WWT Slimbridge sightings 10-12 February 2007

Eurasian Wigeon with abberant facial markings on the Tack Piece 12 February 2007

10-12 February 2007 The Bird Festival Weekend was well attended despite the over the top weather forecasts, thanks to all that visited the event. I hope you said hello to Jeremy Squire on the Anser Birding stand and had a look at the website. The birds had returned to the reserve after the cold spell, 5 Snipe, 5+ Little Stint, 3 Spotted Redshank, 28 Ruff, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Redshank, 1 Knot, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 first-winter Tundra Bean Goose, 1 first-winter Pink-footed Goose and 470 E.White-fronted Geese remained to 11th at least. I only found 336 of the latter on 12th so some may have departed. 201 Bewick's Swans are still on site. The wildfowl and wader flocks are once again spectacular. Water Rail has been showing from Zeiss and the Loke hides with Cetti's Warbler at the former and Kingfisher back on territory (some nest site improvements were made yesterday).