WWT Slimbridge sightings 31 October 2006

31 October 2006 The goose flocks provided the most interest today with an increase in European White-fronted Geese taking the tally to 39. Among this group I was delighted to pick out two Greenland White-fronted Geese, we have not had any records for a few years so they are most welcome. The Barnacle Goose flock has been fairly stable at 114 recently but in line with the Greenland Whitefront arrival a further ten have joined the flock taking it to 124. Historically Barnacle Geese have been annual at Slimbridge but this is hard to judge with the naturalized birds wintering here these days. It is possbile that the extra birds are genuine migrants. Other birds apart from the large numbers of wildfowl included 300 Golden Plover, 177 Dunlin, 1 Greater Scaup, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little Stint, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Redpoll.