SLIMBRIDGE IN THE NEW YEAR

It was a lovely sunny afternoon at Slimbridge for my first visit of 2019 and I was able to add a number of winter migrants to my list so far this year before they return to breed in warmer climates. Two species I didn't see, however, were the brent goose, which had been feeding with the barnacle geese for the past few week, also a yellow browed warbler  which was  found in the grounds yesterday and seen this morning, but it reportedly flew into a window and its whereabouts was unknown by the afternoon.
However, a highlight of today's visit was not one but three water rails seen feeding  out in the open feeding from the willow hide. Also both a jack and common snipe on the same 'island' viewed from the Martin Smith hide. 

birds gathering for afternoon feed

pintails

Bewick swans

water rail

two of the three water rails

common snipe

house sparrows

shelduck

white fronted geese

wigeon

Canada and barnacle geese

greylags

Bewick swans

greylags