I paid a short afternoon visit to Slimbridge today, in search of one or two more birds to add to my year's sightings. It was originally forecast cloudy but in fact the sun came out and it was a pleasant afternoon.
For a change I headed over first to the Discovery Hide where a good variety of waders had been reported including, redshanks, black tailed godwits, avocets and a spotted redshank ( the latter being new for year) . Amongst the gulls on the causeway I found a Mediterranean gull and in the distance four male ruffs with remnants of their breeding 'ruffs' still apparent.
I had heard that a crane family with two youngsters could be seen regularly from the Hogarth Hide so I went there next. As I sat down, I saw the crane family disappear round the corner but decided that they probably would return before long so decided to wait a while. Meanwhile I had some better views of the summer plumaged black tailed godwits with their reddish orange necks, also a further spotted redshank. I didn't have to wait too long to see the crane family return with their chicks, feeding together in the long grass.
The Centre still had numerous goose families with youngsters of varying ages, including some barnacle geese.
I didn't see any ducklings but there were the usual coots and moorhens with chicks.
