Gorgeous Goldeneye

The Goldeneye is a duck I am not accustomed to seeing all that often, and definitely not at any close distance. Coming across one of the side pools at Slimbridge, away from the main collections, I am guessing the waterfowl on it are not totally part of the collection nor totally wild, but the opportunity to photograph these rather striking ducks was to good to pass on.

There were a few Females floating around as well, but they don't appear anywhere near as stunning as the Drakes. The iridescent Green/Brown/Black feathers on the head look beautiful when they catch the light. Which I managed to capture in a few shots, several of the birds where in full Winter adult plumage and certainly stand out bolder than the others! Stunning ducks! Captive or not!

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Willow Hide Blue Tits

Stunning Blue Tit

I spent some time in the new Willow Hide at Slimbridge, situated really close to the feeding stations, a little to close if im honest, the birds are really skittish of any movement in the hide. A lovely collection of 'Garden' birds visited in a constant stream. Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and even a rather quick Lesser Redpoll.

The light was beautiful, highlighting the last of the autumnal colours in the bushes behind the birds, so I made the most of photographing some rather photogenic Blue Tits.

Cock Chaffinch

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Bugling Bewick's

I guess it could be said that the Bewick's Swan is really Slimbridge's speciality, the wetland reserve gives a great opportunity to see these majestic wandering Tundra Swans very close up, an opportunity that you probably wouldn't get elsewhere in the Wilds of the UK.

When we were at Slimbridge during the middle of November there were only 13 Bewick's arrivals, the early visitors from there near Arctic breeding grounds. Having just looked on the Slimbridge sightings for yesterday there are now a mere 140 Bewick's arrivals.

The conditions were pretty much perfect which helped beautifully contrast the snowy white of the swan against the deep blue of the water. So a quite enjoyable day was had!

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Perfect Pintail

A fortnight or so ago, I had a spare Sunday, and Sister in tow I decided on a winter visit to Slimbridge. With a dry day forecast we awoke to a crisp clear morning, a quick defrost of the car and on our way. The 80 or so miles to Gloucestershire. Arriving just after 9.30am we headed straight for the Rushy, I was hoping for some nice photographs, so with the Sun behind the hides we decided to go the opposite direction of the publicised route. 

I am glad we did as stepping into the Rushy Hide, the water and birds positively glowed in the early morning light. The water as still as a lilly pond and a deep blue colour, one that brilliant reflected the many ducks that swam and preened on it.

The stars of the show for me on this visit, were the first birds I encountered. The Rushy was holding a lot of freshly arrived wintering Pintail, around a hundred or so milled around on the still water or adjoined muddy edges. Its only really in this gorgeous early morning winter sunlight that I realised what a truly gorgeous Duck the Pintail is, in my eyes its sleek form oozes sophistication and Elegance, and although muted Browns and Greys a very Eye catching species right down to the point of its namesake the Pinned tail feathers.

I shall leave you with a selection of Pintail shots from this encounter, and here is to hoping they find their way to an area of water local to me throughout the winter.

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Sunny Sunday!

Waking up to some gorgeous sunshine on Sunday morning was a much better feeling, loading up the gear and heading down to Steeple Langford to the Wiltshire Wildlife Trusts reserve at Langford Lakes, a new location for me and only Half an hour drive from home.

Plenty to see and all 4 hides were empty. 4 Great-crested Grebes the highlight also spotted on the water Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Coot, Cormorant, Canada Goose, Little Egret, Goosander and a rather large flotilla of Gulls, with plenty of Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull and a rather distant Mediterranean Gull. I'd imagine the roost to grow even more later on in the day.

The smaller feeding station proved quite busy, with Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Moorhen stopping by. Also seen around the reserve Blackbird, Dunnock & Wren.

All in all a pretty good reserve, quiet, easy to find, and loads of new work undergoing for a scrape and new hide. Considering its close proximity to home, I was impressed with the location and the wildlife.
A great place to see Grebes.

Tufted Duck - Drake

Tufted Duck - Duck

Great-crested Grebe

Great-crested Grebe 

Great-crested Grebe

Tufted Duck - Drake

Robin

Blue Tit

Chaffinch - Male

Long-tailed Tit 

Long-tailed Tit

Moorhen