Little Bustard

Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire 
The lure of the reported Little Bustard was too great to resist. I met up with my mate Pete and we headed off in anticipation. The first report had already come out but with such a bird there aren’t any guarantees. We arrived in good time and followed the onsite instructions. There was a decent ensemble already searching frantically when we got to the viewing area. After around 30 minutes the call was made that it was showing. Directions from the chaps next to me soon got me on to the bird. It only showed very briefly and not long enough for a photo attempt but long enough to get the ID. My mate didn’t get onto it so we stayed a for few hours but it wasn’t prepared to show again. Also on site was a Bar-headed Goose in with the Barnacle Goose

Little Bustard Twitch

Exton, Devon 
After dropping Pete off I had a very quick look off the station platform for this mornings Osprey. Unfortunately, I struck out on that one. The only bird of any interest was a Black Swan.

Black Swan

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon 
Lastly I took a quick walk along the main pool to the boardwalk pool area. Not too many Butterfly species with Brimstone and Painted Lady but I was pleased with the number of the later. Dragonflies were again few and far between with Common Blue Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly and Southern Hawker.

Winter Wildfowl Spectacle

Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
I had my annual winter visit to the WWT centre today. I do love visiting at this time of year to witness the wildfowl spectacle. My target was the Holden Hide as this gives a good viewpoint of the reserve and you can usually get all the main species the reserve has to offer. From the hide there were large groups of (Bewick’s) Tundra Swan, Whooper Swan, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Greylag Goose, there were a decent number of Barnacle Goose but they were always very distant as were the 7 Common Crane that were on site. 2 Peregrine Falcon were again distant and hunkering on the ground from the wind, From the Martin Smith hide were 2 Ruff. There were also 3 Pink-footed Goose on site and I wasn’t sure if they were captive or not. Either way, they were a welcome site.

Pink-footed Goose 

(Bewick’s) Tundra Swan

Common Moorhen  

Greylag Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Whilst onsite it had a look around the captive enclosures so I could brush up on those rarer species that turn up in the UK including some of those mega American diving Ducks.

Ruddy Shelduck (Female)

Goldeneye (Male)

Common Goldeneye (Female)

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Common Eider (Male and Female) 

Red-breasted Goose 

Snow Goose

Smew (Male)

Canvasback (Male)

Redhead (Male)

Cackling Goose

Bufflehead (Male)

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Male)

Greater Scaup (Male)

Lesser Scaup (Male)

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

Westhay Moor, Somerset
On the way home I popped here in the hope of a Bearded Reedling. At first the place seemed devoid of life but things picked up with a Male Western Marsh Harrier and a Merlin. I heard a few Bearded Reedling but I failed to locate any birds.