Birding at WWT Slimbridge!

 

I had seen recent reports of a Glossy Ibis at WWT Slimbridge and was lucky enough to see it when I visited with some friends a few weeks ago. I noticed a photographer on the canal towpath by the entrance fields and walked slowly to where he was - WOO HOO!! there was the Glossy Ibis probing in the mud. Even though it was an overcast day with barely any sun I could still see the purple and maroon sheen on its feathers.

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) are native to the coasts of America, Mexico and parts of northern South America and very occasionally, end up here in the UK. They use their long curved bill to probe into the mud, feeling for prey such as leeches, earthworms, marine worms, dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, many species of beetle, crabs, molluscs snails, fish, frogs, toads and newts.

From another hide this Avocet was wading in the shallow water and feeding; they swing their upturned bill under the surface of the water, catching any small invertebrates.

The very tall Estuary Tower hide looks out over wet fields with the River Severn in the distance and as I arrived a flock of Barnacle Geese flew close by, it was an amazing sight! I didn't manage to get any photos of this particular event but captured a few of the stragglers.

Intermingled with the flock was a Bar-Headed Goose, which should be in India, Assam or Northern Burma at this time of the year, suggesting that it has been blown off course. However, it is most likely to be an escaped bird as they are very popular in private collections.

This Black Tailed Godwit feeding right in front of yet another hide finished a brilliant day at WWT Slimbridge!