A refreshing couple of days away was much needed and much enjoyed! WWT Slimbridge was chosen as it is easily accessible from the overnight accommodation which is situated next to the canal bridge that takes you over to the wetlands, an added bonus is the canal path for a walk if you are feeling energetic after a day at Slimbridge.
I have posted a few times in the past of these wetlands so I will just post a few images taken over the 2 days.
After an early frost the day warmed up slightly as the sun shone to give a glorious winters day.
Black-necked Swan
I have read that these swans are less aggressive than their closest relatives the Mute or Black Swan, however they are known to be particularly intolerant of European Shelducks! I wonder why?
Bufflehead (m)
A Sea duck, the Bufflehead is a wide spread breeding bird in Canada.
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Bufflehead (f)
Chiloe Wigeon
A dabbling duck of South America
Comb Duck
The Comb Duck is found in the tropical wetlands of Madagascar, Africa, South Asia and in South America. It's numbers are in decline due to habitat loss and hunting.
Hooded Merganser
The Hooded Mergansers are the second smallest Merganser with only the Smew of Europe and Asia being smaller. An attractive sea duck!
Orinoca Geese
(Appearance: Female is the same as the Drake though being slightly smaller)
The Orinoca Goose is a member of the Shelduck subfamily. In flight it looks more like a goose than a duck hence the name. It is normally seen on land or perching on trees and rarely seen in the water or in flight.
The male has a high pitched whistle and the female cackles.
I wonder if they get on with the Black-necked Swans?
Redhead
The Redhead is a diving duck similiar in appearance to Common Pochard, however they can be identified by their yellow eye rather than the red eye of the latter.
Red Shoveler (m)
The Red Shoveler, is a dabbling duck of the Anas genus found in South America.
Scaup.... (Lesser)?
The Lesser Scaup is very similiar in appearance to the Greater Scaup except smaller and not as bulky.
The above birds were seen in the 'Collection' area of the reserve.
Common Shelduck
Bewick's Swan
I was pleased to have caught up with the Bewick's Swans before they depart to their breeding grounds in the Russian Arctic in the spring.
The first Bewick's Swan to return to Slimbridge this Winter was 'Allington', arriving on Saturday 30th October 2021.
Bewick's Swans, Pintails and Tufted Ducks.
Nest building Coots!
Greylag Goose
To help in the prevention of the spread of Avian influenza you cannot feed the birds right now. It was noticeable there were just a few Greylag Geese and I did not spot a Nene Goose which is symbolic with Sir Peter Scott and WWT Slimbridge. The Flamingos are being housed for the duration of the winter.
I would imagine that for now young children are missing feeding the birds as it is a highlight for them...... and the birds!
Moorhen
This Moorhen was eating the seeds of a Gunnera flower spike (commonly know as Giant Rhubarb), there is certainly plenty of seeds on the spike!
A sleeping Mute Swan.
Few were seen on 'Swan Lake' maybe due to the lack of food normally spilled when the Geese etc were fed by visitors.
Northern Pintail (m)
Such an elegant dabbling duck.
Eurasian Teal (m&f)
The Eurasian Teal is the smallest dabbling duck in Europe.
Barnacle |Geese
A few Barnacale Geese were sighted in amongst the flock of White-fronted Geese.
Common Crane.
Two of at least 11 Cranes on show from the Estuary Tower.
Lapwings and Golden Plovers.
A few on the ground!
Many in flight!
Kestrel on a mission!
A lone Redwing.
A Robin who occasionally burst into song!
A couple of sunny views.
Clusters of Snowdrops and Hellebores.
I would imagine Sir Peter Scott would have had a wry smile!
To be continued.
