In the tropical heat at Slimbridge Wetland centre

We headed over to Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetland centre this afternoon after I picked Helena up from her job after lunch. It is the only afternoon she will be able have off this week so while we have such lovely warm and sunny weather we wanted to get a visit in. We are both members which allows us free access at anytime, but stupidly we seldom go.

It wasn't too crowded so awe were able to amble around at our own pace. I haven't been in mid-summer for a long time and it didn't seem as lively as it does in springtime. But we were able to see a range of lovely birds up close, as well as a a quick glimpse of the three otters at the end of their afternoon feeding time. Flamingoes always catch my eye as they are such strange creatures and always lively when the gather in their large groups. I spotted two cranes flying overhead and we were treated to several formations of low flying ducks and geese, all of which I tried to photograph.

But as we neared the end of our tour we decided to have a look in the Tropical house, and what a treat it was. It seemed like being back in a tropical rainforest as water dripped on me from the roof and small waterfalls fell into a series of pools surrounded by colourful flowering plants and trees. After a couple of minutes I started to notice an assortment of small birds as they flew in and out of thick leaved trees and small brilliantly coloured ducks swan=m slowly on the the pools as big fish drifted underneath them.

But my favourite was this small white wading bird, which didn't seem frightened and allowed me up close whilst it preened itself in between bouts of feeding in the shallow waters of a muddy pond. I couldn't see a name for it or a description board which most birds outside the Tropical House seemed to have. I took a range of pictures and in some of them it appears to be very delicate. I was glad to see that it had a mate so may not be lonely in those rather narrow confines.

I will definitely go back to Slimbridge soon, and make time for a longer stay in the Tropical House so that I can watch all the rather timid birds there. Helena also wants to go back and in winter we hope to make and effort to go to the big observation tower when the starling murmurations are in full swing.