Slimbridge fix after a while .....

6 Nov - My first Slimbridge trip for a few weeks, as the centre itself was closed due to roadworks on the access road. Very pleasing to see the first 3 Bewick's Swans of the winter on the Rushy first thing, and to think of the amazing return trip to Arctic Russia that they've completed since they were last here. Also a good showing of Geese, with 8 Pinkfeet on the Dumbles and 20 Whitefronts from Zeiss Hide. Wader numbers are really building up, with large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover out over the foreshore. Other waders present included Ruff, Redshank, a large flock of Dunlin, Curlew, and good numbers of Knot with the usual Black-tailed Godwit flock on South Lake, plus quite a few cryptic Snipe hiding in the grass around the reserve. The duck are coming out of eclipse now into their smart winter pre-breeding plumage, with good numbers of Shoveler in particular present on South Lake. A short vigil for the Bittern was unsuccessful but I'm sure it was somewhere in the reedbed ...........