A day in Gloucestershire

The images posted today were taken mid-May at the WWT reserve at Slimbridge, Goucestershire.

Firstly, the wild birds:

Common Crane

This bird is standing at the nest-site (hidden in the vegetation).

The eggs on which the Crane were sitting hatched 2-3 days after this photograph was taken.  It made the national news because, had the two chicks survived, they would have been the first to have been bred successfully in the wild in Great Britain for over 400 years.  Sadly, one disappeared in May and on 6 June 2014 the Trust reported the disappearance of the second.  For the fuller report see http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/news/2014/06/wwt-slimbridge-news/sadness-as-first-wild-crane-in-the-west-for-400-years-disappears.

There was a mention on BBC Springwatch on 11 June 2014.

The parents are two of the birds hatched at Slimbridge (from imported eggs) and relocated on the Somerset Levels.  This is one of two pairs that have returned and taken up residence at Slimbridge.

 

Little Egret

 

 

Mute Swan

Water Rail (juvenile)

Greylag Goose (juvenile)

Secondly, birds in the collections at the reserve.  (Some are actually species that can be found in the wild in Great Britain.)

Black-winged Stilt

Avocet

Ruff ♂

Smew ♂

Smew ♀

Flamingo*

*I'm not sure which species