Bank Holiday Highlights

Little Gull

After a hectic weekend of having friends to stay and the disappointment of not seeing the Bonaparte's Gull in Warwickshire last Thursday, when I saw that probably the same bird had almost certainly turned up in Slimbridge today, I almost dropped everything to go and twitch it.  Before deciding, I opted to go for a cycle ride and by the time I came back, my birder's wife had finally woken up from her slumbers and we had two options, either to spend the day round the house doing chores or to go out for the day.

We decided for the second option and to head down to Slimbridge, as it is always a nice place to go and we are members (and if the bird turned up again then it would be a bonus).

When we arrived at Slimbridge, we headed for the South Lake hide which is where the Gull had last been seen but soon were to find out that it had flown a couple of hours earlier.  We therefore decided to stick around in that hide for a while admiring 3 Common Sandpipers and Black Tailed Godwits in near summer plumage.  A couple of bonus birds were a Little Gull and 1st Summer Mediterranean Gull.

We then decided to take some time strolling around the rest of the reserve and came across a Sparrowhawk on a recent kill and the below resplendent Woodpigeon enjoying the sun.

Woodpigeon

Sparrowhawk enjoying lunch

We had heard about the Spoonbill which had taken residence on the reserve and decided to go and have a look at it. After a short wait, it woke up for a couple of seconds which gave me time to take the below.

Spoonbill

After a bried stroll round the captives and a sit in the Zeiss Hide with a coffee, we headed back to the South Lake Hide in the hope that the Bonaparte's Gull had returned.  After a long wait, my birder's wife decided to go to the shop and just as she arrived back the Gull was found, an absolute stonker in summer plumage and a species that I have wanted to see for a long time.

Bonaparte's Gull

Bonaparte's Gull