WWT Slimbridge sightings 15 March 2006

Image 1; One of the South Lake 'Oycs' from Hogarth Hide M.J.McGill.
15 March 2006 A misty start to the day but turned out sunny and clear. A hint of spring with migrants arriving on the reserve. 11 Oystercatcher, c30 Meadow Pipit, 2-3 Ringed Plover, a female Stonechat and hundreds of Common and Black-headed Gulls joined the large gull passage or fed on the estuary. A Little Egret fed in one of the new scrapes. All of these birds were new in. Lapwing, Oystercatcher (four pairs) Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting (5 males), Kingfisher (two on territory), Little Grebe (three) and Great Crested Grebe (two) were all singing or displaying. As for winter visitors ; 8 Ruff, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Dunlin, 2 Jack Snipe, 13 Snipe, 110 Curlew, 60 Golden Plover, 10 Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 6 Bewick's Swans, 160 Pochard, 157 Pintail, the first-summer Greater Scaup (Euro enclosure), 730 Wigeon remained on site. A male Cetti's Warbler sang in the 100 Acre and South Finger reed-bed.

Image 2; Male Eurasian Shelduck head portrait from South Lake Observatory. M.JMcGill.