Black Tern @ Slimbridge

Date: 21st September 2015 - Afternoon

Location: WWT Slimbridge - Gloucester

Observation: First day off in a while, meant we could go birding together again (We have been busy with photography. We have secured a job with Darwin Escapes providing Canvas Prints and Framed Prints for their new lodge retreats in Bath Mill and Hawkchurch). 

We headed up to Slimbridge in hope of the Black Tern and Purple Heron (the Heron hasn't been spotted for a few days now). First up, the Rushy, normally our favourite hide at Slimbridge, but today unless we were spotting Tractors, it didn't live up to our expectations, Slimbridge are taking advantage of their quiet period and doing some work around the Reserve (reedbed cutting etc). We swiftly moved on to the Holden Walkway stopping in all the hides on our way down to Holden Tower. The Martin Smith hide highlights were plenty of feeding Hirundinidae and House Martins. 

House Martins Meeting Point

Fly-Past Of The Swallow

Best we could manage on a cloudy, rainy and dull afternoon (excuses aside, Hirundinidae's aren't birds that are the easiest to photograph, don't believe us, try it for yourselves!)

Holden Tower, again pretty barren, a large flock of Barnacle Geese (approx 100) on the tide line was the highlight. We were desperate for some decent pictures and sightings, so headed to South Lake, where the Black Tern was showing fairly well at times, but very hard to photograph as a very active bird and was getting mobbed by everything!

After around 300 shutters between us here's the best we produced:

:

Whilst waiting for it to brighten up a bit, we went for some captive birds including these:

Before heading home, we headed back to the South Lake whilst it was sunny for a short while and got some more of the Black Tern, he seemed to be coming a bit closer for us this time so we managed to get a few more shots here:

A huge influx of Greylag Goose come into land when we were leaving !

Weather:  Light Rain Showers, Sunny Spells + Warm

Other Species: 1 Marsh Harrier, Ruff, Lapwing, Black-Tailed Godwit, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Black Tern, Common Crane, Teal, Shoveller, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap, Chiffchaff + Lots More !

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