovenkamp Hide. Volunteers on site to help. An obvious increase in Wigeon overnight on the Top New Piece with at least 520 birds present this morning from the Zeiss Hide. A Wood Sandpipe
21 September 2016
A new Spotted Redshank...
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece We have dropped the levels of the flood to coincide with the high tides, over 1000 Teal were roosting and wader interest was good as usual. An adult Spotted Redshank has arrived, it was fishing in the shallows. The two juvenile Li
20 September 2016
More high tide waders
We're currently having a short run of high tides around the 9 to 10 metre mark, pushing birds off the river and on to the reserve, particularly the Top New Piece as seen from the Zeiss Hide. Today's highlights included 2 Little Stint amongst 135 Dunlin,
19 September 2016
Big tides, great birding...
Peng Observatory/Rushy Pen Hide The two Little Grebe, fishing Kingfisher (favours Scott House gutters and Swan pipe), Wigeon. 10 Snipe, 6 Ruff and 70 Teal. Robbie Garnett Hide 70 Teal. Holden Tower 3 Yellow Wagtail among the cattle, 2 Peregrine on the edg
18 September 2016