WWT Slimbridge sightings 19 and 20 April 2006

20 April 2006 The rain showers had brought down a few more migrants. The Black-tailed Godwits numbered 62 on South Lake with a Common Sandpiper, a singing Sedge Warbler plus singing Grasshopper Warbler (DBP). The car park field had a female Yellow Wagtail on the deck with the Pieds. The 100 Acre had 150 Swallow, 100 Sand Martin, 2 Swift and 10 House Martin, 1 first-summer Kittiwake, 1 Greenshank, 1 Grey Plover and 7 Black-tailed Godwit flew over, 7 singing Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, calling Cuckoo, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail and a male Whinchat. A flock of at least seven Wheatear were along the foreshore and moving north. Many species are breeding at this crucially sensitive time, I saw Redshank (30 present) tending to eggs with 15 sitting Lapwing so far.

The Holden Tower hides at lunchtime had a Common Whitethroat, 3 Common Sandpiper, immature male Peregrine, c35 Ringed Plover, c25 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 6 Grey Plover, a Little Egret, singing Sedge and Reed Warblers, 50 Sand Martin and 30 Swallow on view. M.J.McGill.

19 April 2006 I started the day with a single Common Sandpiper on Frampton Townfield lake at 0620. No sign of the pair of Avocet around the reserve from 0645 to end of the day. The Black-tailed Godwit flock numbered 62 on South Lake with 2 in the 100 Acre and 26 on the estuary mud. The flock are mobile so may be some of the same birds. The South Lake also held 10 Lapwing, 6 Oystercatcher and a Common Sandpiper with a pair of displaying G.C.Grebe.
At the 100 Acre/Bull Ground and all viewable from the WWT platform a male Blue-headed Wagtail , probable lutea (Yellow-headed Wagtail) with at least five Yellow Wagtail (four males, one female), three were seen/heard overflying northwards. There may have been a few more. No wagtails were seen later despite a search. A Swift over the reedbed with 100 Swallow 3 House Martin and 40 Sand Martin. The wintering Spotted Redshank was also present along with 2 Pintail, 50 Teal, 20 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall and 12 Wigeon. The Top New Piece held 2 Pintail among the duck. 100 Swallow and 50 Sand Martin were around the centre. A flock of 9 Yellow Wagtail flew over the Rushy at 1600, two were in the Rushy and two males and one female were in the Big Pen all afternoon. More were reported on South Lake. At least five Wheatear were seen, three in the 100 Acre, 1 Middle Point and one along the foreshore. Only four Ringed Plover were seen on the river at lunchtime. A male Cetti's Warbler was calling from the Water Vole enclosure