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Guscar Rocks and Westbury-on-Severn (28 November 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Guscar Rocks to Pillhouse Rocks – sightings included three Ringed Plover, 31 Golden Plover, a Grey Plover, c.150 Dunlin, two Snipe, c.90 Curlew, four Redshank and a Rock Pipit.

At Westbury-on-Severn, a roost of at least 16,000 Starlings at the water gardens with most arriving between 3.30 and 4.00pm.

Severn Hams (18 November 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

There was a real wintry feel at last today, with the water level rising, even if only slightly, an easterly wind and more ducks and geese present.

Coombe Hill: there is some water now in the scrapes in front of the Grundon hide, though they are still pretty low: there was a nice concentration of geese early morning, even if they were mostly Canadas and Greylags. They clearly behave like major goose flocks and may well attract wild geese to join them; the water level is quite high in the Long Pool, but there are not so many birds there now. 240 Canada Geese, 65 Greylags (one with a colour ring B6P), 1 Barhead, one white Farmyard Goose. 160 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 63 Mallard, 9 Lapwings. At least 500 Fieldfares mainly feeding on hawthorn berries.

Ashleworth Ham was rather quiet because of a pheasant shoot in neighbouring fields. Three and a half boards were inserted in the sluice which should allow water levels to rise.

Lower Lode, Tewkesbury (18 November 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

32 Cormorants in the loafing site at Lower Lode at lunchtime today.

Aylburton Warth (31 October 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Aylburton Warth today 25 Teal, a Curlew Sandpiper, three Ruff, four Snipe, a Turnstone, three Rock Pipits and a Wheatear with approximate counts of 150 Golden Plover, 500 Dunlin, 200 Curlew and 85 Skylarks. Also three Brambling in a nearby game-strip.

Sudmeadow/GLS (30 October 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

Seen today were: 1 Green Sandpiper (this bird has been around all month), 1650 Starlings, a minimum of 15 Raven and 30 Linnets.

Coombe Hill and Deerhurst (30 October 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

It was still very dry with little or no water in scrapes, but the Long Pool was still holding plenty of water. Most birds were on the Long Pool; 4 Mute Swans, 65 Greylag Geese, 30 Canada Geese, only 53 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 10 Wigeon, 1 Little Grebe, 6 Snipe, 1 Kingfisher; still only 10 Fieldfares, 5 Redwings.

Deerhurst: 1 Sparrowhawk, gulls feeding on a field where slurry had recently been spread: 200 Black-headed, 10 Common Gull and 20 Lesser Blackbacks.

Standish (22 October 2010, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

The flowering ivy is still feeding a range of insects, especially flies and wasps. A Red Admiral was seen fluttering around a sheltered sunlit ivy bush, though there are very few butterflies about now.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (22 October 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

Following reports from Slimbridge of a Whooper and two Bewick’s which seem to spend their nights at Slimbridge but disappear by day, I spent the morning in the Coombe Hill/Ashleworth area, checking whether they are in the Severn Hams area. No swans were seen, not even a Mute, so they are not in this part of the county. Both areas are very dry, with little or no surface water; the only place with water is the Long Pool at Coombe Hill.

Coombe Hill: 280 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 1 Snipe, 25 Fieldfares, 5 Redwings; very small Meadow Pipit movement with not more than six birds to south west.

Cobney Meadows (west end of Coombe Hill); 100 Fieldfares, 1 Raven.

Ashleworth: nothing to report.

Aylburton and Guscar (10 October 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

There was a very high tide this morning (9.6 metres), which covered much of the shoreline and almost flooded Aylburton Warth. There were at least 660 Curlews in the high tide roost with at least of eight them being colour-ringed birds marked at Wibdon on 26 September; five of the eight rings were read and so could be individually identified. Also 30 Wigeon, 13 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 150 Lapwings, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 200 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint, 1 Snipe, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Redshank. About 50 Swallows (moving upriver, against the wind: maybe it’s easier to catch insects against the wind?), 30 Meadow Pipits, 10+ Ravens.

Standish (10 October 2010, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

Further to report for the 4 October Harlequin Ladybirds, it was the same on my house and garden walls yesterday, both the white-painted house wall, where there must have been four or five per square metre, and the old brick garden wall. Curiously, I only saw harlequins doing this, though other species of ladybird are still common round the garden. The other garden joys currently are the insects on the Michaelmas Daisies and flowering Ivy. Red Admiral is the commonest species of butterfly there – I see several a day if the weather is sunny like it was yesterday – also Comma, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell.

Northleach (4 October 2010, contributed by David Scott-Langley)

The warm early autumn sunshine has warmed up the walls of the parish church and this afternoon they were covered in Harlequin Ladybirds in all their different colour forms.

Coombe Hill area (28 September 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Coombe Hill was quiet today with the water level low (no water in scrapes, but still some in the Long Pool). The extension to the board walk has been completed completed and looking good; it should now be possible to reach the Grundon Hide in low to moderate flooding. 72 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 4 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, unusually large flock of 150 Goldfinches, some passage of Meadow Pipits, maybe 50 over to southwest.

River Chelt near Prior’s Norton: 1 Kingfisher.

Barrow Ponds: 6 perching Cormorants.

Wibdon Warth (26 September 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

On Sunday 26 September at Wibdon Warth (on the Severn Estuary between Lydney and Chepstow) an experienced team of BTO ringers, led by Steve Dodd and Dave Coker, caught and ringed 67 Curlews out of about 300 present on a high tide roost; another larger roost of 500 birds remained entirely undisturbed. The catch was carried out on the Severn Estuary SSSI/SPA, with the permission of the landowner, and with authorisation from Natural England.

The purpose was partly to provide additional data for assessing the effect of possible tidal barrages on the Severn, and partly to contribute to a larger BTO project of monitoring turnover of waders at sites they regularly use. This was almost certainly the first Curlew cannon-net catch in Gloucestershire, and produced interesting new information about Curlews in the county; nearly all the Curlews were adults which had almost finished their moult, with only a single first year bird; there were three ringed birds (an excellent proportion for such a catch), one with a British ring, one with a Dutch ring and one with a Finnish ring. This suggests that the 800 odd Curlew regularly found in this area from late summer through autumn and winter may be adults from the Low Countries and Fenno-Scandia (as reported in the BTO Migration Atlas), rather than birds from the Gloucestershire breeding population; the finding of few young and lots of adults ties in with findings from Curlew catches in North Wales.

All the birds were marked with a combination of colour rings, and it is very much hoped that local bird watchers will note any observations of colour-ringed Curlews very carefully and report them to BTO. Please report them to Niall Burton of BTO at niall.burton@bto.org or on 01842-750050, giving details of the colour and position of all colour and metal rings.

Walmore (25 September 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Walmore Common today sightings included a Sparrowhawk, a Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Sand Martin, a Whinchat, a Wheatear and four Siskins overhead.

Coombe Hill and Walmore (21 September 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

At Coombe Hill, everythingis still very dry with little or no water in the scrapes, although there is still some water in the Long Pool. 2 Herons, 4 Teal, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10+ Chiffchaffs calling from the bushes, one or two bursts of song. The scrub has now been cleared along the north bank of the canal as far as the footbridge, and the hedges cut back further down, making it more open and making access easier. The extension to the broadwalk is under construction; this will allow access to the Grundon hide in light flooding.

At Walmore there was one Green Sandpiper (unusual here) 2 Snipe, 2 Stonechats, 1 Whinchat, about 100 Swallows and at least 20 Meadow Pipits.

SUD/GLS (15 September 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

Fairly quiet, although a single juvenile Dabchick and a Green Sandpiper around the pools today.

Aylburton Warth, Guscar Rocks and Wibdon Warth (12 September 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

The high tide of 9.2 metres today did not flood the riverside warths. 560 Curlews, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Lapwings, 1 Little Egret, 200+ Swallows and 40+ House Martin going downriver in little parties, one Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatears, Meadow Pipits much more in evidence than of late, maybe 30 individuals.

Hasfield Ham (12 September 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

In the afternoon there were three Hobbies, a Stonechat and five Spotted Flycatchers.

Aylburton Warth (11 September 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Seen at the warth this morning were: a Merlin (presumed same as 29th Aug), a Peregrine, one Little Stint, one Curlew Sandpiper, two Dunlin, 98 Curlew, one Common Sandpiper, two Sand Martins, one Yellow Wagtail, six Wheatears plus a flock of 13 Knot and c.20 Bar-tailed Godwits flying upriver.

Aylburton Warth, Guscar Rocks and Wibdon Warth (10 September 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

I went to Guscar /Aylburton again yesterday on what was (as noted in the latest GNS NEWS) one of the highest tides of the year (9.8 meters at Sharpness). A most impressive sight as the river surges upstream with huge energy on such occasions and floods areas that normally remain dry; the whole of Aylburton Warth was under water, as was much of the warth between Pillhouse and Wibdon. Newspaper reports last weekend suggested that funding for the largest version of the proposed Severn barrage was unlikely to be forthcoming in the current financial situation.

The main bird interest was the large concentration of Curlews, many of them in full wing moult with about 850 individuals moving their roost site from Aylburton via Guscar to Pillhouse and Wibdon as the tide rose. With them were three Knot and four Bar-tailed Godwits, two Common Sandpipers and (on Aylburton Warth) a Green Sandpiper. Four Yellow Wagtails went high downstream, at last a few passage Meadow Pipits, not many, perhaps half a dozen; one Wheatear and two Whinchats at Guscar; the hedges full of the calls of young Chiffchaffs, at least one singing. Ravens everywhere, with at least ten.

Aston Down (2 September 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

There were 2 Wheatears at midday at the airfield.

Selsey Common (30 August 2010, contributed by Peter Fitchett)

Among the late summer species seen today were: Autumn Lady’s Tresses, three Adonis Blues as well as some Common Blues and Meadow Browns. There were plenty of Carline Thistles and Harebells in bloom. See Peter’s pictures below.

Gloucester (26 August 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Two Peregrines on Gloucester Cathedral today.

Coombe Hill (26 August 2010, contributed by Mike Smart, Dave Pearce and Graham Smith)

There is a little more water in the Long Pool and a small puddle on the scrapes. The main beneficiaries of rainfall seem to be the crows with a mixed flock of 500 Jackdaws and Rooks on the grass, looking for insects brought to the surface by the rain. Otherwise, 120 Mallard and 5 Teal, plus a single Green Sandpiper on the Long Pool. Two Wheatears and a Whinchat from the Grundon Hide. Lots of Chiffchaffs (20+ maybe) calling from vegetation with one burst of song. At least 50 Swallows plus an odd House Martin hawking for Swallows low over the grass.

Upham Meadow, Twyning (25 August 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

4 juvenile Yellow Wagtails and 100+ Swallow hawking low over grass.

Ayleburton (23 August 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Aylburton Warth this evening produced one Little Egret, three Ringed Plovers, one Snipe, 11 Curlews, three Common Sandpipers, ten Turnstones, an Oystercatcher, three Yellow Wagtails, five Whinchats, six Wheatears and 50 Ravens moving west to roost.

Meadow Brown Butterflies (17 August 2010, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

After what seems to have been a crash in the population at home, I have at last seen some Meadow Brown butterflies at Selsley Common, Crabtree Hill and Standish.

Witcombe (17 August 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

There was a male Firecrest by the cottage today. It was with a tit and warbler flock feeding around the garden. There was some brief song as well when it was perched in one of the leylandii trees.

Cotswold Commons (17 August 2010, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

Autumn Ladies Tresses Orchid is now coming into flower.

Guscar Rocks and Aylburton Warth (16 August 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

It was rather quiet at high tide today. There were 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 700 Curlew; also 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 immature Wheatear and 5 Meadow Pipits.

Aylburton Warth and Walmore (15 August 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Today’s sightings at Aylburton included a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, four Ringed Plover, three Dunlin, a Greenshank (heard only), a Common Sandpiper, a Tree Pipit, three Yellow Wagtails, two Wheatears and 20 Ravens.

At Walmore there were two Snipe, two Redstarts, a Whinchat and a Nuthatch (only my second ever Nuthatch here).

Coombe Hill (10 August 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

All the hayfields have been cut and are being grazed by cattle, which should improve hay meadow vegetation and create good conditions for breeding waders next year. The whole reserve is very dry and the scrapes in front of the Grundon Hide have been dry for a month now. Most of the ditches have dried out. The only open water is in Long Pool with good viewing from the Long Pool hide. The 2 Mute Swans on the canal have lost their lone remaining cygnet. 19 Greylags flew out and 20 Canadas flew in. Also, 2 Teal but 1 Green Sandpiper was the only wader present. A steady visible migration of Swallows to thesouthwest, probably 100 in all. Three or four Willow Warblers singing, at least one Chiffchaff singing and lots of juvenile Chiffchaffs calling.

Beachley Point (9 August 2010, contributed by Ivan Proctor)

Seven species of ladybird were seen today at Beachley Point. Three 18-spot Ladybirds were beaten from pines and one Cream-spot from oak along the road leading to the electricity pylon. The verge here produced one each of Seven-spot and 14-spot. Sweeping in the grassland between the Point and the Wye Bridge produced six more 7-spots, two 22-spots and single 16-spot and 24-spot. The grassland here usually produces many more 24-spot ladybirds than this. Birds were few and quiet but Linnets and Oystercatchers were both heard and there were about a hundred Black-headed Gulls out on the estuary. A Brown Rat ran across the access road.

Wigpool Common (5 August 2010, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

Despite the dry summer, there is still wet mud at the Wig Pool, attracting a Green Sandpiper.

Sudmeadow (30 July 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A Hobby over Sudmeadow today at 7.12am.

Purton (30 July 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Purton this evening: three adult Mediterranean Gulls (one with green ring on left leg), six Little Egrets and a Common Sandpiper.

Witcombe (28 July 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A Hobby over the reservoir at about 10.35am and 71 Tufted Duck were also present – a highish count here.

Forest of Dean (16 July 2010, contributed by Ivan Proctor)

Over the past few days, July 10th-16th, I have seen kidney spot ladybird larvae at Dark Hill and in the Cannop Valley. They have always been on the trunks of medium sized ash trees where they feed on ash scale insects and are easy to spot. They are about 3 mm long, black and, under magnification, spined. On two occasions adult ladybirds have been near by on the same tree. Ivan’s pictures show both an adult and one of the larvae.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (10 July 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

The scrapes in front of the Grundon Hide dried out completely in the last week (for the first time since summer 2003), but there is still water in the Long Pool and good views can be obtained from the Long Pool hide. Today there were 5 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, 2 adult Oystercatchers with one chick which can just fly on rounded wings, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Green Sandpipers, and about ten adult Lapwings, with half a dozen young of different sizes that had obviously walked over from the scrapes. A little song still from 1 Reed Warbler, 2 each Sedge Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat, also a Tree Creeper. A male Sparrowhawk sitting in the middle of the dry scrape.

Forest of Dean (3 July 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

A Turtle Dove ‘purring’ at Loquiers near Harrow Hill today.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (29 June 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

At Coombe Hill, the water level is dropping fast despite last night’s rain. The scrapes in front of the Grundon Hide are almost dry (three large fish just surviving), and the Long Pool level is also dropping. The Mute Swan by the Wharf has at last hatched its first cygnet, and another pair with two cygnets is eating duckweed (must be very nutritious) on the Parish Drain. 3 Teal, no Shelducks, 9 Little Egrets, 9 Grey Herons (two adults and seven birds of the year); the Oystercatchers still have one chick which they have taken to the Long Pool; at least four perhaps five broods of young Lapwings, only one curlew seen. Among early migrant waders one Little Ringed Plover, four Redshanks, five Green Sandpipers; at least one juvenile Black-headed Gull, which must have flown in from a breeding place elsewhere. At least four singing Reed Warblers, but most Sedge Warblers have given up singing; surprisingly , still two bursts of Lesser Whitethroat song.

At Ashleworth, hay cutting has started on the SSSI but not on the reserve: all very quiet, but one pair of Lapwings with young just off the reserve.

Walmore and Forest of Dean (19 and 20 June 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

On the 19th, at Walmore Common a Jack Snipe flushed twice;also, a pair of Curlew, a pair of Red-legged Partridges and a Kingfisher. At Flaxley Woods a singing male Firecrest and a Muntjac Deer.

On the 20th in the FoD there were two Hobbies at Clanna and a Curlew nearby at St.Briavels.

Jack Snipe is extremely rare in Britain in summer, even Shetland has only two or three records. When I first flushed it I thought it must be a half-grown juvenile Common Snipe. That in itself would be an exceptional record these days. The possiblity of Jack Snipe never even crossed my mind. Later, however, as I walked back I flushed the bird again and gained rather better views. It was clearly a Jack Snipe and if it was anytime between September and April I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. Walmore has been a very reliable spot for Jack Snipe for many winters with up to seven birds present in recent years. My last sighting this spring was a single on 27th March. I looked for it again today, but no luck.

Severn Hams (17 June 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

River Severn near Lower Lode: 1 Oystercatcher, 20 Sand Martins around a colony in the river bank.

Lower Lode Brickpits: 20 Cormorants in dead trees, seven Herons, a pair of Mute Swans with three cygnets and a male Yellow Wagtail sitting on an oak.

Coombe Hill (17 June 2010, contributed by Mike Smart, John Wiltshire and Tim Cash)

Breeding waders: 2 adult Oystercatchers and two chicks; at least three broods of Lapwings with chicks (one of which has hatched since Thursday; at least three pairs of Curlew behaving as though they had young.

Waders on return migration: a flock of 25 Lapwings, at least 7 noisy adult Redshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, one additional Oystercatcher.

In addition, there were 2 Teal, 4 Little Egrets and still plenty of singing warblers (Sedge, Reed, Whitethroat, Blackcap, but no singing Redstarts). The Mute Swan by the wharf still as three eggs.

Sudmeadow (17 June 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A Little Egret flew over this morning at 07.57. It then seemed to head off towards the SW.

Stratton (16 June 2010, contributed by Ken Cservenka)

A young Little Owl was calling from a tree at Stratton House Hotel near Cirencester with an adult calling nearby at 1.10am..

Coombe Hill (15 June 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and John Wiltshire)

The scrapes and Long Pool: two pairs of Shelduck, one pair of Gadwall, six individual Teal, one Tufted Duck, 3 Little Egrets; 1 Quail singing; two adult Oystercatchers with two tiny chicks (the first successful breeding record here), at least three late pairs of breeding Lapwings (one still sitting, two with tiny chicks), probably two pairs of Curlews; about four Redshanks considered to be non-breeders arrived from outside; at least two Redstarts singing or giving alarm notes. Still plenty of singing Sedge Warblers, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers.

In nearby arable fields: still one anxious adult Lapwing, in the area where small chicks were seen two weeks ago; one pair of Yellow Wagtails.

Cheltenham (12 June 2010, contributed by Robert Homan)

A weekend of large insects at home with an impressive 17mm long tabinid fly (Tabanus autumnalis) falling out of a pile of washing just brought in from the garden and a 20mm+ long-horn beetle (Stenocorus meridianus) seen in the garden. Pictures of the fly and beetle below.

Cleeve Hill (11 June 2010, contributed by Robert Homan)

The picture below shows one of thousands of Garden Chafers (Phyllopertha horticola) swarming over Cleeve Hill today. They attracted the attention of a few gulls and a dragonfly attempted to pick the beetles off gorse bushes.

Coombe Hill (8 June 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Midsummer at Coombe Hill: luxuriant vegetation in the rain, wild roses in all the hedges, all the northbound migrants gone through, none moving south yet, but they’ll be coming soon; still plenty of birdsong.

The Mute Swan by the wharf which laid late is still incubating; 31 Canada Geese including three goslings, now almost full grown; 10 Greylags flew in; a single male Shelduck (is there a female on eggs somewhere?); 80 Mallard (two females with ducklings); 1 Little Egret; 2 Oystercatchers still incubating (changeover seen); at least two Lapwings incubating eggs in the rain (they started late too; first chicks seen on 2 June); 2 adult Curlews behaving as though they had young; a single Redshank, non breeder; at least one Redstart singing; at least four Reed Warblers singing; at least six Sedge Warblers singing; five Whitethroats singing; at least five Reed Buntings singing.

Coombe Hill (6 June 2010, contributed by David Scott-Langley)

Life is returning to the canal and the meadows after the floods of 2007 and 2008 and in the canal this has been helped by the work on the south bank in 2009. A walk along the canal at the beginning of June produced sightings of six Tench grubbing about in the weed, including one lurking under some floating debris only 3 metres away from a 60cm (2ft) long Pike. The tench were probably on the large side for the pike and it was more likely to be lying in wait for ducklings or moorhen chicks. There were also Sticklebacks, both old and young, basking in sunny spots. Invertebrates of the surface film were in evidence, those above being Pond Skaters (Gerris) and Whirligig beetles (Gyrinus) while beneath them were several species of Water Boatmen and Backswimmers along with some small Dytiscid beetles. Paired Enallagma damselflies were busy depositing eggs on waterweeds near the surface. Along the margins on the south bank, invertebrates are returning following the clearing of scrub. The carabid beetle Elaphrus riparius was prowling the edges looking for prey with its large round eyes while the much smaller Bembidion and Stenus species were also on the lookout for insects such as springtails. From the bund to the footbridge the water gives the impression of being not such good quality, i.e. cloudy. However, hanging over the rails on the footbridge and looking straight down into the water, this cloudiness turns out to be many millions of Daphnia water fleas, rendering the canal bottom barely visible. The canal paths were also patrolled by Orange-tip, Green-veined White and Brimstone butterflies, as well as the occasional territorial Speckled Wood.

Out on the meadows the buttercups and hawkweeds add a vigorous splash of yellow to the green background, with Cuckoo flowers just going over and Ragged Robin and Red Clover just beginning to open. Green-veined White and Common Blue butterflies were visiting these flowers in the sunshine. The vegetation is now long enough to hide the occasional Hare. In some fields the dock plants are growing well but will soon be found by the Dock Leaf Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula) whose larvae will convert most of them to brown lace before too long. Already the females with overly-distended bodies are laying bunches of yellow eggs on the undersides of the leaves. After the recent spell of hot weather the newer ditches are low on water and being choked up with vegetation but the water edges are still being patrolled by Bembidion and Stenus beetles and the prolific predatory waterside bug Salda littoralis. Patches of Crowfoot flowers brighten up these ditches here and there. In the older ditches and drains Great Pond Snails (Limnaea stagnalis) and Ramshorn snails can be seen moving around on the underside of the surface film accompanied by water beetles such as the 18mm Colymbetes fuscus and smaller relatives. Where the Duckweed has built up into a thick raft it might be possible to see species such as the Screech Beetle (Hygrobia hermanni) which, when alarmed, makes a quite audible sound – less of a screech and more like the sound of running your fingernail rapidly along a comb. In these ditches were also to be seen young Sticklebacks in some numbers.

In one of the fields is a muddy dip that is normally wet into early summer but this year has dried out with deep cracks and blocks of soil. These cracks are hiding places for Bembidion, Salda and a number of small Staphylinid beetles, including the brightly-coloured red and black Paederus littoralis. Under the blocks of soil were several Horse Leeches (Haemopis sanguisorba) trying to find the last vestiges of moisture to see them through the summer dry spell. One group that particularly suffered in the floods was the Wolf Spiders that do not spin webs, do not balloon when young, and live in the ground layer of vegetation. This year a few can be seen running through the grass as they recolonise the area from outside, some carrying their eggsacs as they go. There is no mention of birds here as they are well covered by other observers!

Forest of Dean (31 May 2010, contributed by Mike King)

This pair of Dor Beetles (Geotrupes sp.) was seen today at at Burnt Oak near New Fancy View.

Minsterworth Ham (27 May 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

There were two Black-tailed Godwits at the Ham this evening.

Cleeve Hill (26 May 2010, contributed by Robert Homan)

Never believe a weather forecast that you want to be right is the moral of this story! A sheet and light mothing session on the hill should have been over by the time the rain came through, but it arrived just after we were set up and the evening became something of an extreme mothing event:

However, weather not liked by humans proved to be fine with the lepidoptera and the highlights of the evening were 3 Light Feathered Rustics:

This species has an interesting national distribution pattern which is almost a map of limestone and chalk in southern England. See http://www.mothscount.org/maps/94/moth_distribution_maps.html?filter=L&species=NHMSYS0000501177

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (25 May 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

At Coombe Hill things remains quiet. It looks as though the fine weather in April and May has allowed migrant birds, especially waders, to move straight through without forcing them to make stopovers. Today, the pair of Oystercatchers was still present, the female apparently incubating on the island in the northern scrape. About 12 Lapwings were present, after a total absence in the early part of the breeding season; some seemed to be incubating while others showed only a very weak attachment to their nests. A single very nervous Redshank which behaved as though it had failed elsewhere and was moving through. Two or three Shelducks defending territories, as though they had females on eggs hidden away somewhere. A single Little Egret, a single Sparrowhawk, one male Teal in the Long Pool; the pair of Mute Swans has nested again (very late) at the usual nesting site by the Wharf, after trying and failing further down the canal. One Redstart singing behind the Long Pool, at least five singing Whitethroats, at least three Sedge Warblers and two Reed Warblers singing in the withies. There are extensive stands of Ragged Robin in the usual field and evidence everywhere that the Dock Leaf Beetles (Gastrophysa viridula) are continuing to prey on docks.

Ashleworth was quiet too. At least three Redstarts singing along Stank Lane. It appears that there is only one pair of breeding Curlew in the area. The same species of beetle were busy there among the docks too.

Guscar Rocks (23 May 2010, contributed by Andy Jayne)

A Grey Seal moved slowly upriver on the incoming tide at 4pm. Also present were ten Ringed Plovers and a male Yellow Wagtail.

Standish (5 May 2010, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

The first St Mark’s Fly was around today. This is a species that is supposed to appear on 25 April (St Mark’s Day), so we are running about 10 days late. Also, the Swifts are about, I saw my first over Ebley yesterday, and over my garden today. A Hobby has also returned to the area.

Severn Vale (5 May 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

Along the Severn between Lower Lode and Chaceley Stock and in the fields inland of the river were: a pair of Egyptian Geese that were displaying on the river bank; at least 1 and perhaps 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers drumming and singing; 1 Raven; 1 Kingfisher; 3 Lapwings, with at least two chicks; 1 Common Sandpiper; 1 Redstart singing at the Chaceley GWT reserve. At Maisemore Court, at least one pair of Canada Geese with small goslings.

Swillbrook Lakes (28 April 2010, contributed by Ken Cservenka)

In the evening: 1 Swift, several singing Cetti’s Warblers, 3 singing Nightingales, a Cuckoo heard. Also Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Sedge and Reed Warblers.

Stratton (28 April 2010, contributed by Ken Cservenka)

A singing Blackcap, and throughout April at least 2 pairs of Yellowhammers.

Miserden Park (27 April 2010, contributed by Ken Cservenka)

I heard a Cuckoo today at Bullbanks in Miserden Park. Also a Raven overhead being harassed by a Carrion Crow. The crow then turned its attention onto a pair of Buzzards.

Ashleworth (27 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

When the morning mist lifted, it was clear from the birdsong, that most of the summer songbirds were present in force: a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen drumming and calling from the same oak tree as this time last year; no less than three different Grasshopper Warblers singing; at least six or seven Redstarts singing; about five Sedge Warblers, three or four Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat singing.

Severn Vale (25 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

Severn Ham, Tewkesbury: 1 Shelduck on the Severn, 2 pairs of Curlew bubbling on the Ham, 1 Common Sandpiper by the weir and an unusually high total of four singing Corn buntings round the Ham.

Lower Lode brickpits: 1 Mute Swan’s nest, 2 pairs of Shelducks on arable nearby, 2 pairs of Tufted Ducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 pairs of displaying Lapwings on arable and 1 Cuckoo.

Near Chaceley: a Redstart singing at a new site.

Coombe Hill during evening GWT walk: the Brent Goose was not seen, 2 displaying Oystercatchers, 5 Lapwings, 6 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Snipe and 1 Cuckoo.

Twyning and Lower Lode (22 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

At the Great Hay Meadow, Twyning, this morning: about eight pairs of Curlew on the Hay Meadow and two or three more pairs on surrounding grassland; interestingly, they were nearly all walking round and feeding in pairs, with little vocal display. This suggests to me that they haven’t laid yet (the more so as the grass is still pretty short, with clumps of longer sedge and lots of Ladies’ Smock). Only one Redshank. No sign of any Corn Buntings. Two Hobbies flying over Bredon, but they were marginally in Worcs. Lots of paired Canada Geese, which appear to have lost their eggs/nests. About five Sedge Warblers singing along the Avon.

Four Roe Deer, appeared to be the same individuals (two male as and two females in the same place) as last week. Lots of Rabbits (a rarely recorded mammal) round Sandacre Farm and on the base of the motorway bridge.

At Lower Lode, at least 30 Sand Martins around the colony which is in the river bank, a Little Owl; one Lesser Whitethroat and one Whitethroat singing; there seem to be more Lessers than Common so far this year.

Ashleworth (21 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

At Ashleworth this evening: the male Garganey, for once sitting right in front of hide, but no sign of the female; about 34 Teal, overwhelmingly in pairs; a pair of Shelduck; 6 Wigeon; a single male Shoveler; only two Curlews, probably a pair, came in to roost.

Tewkesbury (20 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

At Severn Ham in the morning were: 1 Cuckoo, 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler. Later along the River Swilgate by Priors Park, in the masses of Blackthorn now in full bloom, were: 1 Nightingale, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler singing.

Coombe Hill (19 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

Seen during an evening look at Coombe Hill, mainly to see waders, both local birds roosting and passing migrants: about eight Curlews coming to roost with a Whimbrel, two Oystercatchers, two Little Ringed Plovers, the latter being more vocal than usual. One sitting Canada Goose plus about 20 non breeders, the Brent Goose yet again. Four pairs of Shelduck. One male Wheatear. A Lesser Whitethroat singing briefly. There was a complete absence of Lapwing and Redshank.

Port Ham, Gloucester (18 April 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A male Cuckoo was present this afternoon.

North Meadow, Cricklade (18 April 2010, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

As the picture below shows, the fritillaries are looking good now but are not quite at their peak yet.

Hemmingsdale Road, Gloucester (17 April 2010, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A Holly Blue today was the first this year, plus a first for the garden came in the form of a Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obtiterata).

Coombe Hill (17 April 2010, contributed by Tom Cash, Mike Smart and Les Brown)

A cold morning with a light frost, although it brightened up with lots of sunlight later. There was not a lot of birdsong first thing.

8 Mute Swans had roosted and went to feed on a fresh grass ley on the Southern Meadows; one pair on the canal seen mating. 15 Canada Geese, the Brent Goose was still there. Three pairs of Shelduck. 56 Teal. 1 Sparrowhawk. Following recent records at Slimbridge, one Avocet was present at first light, maybe a bird en route to Upton Warren near Droitwich, where they have bred for some years. Two Oystercatchers displaying actively, as though they were going to breed. A single Lapwing by the scrapes, only one by the arable to the south; it doesn’t look as though they are going to breed there in any numbers, if at all. 1 Little Ringed Plover, very subdued and probably a passage bird. Maybe 4 Curlew. 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper. 1 Redstart singing and another calling. 2 Whitethroats and 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing. Numerous Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

One Peacock butterfly, two Small Tortoiseshells. One Brown Hare behind the Long Pool.

Ashleworth Ham (15 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

In the evening there were still 40 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 10 Shoveler; 4 Green Sandpipers together, clearly migrants; a late flock of 20 Fieldfares; only one Redstart was found.

Great Hay Meadow, Twyning (15 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart)

1 immature Peregine was sitting on a stone in the middle of the meadow; more Canada Geese nesting on the Avon bank – at least three nests seen (in pretty obvious places, two of them predated); 2 Oystercatchers flew downriver, 12 Curlews, 1 Swallow, no sign of Corn Buntings or Yellow Wagtails. Four Roe Deer, two males with horns (one pointed, the other still velvety) and two females.

Severn Vale (13 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Rather a cold north-easterly wind inhibiting birdsong early on, so that many arriving bird migrants may have kept very quiet; brightening later, but still not as warm as the last few days. Water levels dropping gradually everywhere, though ditches and scrapes are still fairly full. Verges full of cuckoo flowers and lesser celandine, but few cuckoo flowers in meadows as yet. One or two Small Tortoiseshells out.

Coombe Hill: Very quiet – 30 Canada Geese, mostly non-breeders, but one on eggs and another suspected; the Brent Goose still keeping them company; 3 pairs of Shelduck; 44 Teal; 3 Oystercatchers; 2 Curlews; 1 Green Sandpiper; no Lapwings; 5 Sand Martins hawking insects over the Long Pool; four singing willow Warblers.

Leigh Meadows: a pair of Lapwings perhaps breeding, two Curlews, a very short snatch of song from one Redstart.

Haw Bridge: 12 Sand Martins around colony in the river bank; one Common Sandpiper on beach.

Staunton: it looks as though the Lapwings have given up on their breeding attempt.

Ashleworth: a male Garganey, 26 Wigeon, 53 Teal, 13 shoveler, 17 coot, one on a nest; no sign of any Redstarts

Standish (14 April 2010, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

Many of the spring crucifers are now in bloom. I am particularly fond of the hardy little annuals, about 2 inches high, that make a living among the crushed stone of my drive. The top below picture shows mostly Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna), with its oval seed pods developing, but in the centre is a stem of Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) with long seed pods. With them on the drive can be found Danish Scurvygrass, shown in the second picture below (Cochlearia danica) which is the plant that is coating the verges of all dual carriageways currently, looking a bit like a thin skim of snow.

Puesdown, A 40 (11 April 2010, contributed by Peter Fitchett)

A Red Kite circling over the A40 by the Puesdown public house today.

Spring Flowers (11 April 2010, contributed by Peter Fitchett)

Pictures below by Peter show a Pasque Flower on the reserve, near Cirencester and the start of the Fritillary show at Cricklade North Meadow, just over the county boundary in Wiltshire. Peter suggests that the meadow will be at its best in a week or so.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (10 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Coombe Hill this morning: Mute Swans building nest, Brent still there, 7 Shelducks, 45 Teal, 4 Grey Herons in breeding plumage, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Oystercatchers displaying (present for at least four days), 2 Whitethroats singing, at least seven Willow Warblers singing, 2 Blackcaps singing.

Later at Ashleworth,: Mute Swan incubating, 10 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 4 Grey Herons, 6 Buzzards soaring, 2 Curlews, at least 3 Redstarts (two males singing rather poorly; the first ones had been noted on 8 April), about five Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps and ten Chiffchaffs all in song.

Cleeve Hill (8 April 2010, contributed by Robert Homan)

7 Wheatears near the trig point this morning.

Severn Vale (3 April 2010, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

At Coombe Hill: Brent Goose still there, 7 Shelducks, 15 Shoveler, 1 passing Peregrine, 2 Little Ringed Plovers (a male and a female, very placid, looked like passing migrants), 2 Lapwings, 6 Curlews, 4 Snipe, 10 Chiffchaffs singing, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Sand Martins and a Swallow. LB and MS

Wilmer Common, Rodley: 2 Shelducks, 3 Chiffchaffs. (MS)

Walmore Common: 2 Teal, 4 Lapwings, 4 Snipe, 3 Chiffchaffs. (MS)