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Guscar and Ayleburton (21 August 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

Another attempt to read colour-ringed Curlews at high tide (so far in August 54 of the 66 birds colour-ringed at Wibdon Warth last September have been seen, 52 at Guscar, two at Slimbridge); not too successful because of heat haze, only two seen. 350+ Curlews, 2 immature Bar-tailed godwits, three immature Knot, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 adult Peregrine, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Wheatears.

Guscar Rocks (2 August 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

Nice big tide of 8.9 metres at 10h38 covered all mudflats and forced waders to roost on shoreline. Total of at least 528 Curlews, at least four of them carrying colour rings from the catch at Wibdon Warth last September. Flock of 12 Whimbrels flew downriver at 08h00, clearly passing migrants not interested in joining any high tide Curlew roosts. A Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit, both still in adult summer plumage, joined the Curlews. A lone Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers. Eight immature Shelducks, family party of eight Yellow Wagtails.

Coombe Hill (27 July 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Scrapes now totally dry; still some water in the Long Pool but it’s dropping fast – will it last until the end of the summer?? Even the canal is almost dry. All the hay now cut.

The family of Canada plus the White Farmhouse Goose and their three young still grazing round the scrapes. The pair of Egyptian Geese still there too. Three Hares and a fox cub.

On the Long Pool, one adult Redshank plus four flying juveniles, so all four eggs produced young, a minor record! Still at least five young Lapwings, probably not quite fledged, with four anxious adults. A single Green Sandpiper. Couple of Water Rails squealing in the background. Passerines few and far between.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (28 June 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

The scrapes in front of the Grundon Hide are now both almost dry. The southern scrape is completely dry, and there are just two puddles in the northern scrape, which will be dry very soon. However, there is still plenty of water in the Long Pool, and most of the birds seem to be going there. From the Grundon Hide, two broods of Lapwings, each of three chicks are still round the edge; two Hobbies landed alongside them early on, but flew off empty-footed. Two Egyptian Geese and a Little Egret. A Redshank still appeared to have chicks in the long grass, as did at least one pair of Curlew. On the Long Pool, two more broods of Lapwings, three Green Sandpiper, an immature Little Ringed Plover which must have flown in from outside, and a Carrion Crow eating the fourth Mute Swan cygnet (the other three were safe with Mum and Dad), and a Teal in eclipse. On the way back a brownish looking Cuckoo (Graham smith later saw and photographed a young Cuckoo being fed by a …. Male Reed Bunting.

At Ashleworth, a Yellow Wagtail with a nest in a hayfield, fortunately one in higher Level stewardship which won’t be cut for weeks yet.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (21 June 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

The southern scrape has now dried out, and the northern scrape is likely to be dry in a very few days, but there is still water in the Long Pool.

Pair of Mute Swans still with four growing cygnets; the ménage à trois of two Canadas and a White Farmyard Geese are still there with two Canada and one hybrid gosling. Breeding waders: two female Lapwings, each with three tiny chicks by the scrapes, and probably a third out there somewhere; one female Lapwing still incubating on the Long Pool; a female Redshank with at least two small chicks; one female Curlew with a smallish chick in the grass, probably at least two more pairs with young in the long grass round the scrapes. Two Oystercatchers, probably the pair that failed. A Grasshopper Warbler reeling on the southern meadows, a Sedge Warbler carrying food by the canal, a Goldcrest singing by the carpark(!).

Returning waders, failed or finished breeders: two Green Sandpipers, four Redshank (a flock in adult plumage), 19 Lapwings (a flock, all adults, no full grown young). Also three Grey Herons and 1 Little Egret.

Bibury (7 June 2011, contributed by Jan Malling)

A Cuckoo heard in the vicinity of Shagborough Copse.

Coombe Hill (6 June 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

The saga of the two Canadas and the White Farmyard Goose continues. Now that the goslings have grown up a bit, it is clear that WFG is the father of one of them and probably of the other two as well! He’s still following the family party about, looking a bit forlorn, or perhaps laughing up his sleeve? So the battle royal seen some weeks ago, in which the male Canada chased off the white bird and nearly killed it was more revenge than prevention?

Also still 38 non-breeding Canadas and a Barnacle flying out to roost at dusk. A male Tufted Duck. Nine herons (two adults and seven birds of the year); two Little Egrets; three large Lapwing chicks, almost flying, and at least three female Lapwings still sitting. As many as 22 Curlews coming in to roost just before dusk. A Reeve. And a very agitated male Redstart by the gateway to the reserve which must have had young.

Woorgreens (3 June 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Around the Woogreens area today sightings included a pair of Mandarin with four ducklings, a Little Grebe, a Cuckoo (heard), up to ten Tree Pipits, a pair of Redstarts, four Willow Tits, 14 Siskins (including juveniles), two Lesser Redpolls and at least 11 Crossbills.

At Speech House Arboretum a singing male Firecrest and at least six Hawfinches and also two Hornets.

Gloucester (1 June 2011, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A male Peregrine carrying prey was seen heading towards the city, perhaps to the hospital, over Castle Meads this afternoon.

Newent Woods area (31 May 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Newent Woods/May Hill in the evening the highlights included a roding Woodcock, three Turtle Doves, three Spotted Flycatchers, a pair of Redstarts and a singing male Crossbill.