A day at Slimbridge WWT

It was a cold day but a bright sunny one, so we decided to go to Slimbridge WWT and take our eldest daughter, Eleanor.

As you may imagine loads of photo opportunities but I cannot say I am really happy with any of the resulting shots, despite the light being good I had problems pushing the shutter speed with the aperture I wanted coupled with a low iso – ah well future rule – if you carry the tripod – use the damn thing !

Anyway, hand feeding was done, the moorhen has a gammy leg so was happy to sit down to eat , sweet.

 I saw it around the same place last time we were here, lots of people feed it so it survives, in the wild it would be long gone so rather nice it is looked after. 

The mallard on its front at their feet had a go at jumping for the grain, being greedy, none of them can say they are not well fed ! The landing was less than graceful.

 It was feeding time with the otters, these are American river otters – although they now have evidence of UK otters on the site – a dog otter south end and at least one female to the north so a bridal suite (holt) has been built within the reserve and they await developments.

The Kingfisher hide allows good views of a couple of feeders and the local birds make good use of the opportunity. A few nice- ish studies of our ‘ common’ birds.

Male Goldfinch

Male Chaffinch

Great Tit

As can be expected the hides give good views of visitors and the captive birds give good views with no need to get muddy or use long lenses. I can cope with that, on a cold day I don’t really want to creep in the undergrowth and I don’t have the silly money for a mega lens

Lapwings

mixed bag

Eider male seeing off a competitor

Eider male head detail

Flamin bingos- Flamingoes

Comb billed duck - Sarkidiornis melanotos

This is the back of a pintail - the feather patterns are really lovely

Pintail detail

The café on site is good and an enjoyable lunch was had by all – a great day, most enjoyable,  some reasonable photos but many missed opportunities so a return visit will be planned in the neat future.

Last but not least a very small fungi - would not be me if no macro shots - its on deadwood and you can see the ice bottom righ - sunny but cold !

Calocera cornea