Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos

17th March 2026 – WWT Slimbridge

Eurasian spoonbill

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martintayler

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What a joy to be out and about and immersed in nature again today. I know with the wet weather we have had this winter many others would also be feeling the same. 

However, I’m especially grateful as in the past 3 and a half months since my last blog I have had some serious surgery to contain bladder and prostate cancer. I am very pleased that today I have got to the point where I could make the 25 mile journey to Slimbridge and even happier that I could manage to carry a camera to capture some of the beautiful moments.

I was restricted to the two nearest hides to the centre’s entrance but that was more than enough for today. The highlights were 3 Eurasian spoonbills but each and every bird was a special delight for me. Hope you like some of the photos too.

The whooper and Bewick swans have all headed back to Russia and we are left with mute swans

… and black swans too.

I felt this robin, only a few steps away, came to greet us personally.

One of my favourites, a Northern pintail

There were plenty of raucous rooks looking for nesting material

Eurasian spoonbill

Eurasian spoonbill

Eurasian spoonbill posing for the camera

Eurasian spoonbill up close and in flight

A sense of scale – Eurasian spoonbill and Eurasian curlew

Another sense of scale – male and (smaller) female shelduck

Wigeon

Canada geese

Barnacle geese

Greylag goose
The teals were very colourful in the sun

… as were the blue tits

Common moorhen

A showy mute swan

The 3 Eurasian spoonbills together

Lots of work to be done at this time of the year – cutting the willow

This is what it would be like without a long lens!

Comments

5 responses to “17th March 2026 – WWT Slimbridge”

  1. robbiesinspiration Avatar
    robbiesinspiration

    Hi Martin, it is wonderful to see this post filled with beautiful birds and the joy of spring. I am happy to know your surgeries are behind you and you are on the way to recovery. Sending you love and light 💛

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    1. martintayler Avatar
      martintayler

      Thank you, Robbie . 🤞

      Martin Tayler

      Martin’s bird & nature blog: http://martinsbirdblog.com

      Liked by 1 person

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  2. robbiesinspiration Avatar
    robbiesinspiration

    PS the robin shot is a delight

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  3. rogerrees2 Avatar
    rogerrees2

    Martin…..Good heavens man! I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry to hear your news. I was wondering if you’d lost interest in the blog or if I was on your ‘black list’ for some reason. Dear me, I can’t imagine what the last few months have been like for you. Are you clear now? If there’s anything, anything at all I can do for you please let me know.I’m just stunned. On a lighter note I’ve booked another SAGA bird holiday for May (they’re just better value than other ‘birder’ hols). This time Huelva including 2 trips into Donana Park. Who knows I might again meet a couple as good company as you two. But I doubt it! Roger

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  4. John Clapp Avatar
    John Clapp

    Martin, really pleased to see that you are able to to get out and about with your camera again. Looking at your photo’s again is a real delight. Hope you continue to make good progress.

    Liked by 1 person

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