WWT Slimbridge sightings 22 May 2006

One of the seven first-summer Mediterranean Gulls on South Lake 22 May 2006 M.J.McGill.

22 May 2006 Another wet day but some new arrivals brightened it up. On the estuary 19 Sanderling, c35 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Black Tern, 2 Common Terns, 7 Little Egret, 15 Curlew and 293 Shelduck.

The South Lake held 4 male Shoveler, male Teal, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, 7! first-summer Mediterranean Gulls (a record May count), 1 Common Gull, 60 Black-headed Gull.

On the roadside fields the seven Mediterranean Gull commuted through the day and a first-summer Little Gull fed over the floods in the morning. A male Garganey was on the Top New Piece and visited the scrape in front of the Holden Tower. A Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat sang from the Goose House copse.

All marshes, fields and scrapes are flooded to a high level due to the heavy rainfall.