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Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (29 January 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

There was an adult Whooper Swan in front of the main hide at Ashleworth Ham this afternoon and according to the logbook. There was a party of five Bewick’s Swans (2 ad & 3 juvs) there until 12.30pm when they flew off north. Other birds seen included 28 Gadwall and 120 Pintail.

Forest of Dean (29 January 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Six Crossbills (three males & 3 females) at Edge Hills today; otherwise very quiet.

Walmore (27 January 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

The flooding has almost entirely gone and it was very quiet with no swans. Seen were six Snipe, one hovering Kestrel, one Skylark. Only one Wren, which seem to be very scarce generally. Two foxes.

Coombe Hill (26 January 2011, contributed by Les Brown, Mike Smart and John Wiltshire)

The Severn is now much lower and the flooding on the meadows has receded considerably.

At Coombe Hill, the Grundon Hide is now comfortably accessible; the floodwater no longer iced over. A fantastic waterbird spectacle, but Saturday’s exceptional Teal numbers were no longer present. 3 Bewick’s Swans (a family party of two adults and one cygnet which had clearly roosted but moved off early), 180+ Greylags (including three darvic ringed birds), 1 Pinkfoot, 1 Barhead, 300+ Canadas, 3000 Wigeon (very active and lively on water constantly flying up), 10 Gadwall, 500+ Teal, 250 Pintail, 336 Lapwings, 1 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlews (one already giving bubbling call).

No sign of any Whooper or Bewick’s Swans at either Leigh Meadows or Ashleworth/Hasfield.

Walmore (24 January 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

The Severn has dropped sharply in the last few days allowing water to flow off the flooded meadows. Nearly all the water has gone from Walmore and there were no swans present at all. I wonder where the Whooper Swans have gone? 150 Teal, seven Snipe, two Ravens, 100 Fieldfares in meadows.

Severn Hams (23 January 2011, contributed by Mike Smart et al)

Coombe Hill still covered by extensive flooding yesterday, largely though not completely iced over; Grundon Hide barely accessible though good views possible from canal bank. Unusually large concentrations of ducks, particularly Teal, on the area of water kept open: estimates (conservative) of 2500 Wigeon, 2000 Teal, 200 Pintail, 100 Mallard, 10 Shoveler, 15 Gadwall all packed into small area. 200 Greylags, 400 Canadas. No sign of Bewick’s or Whoopers, either at Coombe Hill or Cobney Meadows at Wainlodes end. (Les Brown, Mike Smart, John Wiltshire and Tim Cash)

At Wainlodes, on the Severn a male and two red head Goosanders. (MS)

At Ashleworth too, good numbers of ducks and geese on open water between ice: 60 Pintail, 200 Wigeon, 200 Canadas. (MS)

Walmore Common (21 January 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

Today at Walmore, the flooding was fairly extensive, but mainly iced over. There were eighteen swans present: nine Mute (six white and three cygnets); three Whoopers (two adults and a cygnet, clearly the birds that were at Minsterworth until ten days ago and not there today); and six Bewick’s (five adults and one cygnet). None of them were ringed. Interestingly, they were all on the brightest green bit of grass, alongside the main cross (north/south) ditch. The landowner, Mr Hyslop, says that this is the freshest grass around; it’s an area of spoil from ditch-cleaning which he reseeded last autumn with a rye grass mixture, to prevent docks and other weeds springing up.

Walmore and Awre (21 January 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Awre this afternoon two Golden Plover,250+ Lapwing, 12 Ruff, a Snipe and 65 Curlew feeding on fields and two Rock Pipits on the foreshore. Just two adult Bewick’s Swans at Walmore Common at 1.30pm.

Coombe Hill (18 January 2011, contributed by Gordon Avery, Les Brown and Mike Smart)

Coombe Hill was at its absolute best today; the Severn has dropped a little, but there is still light flooding on the meadows and the new boardwalk has come into its own; without it, the Grundon Hide could not be reached. Large numbers of water birds on the shallow floodwater: about 2,500 Wigeon, 400 Teal, 76 Pintail, 14 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall; there has been an increase in ducks since the weekend perhaps the 1,000 additional Wigeon have come from Slimbridge? About 425 Canada Geese, 170 Greylag Geese, 1 adult Pink-footed Goose, 2 adult European Whitefronts (flew in calling, probably birds from Slimbridge). 13 Bewick’s Swans, the first here this winter (eight adults and five cygnets). No sign of Whoopers at Leigh Meadows or Minsterworth. 460 Lapwings, 3 Dunlin, 2 Curlews, the latter unusual at this date: are they cold weather migrants from the north or early arriving breeding birds?

Walmore Common (16 January 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

The WEBS count at Walmore Common this morning coincided with the first floods of the winter here – two Mute Swans, 19 Canada Geese, five Shelduck, 62 Wigeon, 11 Gadwall, 305 Teal, 125 Mallard, eight Pintail, one Shoveler, three Buzzards, an adult male Peregrine and five Snipe.