WWT Slimbridge sightings 24 October 2006

Male Stonechat along the Top/Bottom New Piece hedge. This species benefits from the change in use from goose pasture to wet grassland with rough headlands. We expect it to increase further and is now a well established wintering visitor. October and November are the best months for numbers of this species along with the Cetti's Warbler. Image by M.J.McGill.

24 October 2006 The highlight of the day was a brief female/immature Red-breasted Merganser that flewupriver as the tide flooded. In the bushes around the Holden Tower a Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing and 6 Blackbirds were present, 1300 Golden Plover were on the Dumbles with 18 Ruff, 500 Lapwing, 3 Knot, 3 Little Stint, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, c40 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Dark-bellied Brent and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. A number of Goldcrests were around the South Finger feeding station which has been somewhat revamped to increase interest. A male Stonechat was on the hedges near here (see above).