WWT Slimbridge sightings 30 March 2006

30 March 2006 Yet another blustery and eventually wet day. Some more arrivals were noted today. At the Holden Tower between 0900 and 0950 an adult Kittiwake headed upriver, a Sandwich Tern flew past and settled for a while on the Tack Piece flood. A second-summer Mediterranean Gull was on the Top New Piece with 17 Black-tailed Godwit , the male Greater Scaup and three Little Egret. The Dumbles held a Little Stint, c12 Ringed Plover and c10 Dunlin before it flooded. At least three Swallow and 10 Sand Martin hawked over the floods. Two Willow Warbler were along the track with a third at the 100 Acre.

A first-summer Mediterranean Gull was also seen today on the river. A flock of 50 Sand Martin were over the 100 Acre with two Jack and 4 Common Snipe seen in the Bull Ground. It seems that two pairs of Kingfisher are present at the breeding site and have excavated in the same face. I will investigate this on Sunday.

Right: The Dumbles in full flood, if the seawall was not there we would have some very interesting wetlands. The difference in height/levels is clear.



The Sandwich Tern resting on the Tack Piece floods 30 March 2006. M.J.McGill.

A flock of 3 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Siskin were in the Decoy marsh garden.