Slimbridge Part One- Not The Collection

Mrs PB and myself had coincidental days off this week, so yesterday we elected on a re-visit to Slimbridge, as it was forecast dry, and sunny intervals. I took a lot of pictures, but have split them (as the title suggests) into "regular" birds, and the collection birds.... although there is an enclosed aviary, which I've split between the two posts.

I hope you're ready for lots of "Awwww"'s..... greeted by Greylag

The original ... step!

There were a good few corvids about.... These Rooks particularly unbothered by people

Think of the damage this could do!

The Eider's and Goldeneye appear to have bred, and I wasn't sure which thread to put them in...

Rising up from the depths

There were a few Swallows fizzing about

Quite a few Black Headed Gulls were about, and just the one Herring Gull

Jackdaws were numerous, and around the various picnic tables, fearless

AWWWWWWWwwwww.... Got to admit... the parents weren't keen on my being this close and started posturing, but to be fair....the chick walked to me, with no encouragement!!

High in a tree Mrs PB spotted the Whitethroat (at least I think that's what it was.... although I have an out of focus shot of it singing in flight, that has a white eyebrow....?

A shiny blue bug, sat atop a post, on the way to the aviary

Slimbridge call it a Waterscapes Aviary, and it houses UK waders of various sorts, but as it's enclosed I wasn't sure whether to include it here or not, so split it... 

Redshank... these flew about most often

Ruff

Avocets

Since I was a kid, having seen a picture of a Ruff in breeding plumage in my Observer Book of British Birds, I didn't believe they were real.... wrong!!

Not sure what sort of fly/bee this is, but I didn't notice it's eyes (even when it had landed on me) until I saw the photo

Oooooh....I need a wee

There were a group of 4 Little Egret, that remained aloof, just sitting on the top of the entrance hut

And for a change, we were in the cage looking out

Vigorous pollen gathering going on!

From one of the hides, a duckling was bobbing away

High up a tree, a Chiffchaff was boring everyone silly with it's constant "song"

And on a sign, a possible Cardinal Beetle

Variable Damselfly

I think a Blue Tailed Damselfly

Some Swallow inaction

Eagle-eyed Mrs PB then spotted a dragon...... A Black Tailed Skimmer

I spotted another Blue Tailed Damsel

And then, awww

One of the parents then indulged in a massively splashy wash, including a barrel roll.... twice..... but I had my big lens on and I was too close.... then a multiple AWWW-gasm 

Moving on toward the "Summer Walkway" I spotted a Speckled Wood

And a pair of damsels, making more damsels... Common Blue, I think

One of the "non-aviaried" Avocets

A pair of Wrens were in close proximity to one another

And a nesting Avocet has her sentinel

I had hoped to see more butterflies along the Summer Walkway, but it was one of those frustrating days when the sun didn't shine for any long period of time, but I did spot what I think is a Large Skipper

And a green aphid-y thing

I heard a sweet song, and I tracked it to a not dunnock, not singing, not up a tree

On my way back to the car I spotted the Skipper again, this time closer

And arriving back at the car park.... Pied Waggie :o)

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed part one of the Slimbridge visit.

As always, any ID corrections gratefully received.... Part two will probably need more!!

Stay Safe All