Glos jaunt

14 Mar - A trip out. My annual visit to the river near Stroud Waitrose usually gives good views of Dipper. This time the birds were very obliging - carrying nesting material and flying under the bridge with it, as well as feeding along the river edge and at one stage posing fairly nicely. Always a great bird to see - amazing how it can walk under the water, and close its adapted eyelids against the spray. Also seen here, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. Then on to Slimbridge, where a reported Spoonbill led me a merry dance between the hides til I finally caught up with it from the Estuary tower - A subadult bird, still a bit of black on the primaries but otherwise a crest and a yellow-tipped bill like an adult. Then home via CWP where a Cattle Egret, in partial breeding plumage, was at Ashton Keynes with Little Egrets - and a Pink-footed Goose with the Greylag flock by Pit 75. A good day.