Slimbridge Visit (1 Viewer)

[parttimer]

We are thinking about a family trip to WWT Slimbridge next weekend. Can anyone advise as to what's there other than the captive birds? Is there much walking involved? Is it worth taking the scope? We have Children of 7 & 9 will they enjoy it? Any information & advice we can be given will be greatly received. I am an avid birder and don't just want to go for the captive birds.

Many Thanks

 

[Colin]

There is plenty to see especially now that the thaw has set in. For wild birds there are essentially three parts to it. One is the Holden Tower to look across the fields around that hide and to the river. There are several hides before you get to the tower. At the other end of the captive enclosures (see the otters here, they are worth a look) is the Zeiss Hide area and the South Finger hide where the Kingfishers breed (too early for them) but there are flooded fields around where there will be waders, ducks and a Bittern has been seen several times in this area. Halfway through the captive part, to the left is the South Lake (not to be confused with South Finger). This is not far and has two lakes seen from the hide. One is a shallow water scrape and the other a deep water lake. Plenty of birds here too. Check out the feed on Rushy Pen at 4.00pm where the spectacle will be all wild birds including nearly 300 Bewick's Swans and the Starling roost can be good to at the moment. The walking is flat and good. Don't need wellies really but it can be a bit wet especially at the mo after the thaw. Check out the WWT website for what is currently there, there are daily updates. At the information desk where you go in, there will be a diary with the days sightings. Check that before you set off. Take your scope, you will find it invaluable although there are plenty of birds to be seen close as well. Have a good day there.

 

[parttimer]

Cheers Colin all the answers and more, is there a decent site map available from the centre.

 

[Farnboro John]

The pens at Slimbridge used to be an ace place to see Water Voles as well, don't know if that is still the case. I guess it must be one place that is Mink-proofed or they'd have no collection left....

John

 

[parttimer]

The pens at Slimbridge used to be an ace place to see Water Voles as well, don't know if that is still the case. I guess it must be one place that is Mink-proofed or they'd have no collection left....

John

Cool!! mammal tick that wont happen every day.

 

[Colin]

Cheers Colin all the answers and more, is there a decent site map available from the centre.

Yes, you can get a map at the information desk where you pay/show your membership card. Also there are a couple fixed on posts around the grounds.

 

[Chalky W]

Stu,

if you check out the Wildlife Sightings tab on the Slimbridge website it will give you daily updates of the wild birds present at the centre.

http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/slimbridge

Defiantly take your scope and a camera if your so inclined as there will be some great photo opportunities too. I reckon you need 3/4 hrs to fit everything in but as Colin said it's a pleasant walk and not too taxing.

If the kids aren't really in to birds it might pay to keep them interested by making a game of it. When I took my nephew a few years ago (8 at the time), I bought a cheap bird guide (RSPB pocket handbook) and challenged him to tick off as many species as possible (with some help of course), with your 2 you could make it in to a competition. The outdoor tea shop by the canoe trail also does a mean hot chocolate topped with marsh mallows which went down well with him too. Also if you've got time why not take the canoe trail which is great for kids. Again as Colin metioned the swan feed in the afternoon is a great spectacle.

Another good stop for the kids is the feeding station at the Kingfisher hide which gives really close views of birds at the feeders.

One critism I have with the centre is the canteen, which was very limited in it's choices and even more so for kids, I'd suggest that if you're there over lunch then if it's not too cold, taking a picnic would be a good idea.

Just some thoughts from me and I hope you enjoy your visit.

Ian
Ps. I think I'll have to visit soon too.

 

[Colin]

BTW, within the grounds/ collection part, there are two playcentres for the kids with swings/slides and that sort of thing so they will have something to play on if they get a bit bored. The canoe trail only operates from about March I believe but that is great if you come back later in the year.

 

[parttimer]

We are actually up for the day and staying over in a B&B or Travellodge so all this info is great. The kids are into Birds one day then change thier minds the next they have actually started thier own year list so I'm hoping that this keeps them interested, thier school is taking part in the Big Garden Bird Count this year which means Dad is more interested in the home work at the moment.

 

[parttimer]

I would like to report a great weekend was had by all. Only problem is that it is so far away from Devon that it makes impossible to make it a regular trip.

Never mind it keeps it special.

 

[palval147]

I enjoy going to Slimbridge as well, Parttimer, dispite my OH saying it is like a zoo. The captive birds make it a good place to take young birders just starting, as the birds are easy to see. There are many wild birds there as well, in the right seasons & it is the only place I have seen Tree Sparrows wild. I am glad you had a good visit.
Did you take any photo's?

 

[Chalky W]

I would like to report a great weekend was had by all. Only problem is that it is so far away from Devon that it makes impossible to make it a regular trip.

Never mind it keeps it special.

Great to hear you had a good trip, I only live about 40mins away but I try to leave it a few months between visits, as you say it keeps it special.

 

[Roy C]

Great to hear you had a good trip, I only live about 40mins away but I try to leave it a few months between visits, as you say it keeps it special.

Hi Ian, how near can you get to the wild birds for snapping purposes?

 

[Chalky W]

Hi Ian, how near can you get to the wild birds for snapping purposes?

Hi Roy,

well that's an easy and a difficult question to answer. Within the compund as it were, there are several pools which attract wild birds especially Swans and Geese but they will be mixed in with the collection birds, it's a bit of a lottery as to wether it's a wild bird or not with the wildfowl but I guess a member of staff could help there. There are several hides which offer good views some give closer ones than others but as with all hides the birds may or may not be close enough for photography, the Kingfisher hide has a feeding station next to it which is close enough for good pics.

Saying all that it's down to what happens on the day. The collection has a lot of regular species which you can get really close to and also some rarer ones and allows you to control your shots more than you can in the wild which makes it great.

I'm sure others will have their own opinions but i think it's a great place to visit at least once a year, especially now just for the shear spectacle of the visiting wildfowl numbers, even if they're not close enough to get that pin sharp shot.

Don't quote me but I think they might do 'off piste' tours which might allow you to get closer to the wild wildfowl. Check out the Slimbridge website.

I'd be interested in others thoughts as well.

Ian

 

[parttimer]

I enjoy going to Slimbridge as well, Parttimer, dispite my OH saying it is like a zoo. The captive birds make it a good place to take young birders just starting, as the birds are easy to see. There are many wild birds there as well, in the right seasons & it is the only place I have seen Tree Sparrows wild. I am glad you had a good visit.
Did you take any photo's?

We only own a happy snapper camera so photographing the Wild Birds was all but Impossible, although got some great snaps of captive stuff and a few shots of wild birds which seemed less flighty in and around the pens including a Grey Heron at less than 10 yards and a Water Rail at 20 yards, unfortunatley the wife managed to cut it's beak off.

 

[davercox]

and a Water Rail at 20 yards, unfortunatley the wife managed to cut it's beak off

turning it into a Shorter Rail ? [sorry]

 

[palval147]

We only own a happy snapper camera so photographing the Wild Birds was all but Impossible, although got some great snaps of captive stuff and a few shots of wild birds which seemed less flighty in and around the pens including a Grey Heron at less than 10 yards and a Water Rail at 20 yards, unfortunatley the wife managed to cut it's beak off.

You can get some good shots of the captive birds, Stu. Even with a pocket idiot proof camera like mine.
A link to the thread I posted when we went to Slimbridge.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=107241

I didn't realise it was that long ago we went|:S|.

turning it into a Shorter Rail ? [sorry]

I had to chuckle at that Dave.|:d|