New bus service launching this summer, with access to WWT Slimbridge. Find out more.
White winged Black Tern
We were very pleased to host a superb breeding plumage White-winged Black Tern (White-winged Tern) on the South Lake. It disappeared for periods, usually heading toward the Tack Piece/Severn estuary and taking a flight line across the Rushy/visitor centre. It may have been feeding over the fields with Black-headed Gulls. Luckily it kept returning to the deep lake where it acrobatically snapped insects from the water or in mid-air.
The first record for Gloucestershire was on the reserve on 27 August 1960, subsequent records for the reserve recording area follow..
1979- adult in breeding plumage on 18th and 19th May.
1992- two down the Severn in a flock of Black Terns on 9th August.
1999- a juvenile at Townfield Lake, Frampton on Severn from 15-25th September was seen over the Long Ground Pool on the latter date.
This is the 10th record for Gloucestershire and the fourth record for the New Grounds/WWT Slimbridge recording area.
Other highlights for today follow
Rushy Hide
Drake Garganey (now beginning to moult), 34 Avocet (new nests), 12 Shelduck, female Wigeon with hybrid male and 21 Tufted Duck.
Tack Piece
12 Barnacle Geese, 8 Avocet, 4 pairs Tufted Duck, 9 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon and 21 Shelduck.
Middle Point
12 Grey Plover, Peregrine, Spoonbill, 3 Little Egret, 90 Ringed Plover, 32 Dunlin, 13 Sanderling, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 7 Common Gull and 12 Curlew.
South Lake
Two 2cy Mediterranean Gulls, Black-headed Gulls now hatching chicks, Oystercatcher pair with three chicks, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 63 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Avocet, 2 Little-ringed Plover, 2 Common Tern and 19 Shelduck.
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece
Two drake Garganey (earlier on South Finger Reedbed viewing screen), Spoonbill roosted over the high tide period, 36 Avocet, 2 Little-ringed Plover, 5 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, 4 Little Grebe and 2 Wigeon.
