A weekend at WWT Slimbridge

Date:  24 & 25 February 2018

Location:  WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, GL2 7BT
Weather:  Sunny, but freezing!

We were a little disappointed last time we visited Slimbridge as we didn't get to see the cranes, so this time they were our target bird. 

We arrived around 10am on the Saturday and the weather was lovely and clear, but it was absolutely freezing. We had made a list of the birds we wanted to see and where they had been spotted and began exploring hoping to boost the numbers of our #My200BirdYear which was 64 at the start of the day.

The entrance to WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre

There is wildlife before you even enter the door. A nesting dove roosting in the doorway

A black headed gull standing on an icy pond.

The Peng Observatory

Beswick Swan (life tick!)

Quite a few birds from this hide including Canada Geese, Pintails,
Black Headed Gull, Shelduck, Tufted Duck & Greylag Geese

Bottoms up! A selection of duck bottoms :)

Over 4 birds in this 1 pic! Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Tufted Duck and Pintail Duck

The Martin Smith Hide

Buzzard contemplating dinner...

...Wigeon or Lapwing?

Very happy to have spotted our first crane of the day!

More Beswick Swans (plus a lapwing and pair of shovelers)

A pair of Greylag Geese getting to know each other ;)

Holden Tower (with awesome views overlooking the Severn Estuary)

Amazingly four different geese in one photo: Whitefronted Goose (life tick),
Redbreasted Goose (life tick), Barnacle Goose & Canada Goose

Such beautiful markings on the White Fronted Goose

 Jackdaw on nearby branch

Redshank 

Willow Hide

Teal

An amazing Water Rail we spotted from the Willow Hide

Song Thrush with juicy worm

Knot Hide

Snipe

Little Grebe

South Lake & Hogarth hides

Little Stint

Avocet

Birds at Slimbridge

Rook

Kingfisher hides

Treecreeper

Rat