A seminal birding moment for me this morning; after years of wishing, hoping and dipping, there it was - a Black Redstart. It was an immature male bird, wintering at Sharpness Dock in Gloucestershire, twitched from the car. It showed amazingly well and was full of character; it fed, preened and tail quivered a plenty. We watched it for about an hour, before heading off to Slimbridge WWT.
At Slimbridge we first visited some of the hides overlooking the Tack Piece. Lots of Bewicks Swans (lifer), Lapwing, Curlew, Buzzard, Shelduck, Gadwall, Shoveler, Redshank and some good year ticks such as Pintail, Ruff and Spotted Redshank. We had a GS Woody (year tick) on the way to the Holden Tower.
I found the Holden Tower very uncomfortable and awkward to bird from with my scope and I couldn’t get a very good handle on things but we saw lots of Eurasian White Fronted Geese and the Tundra Bean Goose, with a little help (lifer). There were also Barnacle Geese (year tick), Golden Plover, many Wigeon and a few Dunlin. Didn’t see any Little Stints though.
We then went off to Fretherne to look for the Cattle Egret, which has been reported in a paddock there along with several Little Egret. We didn’t see any Egrets at all, but then I’m not quite sure we were in the right place. Driving round the wider area on the off chance of picking Egrets up….we came across something better (IMO, anyway)…two Little Owls; we watched them from only 10 feet away and we could see straight into their yellow eyes (year tick). We’re off out soon to celebrate a most memorable days birding….especially the Black Redstart…here’s to many more…
At Slimbridge we first visited some of the hides overlooking the Tack Piece. Lots of Bewicks Swans (lifer), Lapwing, Curlew, Buzzard, Shelduck, Gadwall, Shoveler, Redshank and some good year ticks such as Pintail, Ruff and Spotted Redshank. We had a GS Woody (year tick) on the way to the Holden Tower.
I found the Holden Tower very uncomfortable and awkward to bird from with my scope and I couldn’t get a very good handle on things but we saw lots of Eurasian White Fronted Geese and the Tundra Bean Goose, with a little help (lifer). There were also Barnacle Geese (year tick), Golden Plover, many Wigeon and a few Dunlin. Didn’t see any Little Stints though.
We then went off to Fretherne to look for the Cattle Egret, which has been reported in a paddock there along with several Little Egret. We didn’t see any Egrets at all, but then I’m not quite sure we were in the right place. Driving round the wider area on the off chance of picking Egrets up….we came across something better (IMO, anyway)…two Little Owls; we watched them from only 10 feet away and we could see straight into their yellow eyes (year tick). We’re off out soon to celebrate a most memorable days birding….especially the Black Redstart…here’s to many more…
5 comments:
Congratulations on your Black Redstart. I went to Slimbridge too yesterday. Great birders think alike!!!!! I saw the Cattle Egret at Fretherne but it was difficult. You will see by my blog entries that I have had a good weekend birding. Speak to you soon
Hi Kay
Blogs looking great .......Steve.
Thanks for the comments guys - much appreciated :)
hi folks, great blog. i'm at caravan pk next to Slimbridge (using mobile internet - great leap forward!), it's v quiet here at this time of year but I was still surprised to see a single little egret on the adjacent grass field last Saturday... good view from caravan window!! it hung around for a few minutes only, peered critically at the grass, then went off towards Slimbridge (the village, not the reserve). haven't seen any since, sadly. Pristine white plumage is v conpicuous so hard to miss. i'm looking for it now, but it's pouring & blowing a gale - no sign of anything except tough old rooks...
keep up the good blog
linda
Thanks Linda :) A Cattle Egret also reported from Slimbridge today, a few around that area lately, so its worth keeping an eye out.
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