WWT Slimbridge sightings 6 and 7 August 2006

The trio of gulls show the usual example of how adult Yellow-legged Gulls look compared to Herring from the Holden Tower/Middle Point. They are facing into a north wind which flattens them a little but the tones, structure and head shape can all be seen. Yellow-legged on the left and Herring on the right. The single gull (third summer ?) was even darker than the nearby adult Yellow-legged but not as dark as the Lesser Black-backed Gulls, it shows a long sloping face, dark eye but has pink legs. Click on the images to enlarge.
7 August 2006 A good day around the reserve where the Small Red-eyed Damselfly was the highlight of an excellent day for me, see the previous diary entry for images. A juvenile Marsh Harrier flew downriver to Middle Point and then rapidly across the river to Awre between 0724-0730. Plenty of warblers around with 50+ Reed Warbler and 50+ Chiffchaff noted about the site and 2+ Lesser Whitethroat among them. A Goldcrest was also in one roaming flock. A flock of 120+ Dunlin were on the river off Middle Point with the juvenile Avocet, 4 Sanderling, 4 Ringed Plover , 10 Oystercatcher and 2 Yellow-legged Gull.

The Top New Piece had 3 Snipe, 9 Green Sandpiper, 2 juvenile Greenshank and 35 Teal.

South Lake had a Pochard, 2 Snipe, 2 Ruff, 1 Spotted Redshank, 27 Redshank, 147 Black-tailed Godwit (1 juvenile), 250 Lapwing, 30 Teal, 15 Shoveler.

The Tack Piece scrape held a juvenile Little-ringed Plover, 14 Green Sandpiper, 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Teal. A single Snipe was flushed near the now dry Holden Tower/Dumbles scrape.

On this afternoon's safari a Greenshank was flying around the 100 Acre and a Clouded Yellow was seen, another was at the South Finger and another near the entrance ramp. Duck numbers are increasing rapidly.

6 August 2006 The Avocet and a Mediterranean Gull were seen on the safari. A flock of 120 Dunlin had 8 Ringed Plover (11 in the morning) and 6 Sanderling among them. 14 of the latter were seen yesterday. A Wheatear was also seen.
The Top New Piece had 3 juvenile Greenshank, 7 Snipe and 10 Green Sandpiper with a Common Sandpiper and 9 Green Sandpiper on the Tack Piece.