Sightings 17 March 2006

17 March 2006 I did not get out today (looking after both children) but James Lees did. He reports the 7 Bewick's Swans and 100 Dunlin, 12 Siskin (8 males), 2 Lesser Redpoll at WWT Slimbridge. The finches were on the entrance pond alders and it was even quiter than yesterday. He was also at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset at dusk to view the gull roost. He located an adult Ring-billed Gull among the 10,000 plus Common Gulls which was a welcome addition to local birders year lists. Up in Scotland, Jeremy Squire was out counting Eider (450) in Angus whilst waiting out in the cold with a bag of bread for the Bonaparte's Gull.