After a journey, somewhat lengthened by traffic and road closures, I arrived at Slimbridge shortly after opening time, where I was hoping to find a Temminck's stint and a yellow browed warbler which had been recorded at the centre over the past few days. At the Rushy hide from where the stint had been seen, the few birders present told me they hadn't seen it, though encouragingly they said it often arrived slightly later in the morning. However, they did point out a turnstone on one of the islands, an unusual bird for the centre which after a while, flew closer so that it was only about 5 metres away and I watched it as it fulfilled its name, by turning over the stones with apparent ease, considering their size in relation to the bird!
I visited the other hides on the walkway then returned hopefully to the Rushy hide, but still no Temmincks stint. Oh well, I'd have to hope for better success with the warbler, which I'd just heard was showing quite well in the trees just before the Kingfisher hide. As I reached the area, I joined a group of birders had binoculars pointing at something, and I was soon shown where the bird was. A tiny bird, with a definite yellow 'brow' and pale wingbars, it was hard to pick out apart from some movement amongst some leaves. Every now and then it was just possible to see its identifying features and it gave an occasional call. Just to confuse us, it was also joined by a goldcrest ( of a similar size) and a chiffchaff. With the sun behind it, it was hard to get enough light on it for a photo, even if had been in sufficiently in view. However I was pleased to get another year tick.
Just before I left the centre to return home I decided to pop into the Rushy hide once more - but this time it was full of people with binoculars and cameras...the Temminck stint had returned and was on the first island! I squeezed into a space and tried to take what pictures I could, before it flew and landed a little closer .
After several minutes of frantic photographs from all the birders present, it flew off and went to the furthest corner of the Rushy Pen, and out of sight - maybe that's where it had been all morning....
pintail back for the winter
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