WWT Slimbridge and Gloucestershire sightings 6 and 7 January 2006
6 January 2006 Whilst surveying part of the reserve at Slimbridge, James Lees flushed 18 Jack Snipe. This backs up the high counts seen in a the same area last winter. It is great to know that so many are present on the reserve and may be mean that WWT's reserve is among the most important sites for this species in Britain.
7 January 2006 A grey, misty day saw me heading off to Littledean on the edge of the Forest of Dean to search through the large flock of Lesser Redpoll. Many Gloucestershire birders have been seeing between one and seven Mealy Redpoll among them since John Phillips discovered them last year. I saw at least three together at one time with four being reported today. It was good to see the finches doing so well from the setaside.
After enjoying the 'polls' I headed off to Lydney (family day out to the Dean Forest Railway) but stopped off at Lydney lakes. On 2nd a gentlemen had reported three Scaup to Mike King so I wanted to see if they were still there. Three Greater Scaup which consisted of two first winter males and a first winter female were showing very well on the first pool on the left after Lydney Station level crossing. It is a private area and must be viewed only from the road.
We do not get too many Greater Scaup in Gloucestershire. I have seen single males in the CWP three/four times, a male at Fretherne in 2005 that flew up the Severn and landed on the floods, a male at Bourton Pits, first winters at Frampton Pools on a couple of occaisions but most have been at WWT Slimbridge. Around four singles, duos in three winters, a group of four and one winter I noted six wintering around the grounds with Tufted Duck and Pochard. I last saw one at WWT on the Top New Piece in January 2005 after gales. These classy diving ducks are often long stayers during the colder months. Martin McGill.
James Lees was also in the Forest of Dean and was fortunate enough to see Lesser-spotted Woodpecker at Speech House and Willow Tit at Mallard's Pike as well as many other easier to find woodland species.
7 January 2006 A grey, misty day saw me heading off to Littledean on the edge of the Forest of Dean to search through the large flock of Lesser Redpoll. Many Gloucestershire birders have been seeing between one and seven Mealy Redpoll among them since John Phillips discovered them last year. I saw at least three together at one time with four being reported today. It was good to see the finches doing so well from the setaside.
After enjoying the 'polls' I headed off to Lydney (family day out to the Dean Forest Railway) but stopped off at Lydney lakes. On 2nd a gentlemen had reported three Scaup to Mike King so I wanted to see if they were still there. Three Greater Scaup which consisted of two first winter males and a first winter female were showing very well on the first pool on the left after Lydney Station level crossing. It is a private area and must be viewed only from the road.
We do not get too many Greater Scaup in Gloucestershire. I have seen single males in the CWP three/four times, a male at Fretherne in 2005 that flew up the Severn and landed on the floods, a male at Bourton Pits, first winters at Frampton Pools on a couple of occaisions but most have been at WWT Slimbridge. Around four singles, duos in three winters, a group of four and one winter I noted six wintering around the grounds with Tufted Duck and Pochard. I last saw one at WWT on the Top New Piece in January 2005 after gales. These classy diving ducks are often long stayers during the colder months. Martin McGill.
James Lees was also in the Forest of Dean and was fortunate enough to see Lesser-spotted Woodpecker at Speech House and Willow Tit at Mallard's Pike as well as many other easier to find woodland species.
posted by Anser Team at Saturday, January 07, 2006
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