WWT Slimbridge. At Last. (Part One)

So after the carnage was our last attempted trip to Slimbridge, Mrs PB said "You're off Sunday, if we wait for a perfect forecast we might never go. We're going to Slimbridge!" Who was I to argue!! 

As stated, the forecast wasn't perfect, in fact there were only brief moments of sunshine, but it stayed dry all but a few spits and spots and I took a vast number of pictures. In fact, too many for one post, so I've split them into UK Regulars/Migrants (Part One) and foreign specimen stuff that I now wish I'd taken photo's of the name plates of (Part 2)

Prior to arriving I checked the latest sightings page, and a Glossy Ibis was apparently still present just in the fields on the reserve's approach road. We pulled into the car park at about 9, and with half an hour to kill before opening time, ate the delicious sausages in french stick we'd cannily prepared for brekkie! I then tromped off down the road to see if the aforementioned bird was about.... It wasn't, but on the way there and back there were:

Herring Gulls

Greylag

In quantity, in convoy!

Ducks

A couple of Wrens, one singing, one looking like it might have found a snackette

A Blue and a Great Tit bounced along the hedgeline, before soaring into a tree

Where a pair of Long Tailed Tits popped in then out again

A small charm of Goldfinches chirrupped their merry way through the canopy, dropping regularly to the road

And a single Robin chided me for dallying... "It's 9:30 and Mrs PB is waiting!!"

I returned to my beloved, and we strolled into the Wetland Centre, whistling a jaunty hornpipe (I may have embellished that last bit!)

First up, a Coot, that had the hump with a Moorhen, before gathering some nesting materials

The Jackdaws were keeping a keen eye on proceedings

A good number of Tufted Ducks were in the pond/pool/lake/lagoon (delete as applicable!)

The most prevalent Goose thus far had been Greylag

Not sure if this is the start of fruitiness?

There was a separated pool, that had Eider, Smew and Goldeneye in, along with some unknown to me, so here in Part 1 I'll put the known subjects!

Smew

Goldeneye

Mr & Mrs Eider

And stretchhhhhhh

Female Goldeneye

"Ooooh, pick me, pick me.... with your Golden Eye, I have fallen under your spell!"

And then the deed was done!

I've heard of a god complex, but not a Jesus one!

Another Jenny shouted at us from the water's edge

Mrs Goldeneye, relaxed after her "exertions"!

The first of a few White Fronted Gooses

Are these the oddest feet in the bird world?

A possible Greenland variant White Fronted Goose

Bewick Swan

Barnacle Goose

There are more of this next one in the other thread...but to whet your appetite... Hooded Merganser

Patrolling the perimeter a couple of Carrotbills

There were a lot of Shelducks about

In the walk through aviary, which was sadly, but understandably, not open were a flock of Black Tailed Godwits, and also a few Little Egrets

We stopped for a coffee at a convenient kiosk, and there was a Moorhen, several Jackdaws, and a particularly unafraid Rook (who took food from the hand of the chap sat at the picnic table behind us) skittering about hoovering up scraps and crumbs

As we moved on, we saw some Black Necked Swans (oops, should have been in part 2....Hey-Ho )

One of the reasons for going to Slimbridge was the hope of my first Cranes... two flew over head whilst we were in one of the hides, but with no chance of a picture. Fortunately, it appears they landed quite conveniently within the WWT site

In a moment of sunshine one of the Teal glistened

And we got a different angle on the Cranes

In another closed area, were Ruff (I think), Oystercatcher and Avocets

As we moved on, my 2nd first of the day... and another reason for going to Slimbridge... Water Rail... just popped out of nowhere alongside the path!!

Earlier in the winter there were hundreds, if not thousands of Bewicks, but according to their website, Slimbridge was down to 40ish as they'd moved back to their summer grounds

As we moved on a flicker of movement, and red, caught my eye.... Something I've not seen in ages, and never watched for so long.... Green Woodie

As well as the Black Necked and Bewick Swans , there were plenty of Mute, and one Black

My THIRD first of the day... Pintail

There were more Shelduck in this lagoon

And overhead, more Greylag continued to fly in

Whistling Wigeon was one of the sounds of the day

And a stunning Gadwall oozed class as he drifted effortlessly by

The Three Barnacle Stooges.... not sure how they avoided one another

And showing the three stages of landing: Head forward/Feet back...Head and Feet forward... Everything vertical!

I couldn't resist the light here on Mrs Teal

But Mr had to go one better!

And so ended a fabulous day with 3 new sightings (of "normal" birds) and all down to Mrs PB for deciding we needed to go out.

As we drove out at the end of the road.... a queue of parked cars.... people with cameras at the road side....... it was only the Glossy Ibis..... 4 New Sightings in a day!!!!!!

Thanks for perusing, and hopefully see you in Part 2! Part 2 Here

Stay Safe All