Lasting Legacy -WWT Slimbridge , Gloucestershire

[lugg]

Seeing Bixas photos of Barnes WWW centre as she buzzed over London reminded me to post this thread. Barnes is just one of a number of WWW ( Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) sites in the UK. Slimbridge was the home of the first site and opened in 1946. It was opened and run by Peter Scott, son of the famous Captain Scott (of the Antartica) who, in his dying letter, urged Peter’s mother to “make the boy interested in natural history”.
Peter became an Olympic sailing medallist and a well-known painter and broadcaster. He created the IUCN red list which measures whether species are threatened or endangered. He was the founding chair of WWF – he even drew their famous panda logo.
Peter particularly loved the wild open marshes of Britain and the mysterious geese that visited from unknown shores. He started as a wildfowler and learned to protect first the birds, and then their wetland habitats.
In 1946 he set up the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge as a centre for science and conservation. Uniquely at the time, he opened it to the public so that anyone could enjoy getting close to nature.
Peter and his family presented the BBC’s first live television wildlife programmes from his artist’s studio overlooking the lakes at Slimbridge, from where he brought a love for the British countryside into millions of homes.
WWT grew from strength to strength during Peter’s life and since his death in 1989. We now welcome a million visitors each year to nine Wetland Centres in the UK, and we undertake more research and conservation projects around the world than ever.

I learnt that Peter also gave Nessie a scientific name of Nessiteras rhombopteryx based upon a blurred underwater photograph so that it could be registered as an endangered species.

More about the WWT - www.wwt.org.uk/conservation/Slimbridge sits towards the top of the Severn estuary in Gloucester – No 1 on the map




… from the top of the Observation Tower above the visitor centre you can see across the Severn estuary towards Herefordshire and the Cotswalds in the opposite direction













Although I knew about Peter Scott’s conservation work, I had not realised that he also painted, this picture is just inside the visitor centre which also exhibits other current artists work, some of the proceeds of sales going towards the WWT.





So now for some birds
… a paddling/raft of ducks,









I was quite taken with the beautiful Eider – the photos don’t show exactly the greenish patch on their necks and the blush on their breasts







… a herd of swans

[lugg]

Back to the birds again later.

Of course the centre attracts birders in their droves with their impressive cameras and binoculars zoom, particularly in the hides on the outer edges towards the estuary but it is also a very family friendly place to visit. There are at least two play areas, canoes for hire etc. There are educational talks throughout the day and other wetland animals such as beavers, amphibeans and otters. The smaller children were enjoying the water themed play area on this Indian summer day



















Beaver dam, I did not see any unfortunately, guess they were sleeping and come out when all the intruders have gone home.









“Ratty” –water vole


Giant Prickly Rhubarb (Gunnera Manicata)






I spent an half an hour in the kingfisher hide but not long enough to get a photo although I did see one flash past



..so had to make do with this model,


Although it was a beautiful warm day there were signs that it is nearly autumn,













This garden made its debut at Chelsea some years ago but now has a permanent home here

[lugg]

Back to the birds again
Waders in a protected area
Avocet


Ruff




Redshank


More like a bird of prey than a goose ?


Feeding time











Some of the stars of the show – at least for me.
According to the visitor info, Slimbridge is the only place in the world where you can see all 6 types of flamingo.

www.slim-bridge.co.uk/flamingo%20types.html

A flamboyance/flurry/regiment/stand of flamingos









Although they only lay one egg this year has been record breaking for successful flamingo hatching

















A herd/siege/sedge of cranes
One of the most important conservation projects currently is the re-introduction of the crane to the UK.



These are in an enclosed area










But there has been much celebration as a pair who were hatched at Slimbridge and then returned themselves to nest seem to have finally raised their young past the many dangers ( previous fledglings have succumbed to cold, foxes and overhead cables)










It’s only fitting to end this thread with a picture of the bird that started it all – the Nene





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[Deleted]

These wildlife and nature photos are absolutely outstanding. While none of the other birds surprised me, I never imagined England as a flamingo habitat.

After the soggy summer in England, you were really quite lucky with the weather, too.

[mich64]

Wonderful Lugg! I have never seen such a beautiful collection of ducks.

We have 3 or 4 different types that nest on our shore and love watching their babies grow throughout the summer. We also are blessed with beautiful loons, their calls are unmistakable.

A beautifully serene thread.

[questa]

Outstandingly beautiful photos, Lugg, The birds and wetlands are indeed a legacy and thank you for sharing them with us. Your picture collection would make a great album to sell at the visitor's souvenir shop.

A "herd" of swans? how unlovely a name! I would suggest it be a "flotilla" if they
are on the water and a "majesty" if flying or on land (Elizabeth ll owns them all, doesn't she?)

That would match the well-named gaggle of geese on the ground and a skein if flying.

[bixaorellana]

So interesting, Lugg, and the waterfowl pictures are beautiful besides being informational. I also adore the detail pictures of bird feet and the like and the exquisite closeups of wild plants.

How delightful that places for big and little humans to play are included in the refuges.

Silly Kerouac -- without flamingos, how could Alice have played croquet?

[mossie]

A lovely report from a lovely place.

It always hits me when I see a beautiful elegant swan get out of the water to reveal those ugly flat feet. But they are built for paddling on muddy river banks.

[patricklondon]

Oct 3, 2015 23:38:59 GMT questa said:

A "herd" of swans? how unlovely a name! I would suggest it be a "flotilla" if they
are on the water and a "majesty" if flying or on land (Elizabeth ll owns them all, doesn't she?)

That would match the well-named gaggle of geese on the ground and a skein if flying.

The collective noun I'm used to is a flight of swans, which sounds much nicer. According to wikipedia, there have been many others, among them a "lamentation" but I think must just be a poetical reference to legends.

Some swans on the Thames are nominally owned by the City of London companies of Vintners and Dyers.

All about Swan Upping

[lugg]

Thank you all for your complimentary comments. I agree Questa - I forgot to post the other names for groups of swans such as Bevy, Bank , Ballet and my personal favourite "a whiteness of swans."

We have 3 or 4 different types that nest on our shore and love watching their babies grow throughout the summer. We also are blessed with beautiful loons, their calls are unmistakable.

- that sounds a lovely way to pass the time Mitch.

Thank you Patrick for the info about swan upping. I never really understood why our native swans are referred to as mute until I heard the calls of Bewicks and Whoopers!

[bixaorellana]

Forgot to mention that I noted with pleasure that your picture just below the caption Although it was a beautiful warm day there were signs that it is nearly autumn, includes a group of birds which are perhaps in migration.

[questa]

In Oz all the native swans are black. They are aggressive, dangerous things. Although there is some doubt they will mate with white swans, they are causing problems in UK by taking over the habitat of the white swans.

[nycgirl]

What a special place. I wish I could visit a sanctuary like this on a regular basis.

I recognize the ruddy duck in your first bird picture. I've seen them here and was amazed at how blue their bills get during the mating season. Great photo, I love how I can see every bead of water rolling off his back. Beautiful collection of birds you have here.

Such interesting terms people come up with for groups of birds. "Flamboyance of flamingos" is quite a showy one. Perhaps the strangest I've heard is a "murder of crows."

[tod2]

It's an amazing place! We have visited the one in London off the Thames and when I read the name Peter Scott is sounded familiar. I suppose he has his name on all the Wildlife Wetlands.
It was the only bird place that I've been to with a birdhide that has a lift to the third floor!

Your photos of the bird life are wonderful. I am keen to go there just for the flamingos!