CROWDS flocked to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge last weekend for the fifth Great West Bird Fair.

The event was opened by TV presenter Philippa Forrester and kicked off with an opportunity to breakfast with the birds and hear the dawn chorus of the European White-fronted geese.

Later in the day teams took part in a Question of Birds quiz for the chance to win the West Country Birders title.

Visitors had the opportunity to walk around the centre on a threatened species guided walk with Graham Maples followed by a chance to see the Bewick swans, which travel from Russia each year to spend the winter at Slimbridge.

Other activities included demonstrations on how to make bird boxes, a talk on wildlife photography and a chance to see artist Trevor Smith sketching winter wildfowl.

Sonja Taylor-Jones, of WWT Slimbridge, said: "We had a fantastic weekend. The Bird Fair is now in its fifth year and more and more people are getting to know about it and each year more and more come along to learn about what we do."

The theme running through the week was Why so threatened? and focused on wildfowl species from across the world in danger of extinction.