Sightings - Slimbridge
Catch the Tide Part One
Catch the TideWe were rewarded with a really good tide this morning, the surge came over and flooded the Dumbles, the birding was brilliant in the winter sunshine. Another chance tomorrow.Estuary Tower25+ Skylark, 3+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Goldfinch, Redwing, ju
12 February 2024
Feb WeBS
Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) Count for Sunday 11 February 202412 Cormorant, 13 Little Egret (missed the early roost), 2 Great Egret, 10 Cattle Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 7 Crane, 143 Mute Swan, 2 Whooper Swan (one on Tack Piece and one Rushy, latter remained all
11 February 2024
Water levels back up after the rains
The water levels have returned to peak height following some very heavy rainfall but is of course providing the perfect conditions for feeding wildfowl and waders. Estuary TowerThe juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Goose was on the Dumbles saltmarsh with the Ba
8 February 2024
Otters and Goshawk
The Otter family were again seen down at the South Finger today, the channel that we de-silted a couple of years back has been a popular fishing ground for them this winter. A male Goshawk was seen this morning from the South Finger hides, it's likely to
7 February 2024
Earliest ever Kingfisher breeding activity!
Kingfishers on the WWT Slimbridge reserve Following on from a busy 2022/23 winter for Kingfisher sightings we had a brilliant breeding season in 2023, three broods reared at a minimum of two nest sites, we even recorded our latest ever breeding attempt w
5 February 2024
Lapwing and Golden Plover counts
A couple of notable counts today 2673 Golden Plover and 2494 Lapwing on the reserve around midday. Estuary Tower1288 Lapwing and 260 Golden Plover on the Dumbles, Dark-bellied Brent Goose on the scrape this afternoon. 250+ Pintail on the Severn. Rushy Hid
4 February 2024
Hello February
Tack PieceThis is the busiest spot for waders this morning, close views of 1000 Dunlin, 880 Lapwing, 1000+ Golden Plover, Ruff and Redshank, 900+ Wigeon and Bewick's Swans (115 on site today) + Weasel near to Robbie Garnett Hide.
1 February 2024
Sightings for the last day of January 2024
Tack Piece223 Russian White-fronted Geese roosted on the Tack Piece with single Barnacle and Snow Goose. Fifteen Bewick's Swans roosted. Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory99 Bewick's Swan roosted with a Whooper Swan at dawn. Another single Bewick's and Whooper S
31 January 2024
Discovery Hide update- work on hold until later this week
The contractors that are due in to replace the Discovery Hide windows have pushed back the start date until 'later' this week. Sightings for today as followsSouth Lake260 Lapwing, 6 Avocet, 5 Oystercatcher, 32 Pochard + Shoveler, Teal and Tufted Ducks amo
30 January 2024
Discovery Hide work plan and latest sightings
Discovery Hide at South LakeWork begins from tomorrow Tuesday 30 January 2024 to remove and replace the large picture windows and frames due to extensive wood rot, this will cause some localised disturbance although some birds will remain and even return
29 January 2024
Sunday 28 January 2024
The wintering birds continue on site, highlights today as followsEstuary TowerThe leucistic Lapwing with the roving Lapwing flock, Little Stint among the Dunlin, two Great Egrets in the fields and ditches to the North of the Tack Piece plus the Russian Wh
28 January 2024
Returning birds following the thaw
After a very cold spell with largely frozen waters the thaw has set in with a return to wet and windy conditions, the wading birds began to return to the fields and scrapes and wildfowl numbers, particularly the dabbling ducks, good to see them back on th
21 January 2024
14 January Wetland Bird Survey and sightings for 16 January
The January 2024 WeBS count was affected by the cold and ice coverage, large numbers of birds have moved off the reserve (but not to the adjacent Severn) or dispersed across the fields inland. The following totals were counted.24 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret
16 January 2024
Cold spell continues
The cold weather this week continues with even colder night time temperatures yet to come, all shallow water areas have been frozen in the mornings but thawing by the afternoon, some numbers are down as they disperse over a wide area to feed or move to op
15 January 2024
Highest count of Bewick's Swan and Russian White-fronted Geese so far this winter
Bewick's Swan newsHighest flock count of the winter so far with 114 Bewick's Swans and 2 Whoopers Swans feeding in the fields NE of the car park this afternoon, visible from the Sloane Severn View Observation Tower at the visitor centre. Van de Bovenkamp
11 January 2024