Sightings and news to the year end- 31 December 2024
*Please note that we may have access restrictions on the site later today and New Years Day*
Very strong winds are forecasted so the South Finger, Spinney Wood/Zeiss Hide and Riverlife area may be closed for a time, if conditions worsen then we may have to consider closing other areas.
See https://x.com/slimbridge_wild or https://x.com/WWTSlimbridge for updates or check our website.
Farewell to 2024
We have recorded at least 181 species of bird in our recording area this year.
We would like to thank all of our members and visitors for supporting our wetland conservation charity this year, we hope that you managed to connect with wildlife across the reserve and follow the seasons as it unfolded. As ever, there have been many highlights. Some of the picks of 2024 include the following.
The returning territorial male White-spotted Bluethroat at Middle Point, our first breeding record for Eurasian Teal, the third consecutive winter with White-rumped Sandpiper on site, five pairs of Cranes fledging four young, three records of Golden-ringed Dragonfly and so much more.
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New Years Day Listing
We can offer a great start to your New Year list, 60 species is easily done here on a winters days but a full day and a little luck this can increase to 80+.
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31 December 2024
The mild weather continues, Avocets have been tempted back to keep an eye on potential nest sites. Lower rainfall has allowed some of the water levels to drop exposing mud, this is very attractive to the flocks of Dunlin in particular.
Estuary Tower
The Little Stint has fed along the far shore of the Dumbles scrape every day this week, it comes and goes along with small flocks of Dunlin. The scrape has been busy with ducks with 370 Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal and Pintail all loafing here.
The tides are rising so the foreshore has seen gatherings of birds. Peregrine Falcon at the normal hangouts along the shore. A flock of 65 Great-Black-backed Gulls may have reacted the the approaching storm, they settled on the saltmarsh. Pintail and Wigeon were floating down on the tide. Marsh Harrier and three Buzzards were on the hedges and hunting the fields to the North.
Willow Hide and the Withy bed/Decoy (viewable from the path between Martin Smith and Robbie Garnett Hides)
A Chiffchaff was calling here this morning, Firecrest was with the Long-tailed Tit flock yesterday.
South Finger/Kingfisher Hide/Bottom New Piece
The Russian White-fronted Geese have been feeding in the winter wheat at the Four Score ground, at least 49 here this morning. The Bottom New Piece field has been busy with Lapwing, Dunlin and the Ruff have also been feeding here between raptor induced panics. The feeders are attracting two Coal Tits as well as the usual passerines. Bullfinches have been feeding in the hedge along the path and near to the hide. Cetti's Warblers have been calling and showing here all winter.
Top New Piece
The Russian White-fronted Geese came in to drink/decide where they are feeding for the day around 08:30am, this is the third day that they have done this and can be seen from the Estuary Tower. A flock of 130 Wigeon, 120 Teal and a few Redshank were on the floods and fleets.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
The Whooper Swan continues to roost with 61 Bewick's Swans, duck numbers have been low so far this winter but Pintail, Mallard, Shelduck and Canada and Greylag Geese are all present.
South Lake
If we have very strong winds it may affect what birds choose to rest up here for the day, it's consistently been the favourite place for Avocets with 39 present here today, the Spoonbill has also been sleeping here daily with visits to the Tack Piece to feed. 73 Black-tailed Godwit were counted today but numbers had dropped off following the very busy periiod of a couple of weeks back when 800 were on site. Duck numbers vary, the pair of Goldeneye were again present this morning. Great Crested Grebe joins the diving ducks and Cormorants. Just outside of the hide the ditchside Alders are attracting Siskins and Goldfinches.
Tack Piece
18 Ruff, 15 Redshank among the Lapwing, Dunlin, Golden Plover and Curlew and 700 Wigeon with Pintail, Shoveler and Teal for company. The Cranes are visiting here to feed daily, at least 14 present at times including a number of un-ringed birds.
Car Park Area
The ditches around the car park have been reliable for Kingfishers although they have been seen pretty much everywhere on site. Worth checking the trees as Redpoll and Siskins have been feeding here.
Grounds
Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail and Goldcrests all seen and heard.
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30 December
Firecrest seen in the Withy bed.
Kingfisher Hide
49 Russian White-fronted Geese with Greylags, 2 Little Grebe, 22 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler along the channel.
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29 December
A female Firecrest was trapped in the Duck Decoy and ringed and released by the CES ringing group along with two Chiffchaff.
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28 December
South Lake
18 Cattle Egret, 21 Avocet, 260 Lapwing, 9 Snipe, 1 GC Grebe, 1 Spoonbill, female Goldeneye, 219 Teal, 74 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 34 Pochard, 1 Pintail, 5 Tufted Duck, 6 Shelduck, 1 Common Gull, 1 Buzzard, 1 Barnacle goose, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Cormorants
Tack Piece (Robbie Garnett Hide)
440 Wigeon, 15 Pintail, 9 Tufted Duck, 10 Shoveler, 6 Shelduck, 2 Bewick’s Swan, 300+ Lapwing, 130 Golden Plover, 6 Redshank, 5 Ruff, 6 Curlew, 200+ Dunlin, 3 Crane, singles of Little Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, & Pochard.
Dumbles from Estuary Tower
701 Wigeon, 33 Teal, 24 Shoveler, 6 Pintail, 7 Shelduck 45 Barnacle geese, 331 Lapwing, 31 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint, 1 Snipe and 1 Skylark
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27 December
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide
Wigeon 227, Teal 392, Shoveler 5, Pintail 22, Shelduck 23, Blackwit 12, Lapwing 156, Dunlin 31, Water Rail and Fieldfare heard.
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21 December
Estuary Tower Scrape
Ringed Plover with a Dunlin briefly on middle island.
Top New Piece
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20 December
South Lake
Redhead Goosander on Deep Lake
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19 December
South Finger
Male Bearded Tit in the reedbeds, flew toward South Finger extension.
South Lake
Spoonbill & 22 Cattle Egrets on LH island. 1pr Goldeneye on deep lake & the GC Grebe. At least 24 Avocets on shallow lake feeding.
Robbie Garnett Hide (on the Tack Piece)
Three Stock dove, 32 Redshank, 36 Ruff, 487 Wigeon, 556 Teal, 27 Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck, 1 Buzzard, 32 Pintail, 100 Dunlin, 32 Black-tailed Godwit and a large flock of mobile Lapwing
