The Deskbound Birder: Hebrew Character

Friday, 22 February 2019

Slimbridge WWT - 22nd February

We were at our cottage in Cowley in the Cotswolds for Sarah's birthday weekend and as Sarah was at the spa with her girlfriends on the Friday and Tobias had a play date with cousins and so I did the decent thing and headed to Slimbridge for a few hours. It was a warm day with hazy sunshine and I spent my time in the hides along the eastern side of the reserve. Here are a few images from the morning.

Pintail - Slimbridge WWT

Pair of Pintail, the drakes were avidly displaying today - Slimbridge WWT

Pintail - Slimbridge WWT

Shelduck were seen mating and nest prospecting - Slimbridge WWT

Tufted Duck were actively displaying - Slimbridge WWT

Redshank, Ruff, Wigeon and Pintail - Slimbridge WWT

Great-crested Grebe - Slimbridge WWT

Bewick's Swan. The last Bewick's were seen on 27th February. I counted 70

at the reserve today mainly on Tack Piece - Slimbridge WWT

Bewick's Swan - Slimbridge WWT

Lots of aggression amongst the Greylag Geese today - Slimbridge WWT

Greylag Geese - Slimbridge WWT

Greylag Goose - Slimbridge WWT

The highlight of the morning was the flock of around 150 Greater White-fronted Goose which showed very well on the Tack Piece. Most were still gathered in their family groups with the ganders looking particularly fine - Slimbridge WWT

Greater White-fronted Goose - Slimbridge WWT

I ran the moth trap at the cottage on the Friday and Saturday night but it was a little chilly and I caught only four species as below.

Pale Brindled Beauty

March Moth

Common Quaker

Hebrew Character

Thursday, 27 April 2017

Cotswolds Moth Trapping - 21st-23rd April

A weekend at our cottage in Cowley in the Cotswolds allowed me a few nights of early spring moth trapping. Species recorded over the nights of 21st, 22nd and 23rd April were: