WWT Slimbridge sightings 22 and 23 October 2006

Pied Wagtail from the Holden Tower 22 October 2006 and colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit on the South Lake 18 October 2006 (the bird was ringed by WWT Slimbridge staff in Iceland during the summer) M.J.McGill.

23 October 2006 No sign of the scarcer birds from yesterday but a few new migrants were encouraging. From the Holden Tower over high tide 2 Peregrine, 800 Golden Plover, 609 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Stint, 15 Ruff, 500 Lapwing, 250 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 37 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Dark-bellied Brent and a few Greater White-fronted Geese. Two Blackcap, a few Reed Bunting, 7 Blackbird, 2 Redwing and a couple of Goldcrest were in the bushes.

The South Finger reedbed had two calling Water Rail, 2 Reed Buntings, at least 3 Blackcap, 2 Cetti's Warbler and a Reed Warbler. In the Top New Piece reedbed a Reed Warbler was joined by a Cetti's Warbler. A flock of 6 Redpoll went over south but may be feeding birds touring the alders. At lunchtime we checked the north end where a Wheatear and five Stonechats were the highlights.

22 October 2006 A blustery night may have brought a few more birds to the area. Over the high tide from the Holden Tower we logged 2 Peregrine, 1 Oystercatcher, 736 Golden Plover, 9 Grey Plover, 40 Dunlin, 100 Curlew, 500 Lapwing, 1 Ruff, 2 Little Stint, 2 Dark-bellied Brents, 31 Greater White-fronted Geese, 2 large continental Greylag which remained seperate from the 350+ Western Greylag but the highlight was a juvenile Pink-footed Goose 0745-0950 at least and first-winter Ring-billed Gull 0900-1030 at least. The latter was seen in flight and compared to the nearby Common Gulls.

Among the thousands of duck around the scrapes a Ferruginous type was seen in the Rushy but the rain hampered viewing.