Spotted Crake

Sunday 25th April 2010

The SPOTTED CRAKE at WWT Slimbridge this evening was the star bird of the day, showing very well close to the Robbie Garnett hide from 7.30pm - 7.50pm at least (photos above and below).

I'd already spent a pretty successful morning birding with Andy, the highlights being 19 Whimbrel, 13 Ringed Plover, three Lesser Whitethroats and a Wheatear at Fretherne, 13 Swifts at Frampton church, a very smart male Whinchat, a Cetti's Warbler and a Ruff at the WWT 100-acre, and three Common Terns on the sailing lake.

Yesterday I saw my first two House Martins of the year at Batsford church, next to the arboretum.

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