53 Species Count - Slimbridge

Date: 18th April 2016

Location: WWT Slimbridge - Gloucester

Weather: Patchy Cloud, Sunny Intervals, Warm

Other Species: House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Greylag Goose (+ Goslings), Black Tailed Godwit, 14 Common Crane, Tufted Duck, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Gadwall, Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 5+ Chiffchaff, 2 Mediterranean Gull, Teal, Shoveler, 1 Skylark, 2 Willow Warbler, Oystercatcher, 31+ Avocet, 2 Cormorant, Barnacle Goose, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Pintail, Pochard, 4 Starling - Of Note - 53 Species Total

Observation:
We visited Slimbridge today after having a 3 months absence from here! We started on the Rushy, plenty of action on here including lots of aggressive Black-Headed Gull who were collecting nesting material.

Also a family of Greylag Geese with some Goslings, who come in close at times, very cute!

Onto Martin Smith hide, there were 14 Common Crane (1 was un-ringed), they were actively flying and feeding on the Tack Piece.

WWT have provided so much support for these stunning birds! Lovely to see them in the wild and doing so well.

Further up at Robbie Garnet hide, we had some stunning Shoveler fly past us just as the sun came out.

At the Willow hide, a singing Willow Warbler was high in the trees, name of the hide fits perfectly!

Before we headed around the Western side of the reserve we had a quick return to the Rushy, were 2 of the 14 earlier Common Cranes, had moved there, alot close than on the Tack Piece.

Moving around the reserve there were plenty of newly hatched Mallard ducklings and Greylag Goose goslings enjoying the sun.

At South Lake, we had a good look for the Mediterranean Gull's but couldn't see them (until we got home found 2 adult Med Gull's distant in a picture).

They are there if you look closely.... Promise!

there were also 31 Avocet present on South Lake, largest number we have seen in a long while!

No visit to Slimbridge is complete without a few promised shots of the captive birds!

We were even lucky enough to see both families of Hawaiian Geese goslings who were having a good stretch!

Thanks For Looking !

If you enjoy our blog's, why not follow us on our social media:

Twitter
Facebook

Barn Swallows Return!

Date: 17th April 2016

Location: Newton St Loe Circular - Full Patch

Weather: Blue Sky, Warm, Light Wind

Other Species: 12+ Goldfinch, 3 Bullfinch, 4 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 7+ Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 2+ Skylark, 3 Barn Swallow, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Blackcap, 5 Grey Heron, 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Mute Swan (1 on nest), Mallard (16 ducklings total), Teal, Long-Tailed Tit, Greenfinch, 1 Tawny Owl (calling), 1 Kestrel, 3 Linnet, 5 Yellowhammer, 2 Collared Dove - Of Note - Total Species - 44
Mammals: 1 Hare, 4 Roe Deer, 1 Fox
Butterflies: 1 Orange-Tip (Male), 1 Small White, 7 Peacock, 5 Small Tortoiseshell

Observation: A week until our last patch walk, and as blue skies were forecast off we headed. Through Bath Mill as normal, we were off to a good start as 3 Buzzard were circling on thermals along with a Male Sparrowhawk!

Onto the 'Dog Walk' where a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were calling over each other. Plenty of butterflies on the lane up to Seven Acre, mostly Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell, also a single Small White (first on patch this year).

At the Village, 2 Barn Swallows have returned and were busy catching flies, so nice to see them back and hopefully we get as many as previous years.

At the Village Square, always nice to see our House Sparrows, as they have declined over the year.

A overhead Jackdaw collecting nesting materials, unsure whether he could even see with the amount he has!

At the 'Workshop Covert' one of the 3 Blackcaps (Male) singing proudly in the trees.

The Heronry still has 3 Grey Heron's on nests all were sunning themselves, no young ones yet, but it can't be long!

At the Lake, the first of this years ducklings were present, 2 groups, one with 6 ducklings and the second with 10 duckings.

Top Lake, the pair of Mute Swans are still on nest, unsure on how many eggs as it was sleeping.

We carried on walking out towards Stanton Prior. Not many new birds here apart from Jackdaws, Rooks and another Chiffchaff until we briefly saw a Fox in the distant it ran off into the hedges and then... This stunning Hare came and stood in front of us!

We snapped away and off it went, we came across it again as we were walking but it didn't stay for long that time. Always amazing to see Hare's on our patch!

A pair of Chiffchaff were stunning in the blossom tree so we sat and got some pictures.

As we moved on, we heard a distant Tawny Owl calling, always nice in daylight!

At Home Farm, a fly-past Sparrowhawk and a hovering Kestrel added to our count, in the hedges a small flock of 5 Yellowhammer and 3 Linnet, low numbers of Yellowhammer today so hopefully the Females are on nest.

Also a single Barn Swallow at Home Farm of note.

Back at the Clay's Bottom, a Buzzard was being mobbed by 2 Crows, they later left the Buzzard after it landed in the trees.

As we returned home, our pair of Collared Dove's took out patch walk total to 44, not a record but a lovely walk and great to see our Barn Swallows back!
House Martin's and Swift's will be next!

Thanks For Looking !

If you enjoy our blog's, why not follow us on our social media.

Twitter
Facebook

Birding From The Window - April

Date: 16th April 2016

Location: Home Feeders

Weather: Blue Sky, Sunny Intervals

Other Species: 4 Blue Tit, 5 Great Tit, 2 Bullfinch, 7 Goldfinch, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Long-Tailed Tit, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Magpie, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Greater-Spotted Woodpecker (Male), 1 Wood Pigeon

Observation: This month's 'Birding From The Window' had a added touch of colour, as the Cherry Blossom tree is in full bloom. 

Here's a few of the pictures we got:

Goldfinch - Carduelis Carduelis

Goldfinch - Carduelis Carduelis

Collared Dove - Streptopelia Decaocto

Blue Tit - Cyanistes Caeruleus

Greater Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos Major

Greater Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos Major

Greater Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos Major

Thanks For Looking !

If you enjoy our blog's, why not follow us on our social media.

Twitter
Facebook

Sand Point and Chew Valley

Date: 14/04/2016

Location: Sand Point - Chew Valley

Weather: Blue skies with some cloud - Temp 10-16c

Other Species: 
Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Grasshopper Warbler, Rock Pipit, Peregrine Falcon, Linnet, Skylark, Barn Swallow,
Butterflies: 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Brimstone, 1 Small White.

Observation: 
A day off after a week of decorating and other chores so bit of coastal it was, Sand Bay and the point 4 miles of peace and quiet with plenty of bird song!
After leaving car park Chiffchaff and Blackcap were singing most of the way round walk with Chiffchaff being the most abundant.

 Here's a blurred Blackcap they didn't seem to want their photographs taken !

Sparrowhawk over head and a Peregrine flew in over Middle Hope landed then off it went.

Also heard but couldn't find Grasshopper Warbler reeling :(

A stunning day for a walk eh ! 

(iPhone shot)

 Looking across to Cardiff the Grand Legacy, vehicle transporter was heading to Portishead with not much else flying along channel.

Along Middle Hope more Chiffchaff, Stonechat and Linnet.

Lovely looking Gorse in the sunshine.
Also 6 or so Barn Swallow skimming across fields a lovely sight to see !!

Another Chirpy Chiff

A few Skylark were up singing somewhere and Linnet singing groups of 5/6.

After arriving back to car park thought I'd drop into Chew Valley Lake.

Normal Mallards few Canada Geese not a lot at Heron's Green

This Pied Waggie doing a bit of a Swallow Dance, it worked !!

 Barn Swallows around 6 darted around briefly drinking and gone hopefully back to my home patch Newton St Loe ! (first dodgy pic of the year of this Hundurine)

Then this great looking Dunlin appeared !

Very weary but stunning colours !

That was that but a great day was had. Popped into Newton village on way home but Barnies didn't arrive :( 

Maybe soon.

Thanks For Looking !

If you enjoy our blog's, why not follow us on our social media.

Twitter
Facebook