1st February - Slimbridge WWT. High cloud, mod - fresh SW, 12C, short showers

I visited Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetland reserve in Gloucestershire today arriving about 1300h to see the wintering Swans, Geese, ducks and other birds often there.

From the Rushy hide and over the fields many hundreds of the more common duck were present, its a good place to get photos, like of  these Pintail.

On the fields various birds were feeding, a Peregrine was perched in a tree top surveying the scene, with thousands of birds wintering here food is abundant for these falcons.  On the far side two Cranes were feeding with 3 more closer, behind them a flock of Curlew were busy feeding.

A couple of Bewick Swan preening nearby, while out on the Dumbles (the marshes towards the river Severn) a flock of ~100 Bewicks were feeding.

Here and on the other marshes were many hundred Lapwing and Golden Plover, a large flock of Barnacle and European White-fronted Geese.  Dunlin were busy feeding on the grassy areas and around the pools, then a wintering Little Stint flew in a joined them for a while.  Also, a good number of Skylark and meadow Pipit were feeding in the grass and tussocks.  In this area over the last couple of days a Lapland Bunting had been seen.  I search for a considerable period but failed to find it, although every so often someone in the Holden Tower hide claimed they had found it, but each proved to be incorrect while I was there.

I later moved on to view the south finger area where Bittern, 3, have been seen.  After an hour of watching the reed beds and area no Bittern were seen, plenty of other bird activity though, with a good number of Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing and Golden Plover in the area and a Cettis' Warbler sang from the scrub.

After a further wait a Bittern flew up from the reeds and passed the hide to the next reed bed in front of the Kingfisher hide, so a quick short walk to there.  Here the Bittern sat in the reeds, quite high, but also half hidden.  Unfortunately it never came out in to the open. Still it was easy to watch while it, preened a little, yawned and generally rested.  Can you spot it in these photos?

A good day was had, if you have never visited Slimbridge in the winter, its highly recommended.