WWT Slimbridge sightings 16 April 2007

The first Large Red Damslefly of 2007 at the South Finger, WWT, Slimbridge

Great Skua killing a Shelduck off Middle Point
Great Skua loafing way out on the estuary.

16 April 2007 Highlight for me was the first Large Red Damselfly and 2 Grass Snake. Not a bad day for visible bird migration with a constant passage of Herring and LBB Gulls (350), many rested on the Top New Piece, South Lake and a few on the river due to the hard struggle into a Northerly headwind. Flocks of 60, 40 and 25 Black-headed and 20 Common were also noted. While still on the larid theme the adult summer and first summer Mediterranean Gull were in and over the 100 Acre, again circling over the viewing platform feeding on insects with 70 Black-headed Gull. My day started with a the now resident Great Skua floating on the tide, later at 1630 I saw it killing a Shelduck that was sleeping on a sandbar until it was woken by this gruesome but effective killer. Waders were still much the same with Temminck's and 6 Little Stint joining 15 Dunlin, 3 Spotted Redshank and 7 Oystercatcher in the 100 Acre, I saw another ? 2 Spotted Redshank on the Top New Piece later in the day.

Passerine interest for me included the first Reed Warbler (Robbie Garnett hide), 3 Sedge Warblers (2 100 Acre, 1 South Finger reedbed), a Blue-headed Wagtail 100 Acre (it was perched atop a willow in the reedbed nearest the viewing gateway but flew off high North, male Wheatear that was in the entrance to a rabbit burrow near Holden Tower and 40 migrant Meadow Pipit. I did the Wetland Bird survey toady and counted 16 Little Grebe, 10 GC Grebe, 11 Cormorant, 8 Little Egret, 7 Grey Heron, 231 Mute Swan, 107 Greylag, 32 Canada Goose plus goslings in the Rushy, 260 Wigeon, 13 Wigeon, 40 Gadwall, 148 Teal, 4 Pintail, 32 Shoveler, 143 Tufted Duck, 112 Coot, 220 Moorhen, 2 Ruddy Duck, 20 Redshank, 20 Oystercatcher, 60 Lapwing. South Lake had a Green Sandpiper and 5 Black-tailed Godwit, I never spoke to any other birders today so do not have any extra news to add.