It was cold in Hampshire when we left, but as we headed west the temperature continued to fall, and on arrival was just above freezing. The car park was full, it was still school holidays and the attraction of feeding ducks was very strong for a lot of little people.
To get to the wild areas you have to pass through the captive displays, This place has changed so much since I was here many years ago. The area known of swan lake is now replaced by a large pen, with both captive ducks and wild ones exploiting the free and ample food available. Amongst them were Bewick's swans, and one flew in as we left the visitor centre.
You know they are not wild, and that they have clipped wings, but as you walk through the pens it is very difficult to resist the opportunity to photograph some of those species you rarely get close to. This beautiful drake Smew for instance.
A drake Pintail
And the rare White-headed Duck that was part of a controversy in the late eighties.
Resident in Spain, the duck was dying out due to loss of habitat, work in Spain to reduce this though was threatened by inter breeding between the Ruddy Duck, which had established large populations across the UK after escaping from collections like this here in Slimbridge. The decision was taken to cull the Ruddy Duck, and as a result the population of White-headed Ducks is once again recovering
We walked on towards the south part of the reserve that looks out across fields that lead across to the Severn estuary.
From the Kingfisher Hide we had some excellent views of the White-fronted Geese grazing in the fields
They were a little nervous though and would continually call, and fly across from fields and back.
The fields were also occupied by Greylag Geese, Lapwing, a small group of Golden Plover, a flock of Dunlin were feeding on a small pond, and several Black-tailed Godwits. Duck were represented by Teal, of course Mallard, and a large group of Wigeon.
My hope coming here was to see the Common Cranes. There has been a major project to reintroduce the cranes to the Somerset Levels, known unsurprisingly as the Great Crane Project. Eggs were brought from Germany between 201 and 2014, and the first breeding in the levels took place in 2015. The birds from Somerset fly up the river to Slimbridge and many can be identified. This is now probably the best place to see cranes in the wild, even if they may bot all be pure wild birds yet.
I picked up what I thought at first were swans coming in from the east. As they came closer it was clear that they were Cranes.
Their large presence unnerved the geese in the field and the geese all took off. The Cranes kept coming, flying past the hide.
They kept going heading across the fields to the pastures close to the river estuary.
It was back to the White-fronted Geese and the chance to photograph them in flight once again.
There had also been three Bewick's Swans in the field but obscured by the branches of the trees surrounding the field. Finally one of the swans moved into a position where I was able to get a clear shot.
We decided to move on, and entered the Zeiss hide. Now this hide is close to a children's playground, and was being used as a thoroughfare for various games. Nevertheless there were some interesting birds out on the marshes. Looking straight out a large flock of Barnacle Geese feeding with Canada Geese.
As well as the geese a Common Crane in amongst them.
We decided to head over to the north of the reserve, stopping on the way to take the portrait of one of the Bewick's Swans. Here you can see the yellow and black markings on the bill that can be distinctive enough to identify the birds
On the north side is the "Swan Lake" in front of what my father always referred to as Peter Scott's Drum". The hides here allow you to get very close to wild duck that would normally never come so close. Pintail are my favourite duck and I had the chance to get some lovely close up shots. These are wild duck!
Close up with still water giving wonderful reflections.
Bewick's Swans also came very close.
At the far end of the path is the Holden Tower which is three storeys high and provides wonderful views out across the fields and marshes to the Severn Estuary. More Common Cranes were feeding on the marsh.
In amongst the Canada Geese flock there was one goose that was causing quite a stir in the hide. A single Brent Goose, quite a rarity here, not so much for me though.
Flocks of Wigeon were also scattered across the fields grazing on the grass.
With so much wild fowl about it was no surprise to find a Peregrine, in fact there were two both perched distantly on a fence, apologies for the quality of photograph.
Walking back, we stopped again to get some more views of the marsh around Rushy Pen. A drake Shelduck by the edge of the water
Another drake Pintail, tail down flat on the water.
Such a beautiful duck
The Pin tail reflecting like an elaborate signature in the water.
The Shelduck once again with lovely reflections in the water
Mud on the bill like dipped in chocolate.
The reflections like Inuit paintings in the water.
The Shelduck were paired up, and would be continually calling to each other and ruffling each other's neck feathers.
Shoveler continually feeding, the usual view was like this as they upended.
But every so often they would lift their heads up showing the lovely bottle green colour along with the golden yellow eye.
At the back f the pools on the field were several Cranes, including what would seem to be a family party, the youngster in the middle, with one of the parents on the left with colour rings, while the bird on the right has no rings
Here the other way around the left hand bird with no colour rings.
They continued to feed together, but as I watched the ringed bird started to flap its wings and dance up and down in front of the ringless bird
The cranes are monogamous and pair for life regularly taking the time to enforce the bonds. They are also very communicative with many different calls from an early age. After the dancing they calmed down once again to continue feeding.
It was time to move on as it was getting late, and also very cold. The visit had been worthwhile, some great flocks of geese, some lovely opportunities to get close and photograph duck that always seem to be that too far away, and of course the Common Cranes.
We were staying in the Mendip hills, not too far from the Somerset Levels, and wetlands there.
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