The Slimbridge otters

Helena suggested that we visit the Wildlife and Wetland Trust centre at Slimbridge on her first day of school holidays. She had remembered that the special 'Feeding of the birds' event had begun again, (every day at 4pm in case you are interested) which we enjoyed visiting a couple of years ago. A member of the staff dons a microphone and heads out with a huge barrow full of food for the birds and proceeds to distribute it to thousands of birds gathered at the Rushy Pen. He managed to keep up a fascinating commentary and was able to point out the individual birds and tell some of their stories. We even saw the oldest Bewick Swan named Croupier who is now 29 years old! Visitors can stay in the warmth of the hide and watch the birds flying onto the water in masses so that many varieties of geese, ducks, jackdaws, and swans in particular all vie for prime space in advance of the feed.

The staff member updated us on the continuing arrivals of Bewick swans from the summer breeding sites in the northern tundra regions of Russia. Apparently they are late this year, but it had been predicted because of the warmer weather and concerns weren't too great. However breeding was less successful this year.

It was an amazing sight and we must return ti see it again soon. The staff member also recommended visiting the meadows close to the River Severn at the edge of the trust's land as the numbers feeding there are enormous and the vegetation is fine condition.

We had arrived a bit earlier in the daylight to visit the otter feeding session at 3pm, and we were pleased that Camilla and her American friend Allison, (visiting whilst en route to India) had managed to get there as well. The light was much better for photography than later at the bird feeding so I've chosen to blip Slimbridge's three resident North American river otters Flo and her offspring Mini and HaHa. They had just been fed a lot of fish and after swimming around their pond in search of the last of the food they went onto the bank to groom themselves and play together. Apparently in recent years there have also been sightings of wild otters very close to the Centre.