Slimbridge ... a brief tour

 Collared Pratincole has never been recorded here in Cumbria, contrary to some published material eg. Brown & Grice 2005.  Recently one was reported in Northumberland and also in Cleveland.  Hence, a trip to Slimbridge.

I arrived in the Discovery Hide and a helpful member of staff told me it was on the small island.  Peering into the sun across the extensive South Pool I scanned all the smallish islands but with no success.  The small island turned out to be a tiny patch of half submerged shingle only 30m or so in front of the hide.

Here it carries a recently caught wasp.

During the course of the morning the sun became less unfavourable and the bird gave good views ...

It flew circuits of the pool occasionally but remarkably always returned to an area of shingle just in front of the hide ...

Slimbridge always seems to deliver an interesting selection of birds.  Most of these were rather distantly out on the fields toiwards the river so phonescoping was the only option ...

A group of Russian White-fronted Geese fed way out along with some Barnacle Geese and Greylags ...

and a Snow Goose flew in, although probably not from America ...

... followed by a small group of Cranes ...

... what a wonderfull place !

Some waders roosted by a pool from the Zeiss Hide ... along with the Redshank were two Spotted Redshanks ... just occasionally preening a moving a few steps ...

Also a Great White Egret conveniently posed along with two Little Egrets to emphasise its greater stature ...