Slimbridge

Saturday 17th November 2007

A comparitively milder day after the frosts of the last two days.
At Slimbridge WWT this morning, 43 Bewick's Swans and 73 White-fronted Geese were on the roadside fields. The swans included Gulfoss (ringed TXP) and Grindavik (ringed BCP) with their cygnet. One of the Geese was sporting a neck ring with the letters large N with PC below. On the Tack Piece there were 200 Dunlin, 200 Lapwing, 300 Golden Plover, five Redshanks, a Curlew, 2200 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 30 Pintail, seven Shoveler, two Shelduck and a male Sparrowhawk which took a Dunlin which it then released after being mobbed. A Pergerine was on the Dumbles and three more Bewick's Swans were in the Rushy Pen.
At Splatt bridge, Frampton, there was a male Blackcap, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and c10 Fieldfares. There are a lot of Fieldfares about now. One in the garden on Thursday was a first, and 50 flew over the garden this afternoon.

(photos: Wigeon grazing on the Tack Piece)

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