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Laura (my sister-in-law) feeding a Graylag |
On Sunday, my family and I were at Slimbridge to show my young niece, Ava, the wildfowl in their collection. The wildfowl here are from all over the world and a few of them are endangered and come in many shapes, sizes and colours. Here are some of my favourites...
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Mute Swan |
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Bewick's Swan |
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Tufted Duck |
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Hawaiian Goose |
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Black Brant |
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Eider |
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Goldeneye |
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Scaup |
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American Wood Duck |
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Ruddy-headed Goose |
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Cinnamon Teal |
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Black-winged Stilt |
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African Pygmy Goose |
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Mousebird |
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Turaco |
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Upland Goose |
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Red-crowned Crane |
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North American Otter |
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Caribbean Flamingo |
Slimbridge also has in it's collection possibly every species of flamingo I can think of. These birds, in particular, fascinated young Ava. Her eyes were transfixed at them with fascination and curiosity as these large, strange-looking, pink creatures paraded in front of her. I can only imagine what she thinks of them after seeing one for the first time. I wonder if she will become a birdwatcher when she grows up?
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Andean Flamingo |
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Chilean Flamingo |
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Greater Flamingo |
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Lesser Flamingo |
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Greylag gosling |
As well as all the captive birds, Slimbridge also has a few hides to view some wild birds, too. From one of them, we saw some avocets, male ruffs in their fantastically varied breeding plumage, black-tailed godwits, greylags with goslings and, my personal highlight of the day, a common sandpiper. There was also a common crane (one of the ones that were captive bred and released by Slimbridge) on a nest. Apparently it is sitting on an egg, which is fantastic news for this rare bird that was once extinct in the UK. The future is looking a little promising for the cranes here in West England it seems.
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Avocet |
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Ruff |
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Black-tailed Godwit and Black-headed Gull |
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Common Sandpiper |
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Grey Heron |
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View of the River Severn estuary |
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Wild Garlic |
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Rook |
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Common Crane |
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