A Morning at Slimbridge: Rushy and Robbie Garnett Hides

 

Wood Sandpiper ( note the distinctive white eye stripe).

I had planned to visit one of my usual patches this morning - Goldcliff Lagoons, but as I drove down the M4 heading towards the Coldra, I had this sudden urge to visit Slimbridge. I had not been to the reserve since February, and in the back of my mind were several reports I had read on social media last night concerning sightings of Wood and Green Sandpipers showing well for photographers.

I listened to my inner impulses, and I was soon crossing the First Severn Crossing on my way to the reserve. On arriving at WWT Slimbridge, I discovered the car park barrier was up. That's the first time I have ever seen the car park closed like this. Access could be gained, however, via the side entrance. I realised that I was a real early bird, as it was only 7.15 am. The sidegate entrance for members does not open until 8.15 am, so I had some time to kill.

It was a lovely, warm and sunny morning, so I wandered around the car park and did a bit of birdwatching. The hedgerows were busy with Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Goldfinches. As is often the case, my every move was closely watched by the hoards of Rooks perched up in the treetops.

At 8.15 am, one of the WWT volunteers let me in via the side gate, so I was one of the first visitors into the reserve.

On entering, I was amazed at the work the WWT has done. The pond near the Rushy Hide has been transformed into a magnificent pool with stepping stones and a sculpted Willow Arch. It has been named the Estuary Shoreline. The edges are full of wildflowers and plants, and I think it looks amazing. There was a Mute Swan and a Tufted Duck with three chicks floating on the water, and they looked very much at home.

The new Estuary Shoreline pool.

 After admiring the new work WWT have completed, I went for a look inside the Rushy Hide. Out of the pool in front of the hide was an immature Spoonbill that was very busy sieving the water, hunting for food.

The early morning light was quite nice, but a little harsh on the eyes at times, as the sun was shining in my eyes.

Spoonbill

A friendly birder told me that the Sandpipers had been showing well in front of the Robbie Garnet Hide, so I decided to try my luck there.

I wandered down the path that leads to the "wild" birding hides. The reserve was really looking beautiful as there were lots of wild flowers blooming, especially the Yellow flowers of Fleabane.

After a short walk, I entered the Robbie Garnet Hide and joined a small gathering of birders who were all training their scopes, bins and cameras on a solitary Wood Sandpiper that was posing very nicely a few meters away on a muddy scrape.

Lady luck was certainly favouring me today, and I quickly got settled and took some photographs. The Wood Sandpiper, whilst being the only bird of this species, was not alone. Also gathered in the scrape was a small flock of Redshank, Shelduck and Lapwings. Suddenly, something spooked the flock, and the Wood Sandpiper panicked and flew to the far bank opposite the hide.

I decided to wait, have a drink and sit down for a while. Eventually, I suspected the Wood Sandpiper would return.

Then another Sandpiper dropped in front of the hide. This bird was a Green Sandpiper, and it showed really well.

After a while, it too flew off, and this was my prompt to stretch my legs and take a walk to the Estuary Tower. Unfortunately, there was not much to see from this lofty vantage point, so after about twenty minutes, I returned to the Robbie Garnet Hide.

I quietly waited for a few minutes, and then, wading into view came a Green Sandpiper. It was quite at ease, busily feeding. Ten minutes later, the Wood Sandpiper returned and joined the Green Sandpiper. It was nice to see the two species together to see the differences in plumage and size.

I was glad I listened to my inner impulses and visited Slimbridge, the close views of the Sandpipers really made my day. 

Courtesy of AI (CHATGPT), I have generated some interesting facts about the featured species I saw today -

Top 5 Facts – Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

1. Smallest of the Tringa waders – Wood Sandpipers are the smallest of the “shanks,” with a dainty build, fine mottling, and relatively long yellowish legs.

2. Nests in trees—sometimes – Unlike most waders, they occasionally use abandoned tree nests of other birds, such as Fieldfares, in their northern breeding grounds.

3. Long-distance migrants – They breed in the sub-Arctic wetlands of Europe and Asia, then migrate thousands of kilometres to wintering grounds in Africa, South Asia, and Australasia.

4. Distinctive call – Their sharp “chiff-iff-iff” flight call is a useful way for birders to identify them, especially on migration.

5. Elegant feeding style – They tend to pick delicately at the water’s surface or probe gently in soft mud, often wading deeper than many other small waders.

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Top 5 Facts – Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

1. Forest breeder – They breed in wooded areas near lakes and bogs in northern Europe and Asia—quite unusual for a wader.

2. Tree-nesting habits – Green Sandpipers lay eggs in abandoned nests of thrushes or pigeons high in trees—a rare behaviour among shorebirds.

3. Solitary and secretive – Often seen alone or in pairs, they can be surprisingly elusive, preferring shaded edges of pools and marshes.

4. Dark, almost black upperparts in summer – This contrasts beautifully with their bright white underparts and rump, which flashes in flight.

5. Strong site fidelity in winter – Many individuals return to the exact same winter feeding spots year after year, sometimes for a decade or more

Top 5 Facts – Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

1. They were once extinct as UK breeders – Spoonbills disappeared from Britain in the 17th century, largely due to hunting and wetland drainage, and only began breeding again in the late 20th century.

2. The bill works like a sieve – Their distinctive spoon-shaped bill is swung from side to side through shallow water to filter out fish, aquatic invertebrates, and small amphibians.

3. Breeding colonies are still rare – Most UK breeding occurs in just a few coastal wetland sites, such as RSPB Havergate Island (Suffolk) and Holkham (Norfolk), though non-breeding birds turn up widely on migration.

4. Mostly summer visitors – Many birds migrate to southern Europe and West Africa for the winter, but an increasing number now overwinter in milder southern UK estuaries.

5. Immatures look different – Young birds have a pinkish or flesh-coloured bill and lack the long breeding plumes adults grow in spring; these features gradually develop over several years.