WWT Slimbridge sightings 19 March 2006

19 March 2006 I did the WeBS (Wetalnd Bird Survey) today and logged the following numbers. 4 Little Grebe, 2 GCGrebe, 14 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 195 Mute Swan, 7 Bewick's Swan, 132 Western Greylag, 37 Canada, 416 Shelduck, 790 Wigeon, 91 Gadwall, 407 Teal, 1026 Mallard, 274 Pintail, 58, Shoveler, 247 Pochard, 250 Tufted Duck, 10 Mandarin, 347 Moorhen, 189 Coot, 1 Spotted Redshank, 10 Oystercatcher, 10 Redshank, 349 Lapwing on road fields with c60 100 Acre, some on territory. Dunlin 120, 2 Little Stint, 6 Ruff, 309 Curlew. There is a good passage of Pochard and Pintail at the moment, the latter has appeared in unusual places so are migrants rather than the wintering birds. The majority of these departed last week, check your local diving duck, who knows what Americans they may have with them. Also compare todays total with last weeks count of Shoveler (some may be hiding from the wind in the reeds).

A flock of c12 Siskin were along the West finger hides, a single Redpoll and two Redwing noted. The large gull passage continued with a few hundred Black-headed Gull/Common Gull around the estuary.MJM.