WWT Slimbridge and local sightings 10-12 May 2006

Black Tern over WWT 100 Acre J.S.Lees.

12 May 2006 JSL had three Black Terns hawking over the 100 Acre from 0715 to 0805 at least. They were also seen on Frampton Townfield Lake later. Also around the WWT reserve were 4 Common Terns, 2 Whinchat both females on the fence line by Middle Point, 1 Wheatear ,a male on fence around the 100 acre pools, 1Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 8 Sedge Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 15 Reed Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garganey males Top New Piece, possibly 3 Garganey 100 acre (DBP), 2 Wigeon TNP, 91 Shelduck over high tide, 8 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little-Ringed Plover South Lake with a pair on the 100 Acre, 1 Spotted Redshank an adult in full breeding plumage on the Bottom New Piece flood and later at the 100 Acre, 1 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 14 Oystercatcher, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Raven, 3 Little Egrets.

In the evening MJM recorded 1 Yellow Wagtail male, 3 Little Egret, 2 Little-ringed Plover, 4 Greenshank, drake Garganey, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Black-tailed Godwit (limosa), 5 Sanderling, 60 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, 20 Curlew, 6 Oystercatcher, 2 Turnstone, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Plover and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull in the 100 Acre and Frampton area.

11 May 2006 MJM had a first-summer Mediterranean Gull and two second summers (paired) three pairs of Common Tern plus 16 singing Reed Warbler around the 100 Acre.

A breeding wader survey between the 100 Acre and Fretherne proved encouraging. A pair of Yellow Wagtail, 2 drake Garganey, 4 Greenshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwit were all seen as well as the female Cape Shelduck. Two pairs of Great Crested Grebe are nest-building on the Top New Piece scrape, due to the improvements on the reserve we in conjunction with the Environment Agency have doubled the breeding population to six pairs.

10 May 2006 In the morning two Sand Martin flew north, a first summer Little Gull (two present later), 2 Dunlin were all in the 100 Acre and a Yellow Wagtail went north over Middle Point. 50 Dunlin were on the river. A female Cape Shelduck was seen around today.

Breeding Great Crested Grebe WWT Top New Piece 11 May 2006 J.S.Lees.