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Severn Hams (29 November, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

The big floods of mid-November have now receded: the Grundon and Long Pool hides at Coombe Hill have been accessible since last Tuesday; the Ashleworth hide is easily accessible. The meadows are still very damp with some surface water (partly because the worms were drowned by the September 2008 flood, as in the summer 2007 floods, which means that normal drainage of the soils is impeded).

At Coombe Hill, after a good showing of 275 Pintail on the falling flood on Tuesday 25 November, there were moderate numbers of ducks this morning at first light: 200 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 70 Mallard, 12 Pintail, 30 Shoveler; two adult Whoopers had roosted on the scrapes at Coombe Hill, and flew out early on with a family of Mutes to graze on good grass on slightly higher ground near the southern meadows. A male Peregrine, 70 Lapwings. On Cobney Meadows (at the Wainlodes end), at least 66 Snipe and a Green Sandpiper.

At Ashleworth (where another stretch of hedge has been laid in front of the hide and looks tremendous), an early Shelduck, 350 Wigeon, 25 Pintail, 35 Shoveler, and surprisingly (at absolutely the wrong time of year) a Redshank.

Ashleworth (14 November, contributed by Mike Smart)

The Severn floods have extended over the meadows now. The Red Lion road is closed at Wainlodes, and the Coombe Hill hides remain inaccessible.

At Ashleworth, the Ham Road is flooded and impassable; with grit and determination, you can reach the hide from high ground over the back, but it’s hardly worth it: birds very dispersed over the floodwater: no sign of the Whoopers, one Barnacle Goose with 200 Canada Geese. At Hasfield a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, the first I’ve heard this autumn.

Guscar, Aylburton and Walmore (12 November, contributed by Mike Smart)

Seen this morning were: 8 Shelduck, 20 Wigeon, 280 Curlews, 200 Dunlin, 150 Golden Plover, 500 Lapwing; a skein of wild geese, either Pinkfeet or Bean, almost certainly the former, flew over high, going southwest down the estuary and disappeared into the distance.

At Walmore, where flooding is quite high, there were: 110 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 40 Mallard, 13 Pintail; no sign of any Bewick’s Swans.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (11 November, contributed by Mike Smart, Les Brown and Colin Butters)

The Severn has risen with alarming rapidity in the last couple of days, following the heavy rain locally and higher in the catchment in mid Wales. It is breaking its banks both above and below Haw Bridge, and the Chelt is also overtopping on the Leigh Meadows. The road past the Red Lion is already impassable, and the Ham Road between Tirley and Ashleworth is likely to be flooded in the next couple of days. Environment Agency forecast is for the flood to peak tomorrow.

At Coombe Hill, the Grundon Hide is inaccessible; there was a nice showing of ducks on freshly flooded grass visible from the canal bank, but nothing very unusual: 145 Wigeon, 250 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 150 Mallard, 34 Pintail looking very dapper and 17 Shoveler; a lone Curlew, 2 Lapwings, 2 Snipe.

At Ashleworth, the hide is still accessible pro temp; odd few ducks (Teal and Wigeon) on the floodwater, but the main item of interest was the presence of two adult Whooper Swans on a field along Stank Lane: they appeared to be newly arrived (still a bit nervous), unringed, with no cygnets, hence probably different birds from the family of six that made a brief appearance two weeks ago after very strong northerly winds.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (8 November, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

After a slight rise in water levels on the meadows in last week, there has been a drop in the last few days, and normal winter water levels are to be found at both Coombe Hill and Ashleworth, with hides readily accessible (though the towpath at Coombe hill is, as usual, muddy.

At Coombe Hill, there were about 10 Wigeon, 240 Teal, four Gadwall, seven Pintail, 20 Shoveler, 12 Lapwings, nine Snipe and one Green Sandpiper. At Ashleworth 90 Canada Geese, 40 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, one Golden Plover flew over calling, at least 50 Snipe rose from the reserve.

There was no sign of any Whooper Swans at either site. Perhaps the most striking observation was the large numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings in tall hedges at both sites: at Coombe Hill, 100 Fieldfares and 40 Redwings, at Ashleworth 250 fieldfares and 100 Redwings.

Batsford (8 November, contributed by Mary Palfrey)

A Red Kite, being hassled by Rooks, was seen over the lake at Batsford today.

Swindon Village (4 November, contributed by Robert Homan)

Several small flocks of Redwings feeding in hawthorn hedges between Swindon Village and Elmstone Hardwicke. Also, 2 Ravens in the area.

Cheltenham (1 November, contributed by Mary Nicholson)

A single Snow Bunting was recorded in a garden in the Benhall area; it was seen in the afternoon, mostly eating seeds on the ground, perching in fruit trees and having the occassional drink from a birdbath on the ground.

Cheltenham (31 October, contributed by Robert Homan)

2 Ravens flying over the Tivoli area at tree top height.

Sudmeadow (22 October, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A pair of Stonechats on the old Fieldings Playing Field in Sudmeadow Road today.

Coombe Hill (21 October, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

The water level is back to the autumn normal. Seen today were: 7 Grey Herons, 7 Wigeon, 20 Teal, an adult Peregrine in the dead tree, a female Merlin sitting on the grass in front of the hide before taking off and chasing a passing Mallard, a male Sparrowhawk chasing Skylarks, 1 Water Rail calling, 6 Snipe, 1 Curlew (unusual here at this time of year), up to 60 migrant Skylarks, and about 50 passing Meadow Pipits.

Guscar and Aylburton (20 October, contributed by Mike Smart)

On the high tide this morning: 1 Little Egret, 35 Wigeon, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine sitting on the grass, 85+ Lapwings, 35 Golden Plover (sitting on Aylburton Warth), 435 Curlews at high tide roosts, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, a little visual migration of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.

Standish (10 October, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

Two unspecified Redpoll species were seen drinking at a pond today.

Hempstead (9 October, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A cat brought in a dead Harvest Mouse the house this morning – an unusual location for this species.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth Ham (7 October, contributed by Mike Smart and David Anderson)

The Severn is rising quite fast and water levels on meadows increasing slowly in response.

The Coombe Hill area is still very brown and muddy with not a lot of birds about: 70 Greylags and 100+ Canadas roosting, only 3 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 50 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 1 Peregrine, 5 Ringed Plovers dropped in briefly before moving on, 10 Snipe, 6 Swallows, 2 House Martins.

At Ashleworth the water is also rising; 40 Teal, 20 Mallard, 4 Wigeon, 1 male Sparrowhawk were seen.

Walmore Common (5 October, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Seen today were 15 Teal, two Little Egrets, a Water Rail (heard), a Jack Snipe, five Snipe, two Stonechats and a Wheatear.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (3 October, contributed by Mike Smart)

A remarkable decrease in bird numbers at Coombe Hill compared to a week ago, now that the floods have receded. Instead of 1,000 ducks, only about 90 Teal and 30 Mallard. Wader numbers and variety also much lower: 1 Lapwing, one or more Golden Plover heard going over at first light, 1 Greenshank departed to south west at 07.30am, about five Snipe. Good numbers of feral geese roosting on the Long Pool, departing at 07.00am, 200 Canada going off towards Tewkesbury, 70 Greylags to feed in nearby stubble fields.

Ashleworth was also very quiet: the great Grey Shrike still perched on a dead tree opposite the hide with about a dozen Teal and five Snipe

Ashleworth (1 October, contributed by Mike Smart and Lawrence Skipp)

A Great Grey Shrike was showing nicely this evening, perched on top branch of a dead tree right opposite the hide, recalling the one seen at Ashleworth last year in mid October.

Guscar, Aylburton and Walmore (29 September, contributed by Mike Smart)

At Guscar and Aylburton on a high tide of 9.1 metres at 08.47am were 2 Little Egrets, 6 Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk, 80 Lapwings, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 4 Snipe, 700 Curlew, 20 Redshank, 1 Wheatear, 2 Stonechats and 20 Ravens.

At Walmore where the floods were completely down: 1 Little Egret, 1 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk, 21 Snipe, 1 Stonechat.

Walmore Common (23 September, contributed by Andy Jayne and John Phillips)

Seen today were: 25 Wigeon, 80 Teal, a female/immature Garganey, five Shoveler, a Little Egret, Peregrine, Kingfisher and Sedge Warbler.

Coombe Hill (22 September, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Highlights at Coombe Hill Meadows today included 325 Canada Geese, two Shelduck, 335 Wigeon, 16 Gadwall, c.400 Teal, 40 Pintail, two Garganey (eclipse drake and female/immature), 21 Shoveler, two Pochard, 19 Tufted Duck, a Little Grebe, eight Little Egrets, a Sparrowhawk, a juvenile female Peregrine, ten Ringed Plover, a Knot, three Little Stints, two Dunlin, seven Ruff, a Snipe, 40 Black-tailed Godwits, a Kingfisher, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Siskin over flying south west.

Severn Hams (21 September, contributed by Mike Smart)

A post-diluvian flood disaster movie today: the water level is dropping, but there is still a lot of shallow water, with an oily film on the surface; any exposed vegetation is brown and dead with mats of cut but unbaled brown hay. Bales with plastic wrapping had floated all over the place, leaving trails of plastic in the hedges; rotting vegetation leaving a foetid smell everywhere; some dead worms in the puddles.

However, the birds seemed to like it, especially on the Hasfield Ham side at the bottom of Stank Lane: 140 Wigeon, 620 Teal, 35 Shoveler, 12 Pintail, 8 Gadwall, 1 noisy Hobby, a noisy Peregrine trying to dislodge a Buzzard which had pinched its place on the pylon, 240 Lapwings, 40 Black-winged Godwits, 2 Ruff (a ruff and a reeve, so not the ones that were at Coombe Hill yesterday), at least 31 Snipe.

That’s three days running that I have seen Blackwits and Ruff on falling floods in different Severn Hams sites: Walmore, Coombe Hill and Ashleworth; are these birds that have moved up the river from Slimbridge?

Severn Hams (20 September, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Rather surprisingly, the Coombe Hill hides are still not accessible; although the flood water levels are dropping and the towpath is now passable, there is still too much water to reach the Grundon Hide. In fact, the situation now is still very much as it was after the summer flooding last year; the growing green grass has died under the flood, which means the water is anaerobic, with a thick oily film on the surface; both the Chelt and the Parish Drain are discharging into the Severn at Wainlodes, but the water discharged is black and stinking. There is a smell everywhere of decaying vegetation, and the grass on the fields emerging from the floodwater is brown and dead.

On the shallow floodwater, a good selection of birds was seen from the towpath (once the fog rose at 10.00am), in particular the first reasonable numbers of ducks: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 290 Canada Geese, 119 Greylag Geese, 220 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 8 Gadwall, 22 Pintail, 25 Shoveler, 51 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruff, 400 Black headed Gulls

Guscar and Walmore (19 September, contributed by Mike Smart)

At Guscar/Aylburton today: 1 Little Egret, 8 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 25 Lapwings, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 27 Dunlin, 2 immature Curlew Sandpipers, 537 Curlew, 10 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers, about 100 Swallows moving southwest, 1 Rock Pipit, 50 Meadow Pipits, 5 Yellow Wagtails, at least 30 Ravens.

At Walmore, the water level has dropped: 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Ruff, 100 Lapwings

Severn Hams (13 September, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

The level of the Severn has now gone down appreciably and river is no longer overtopping its banks. Flooding on the meadows has only just begun to drop: Ham Road at Ashleworth and Red Lion road past Wainlode are still under deep water; thrre is no chance of reaching hides at Coombe Hill or Ashleworth.

At Walmore Common there is extensive but fairly shallow flooding. 9 Grey Herons, 100 Mallard, 15 Shoveler, 12 Teal, at least 1200 Black-headed Gulls (and no other gull species) on the floodwater, 1 Kingfisher, light passage of Swallows – maybe 50.

Severn Hams (9 September, contributed by Mike Smart)

This morning, the Severn had dropped very slightly at Haw Bridge, Wainlodes and Ashleworth. Whereas the reading on the stage board yesterday at Haw Bridge was 11.00, it was down to 10.95 today, but was still breaking its banks on either side of Haw Bridge.

In the meadows on the other hand, the water level (as is usual under current circumstances) had risen. On the Coombe Hill/Leigh Meadows side, the water level at the Parish Drain outlet was up to 10.10 (from 9.65 yesterday). Everything was on the same level, and the level of the Chelt was the same as in the meadows. On the Ashleworth side, the level was 10.46 in the meadows, as against 9.98 yesterday. So basically the meadows are taking up the water that is spilling over from the river; but I doubt if they can take much more without causing damage to properties.

The Environment Agency website gives “Flood Warning” (i.e. less than “Severe Flood Warning” but stronger than “Flood Watch”) for the Severn between Worcester and Tewkesbury and again for the Severn between Tewkesbury and Gloucester.

Still lots of Swallows hawking insects over the flood water at Wainlodes, with a few House Martins.

Severn Hams (8 September, contributed by Mike Smart)

The Severn has risen since Saturday, and this morning was breaking its banks not only on the right (east) left bank below Haw Bridge, but also on the left (west) bank above Haw Bridge. In addition, the Chelt has broken its banks in several places. This means that the meadows both at Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (which lie lower than the Severn) are being rapidly filled up to some depth. We now have a moderate river flood, which would be normal in January or February but not in September. It is not yet anything like as high as last summer’s two big floods in June and July, and a dry day today means that some of the river water can flow out to the estuary; but the weather forecast for the rest of the week is not good, and conditions may worsen. The minor roads at Wainlodes and the Ham Road from Tirley to Ashleworth are both impassable, but the main roads over Haw Bridge and to Maisemore are still open.

As it is, it seems likely that the conditions which occurred in last year’s summer floods will be repeated, and the meadows will remain flooded for a week or ten days: some hay and silage was not cut and grass has grown well where it was cut, so there may again be die-offs of grass, causing strong smells, anaerobic conditions and mats of dead grass when it recedes; fish are likely to die; and earthworms and other invertebrates may be swamped.

Leigh Meadows: fairly deep flooding; vast numbers of hirundines feeding over freshly flooded fields, probably 800 Swallows and 200 House Martins.

Coombe Hill: water over the towpath about 100 metres past car park: the Grundon and Long Pool hides completely inaccessible.

Ashleworth Ham: Hide inaccessible from road, but footpath over higher ground west of the reserve still open.

Walmore Common: light flooding. Again 150 Swallows and 50 House Martins (the floods seem to have coincided with the main southward passage of hirundines). 80 Mallard, 10 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 2 Black Terns (brown backed juveniles, so not the birds seen at Coombe Hill on Saturday); one adult Common Tern; one juvenile Arctic Tern, all feeding over the floodwater and landing on wooden posts.

Severn Hams (6 September, contributed by David Scott-Langley)

The meadows on both reserves are starting to fill with water after heavy rain. Walking round Ashleworth Ham NR the tips of the grass stems still showing above water were acting as a refuge for rove beetles (Stenus juno in particular) and a few other beetle species, along with numerous small Bibionid flies. Where the sheep had been running, their droppings, either floating or stranded on vegetation, were proving popular with Dung flies (Scathophagus). At Coombe Hill meadows the same was the case with generally a couple of inches of water and a similar insect fauna, without the dung flies as the cow dung (no sheep) was too old (about 3 weeks), but with the addition of some Athaliid sawflies and young spiders. The weather conditions were grey and overcast with some showers, keeping the flying insects low hence the very low-flying hirundines over both reserves. At Coombe Hill they appeared to be segregated into species flocks of Swallows and House Martins.

Severn Hams (6 September, contributed by Mike Smart et al)

Following the rain of the last week, the Severn is rising dangerously fast, and may well break its banks below Haw Bridge in the next few hours; it is also causing smaller streams and rivers above Gloucester to back up.

On the Leigh Meadows the Chelt is already breaking its banks, flooding the Meadows on either side.

At Coombe Hill, the Grundon hide was still accessible this morning, but may no longer be accessible in the near future. This morning: one Spoonbill, 50 Mallard, 120 Teal, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Black Terns, one Common Tern, very heavy hirundine passage (Les Brown).

At Ashleworth Ham, water is pouring onto the reserve. Very heavy hirundine passage, mainly Swallows and House Martins with very few Sand Martins, all feeding, apparently on dung flies, low over the water on Hasfield Ham, two Whinchats, at least one Hobby. Early morning ringing season produced two juvenile Redstarts, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, several of them birds first caught a week ago and staying on to fatten up; fat and weight considerably higher than a week ago (Mervyn Greening, David Anderson, Mike Smart).

At Haw Bridge at 12h15 a flock of 40 Common Terns flew downriver, obvious migrants and a very large number for this area (Mike Smart).

GWT Pasque Flower Reserve (31 August, contributed by Peter Fitchett)

Although full cloud cover with showers threatening, a good selection of blue butterflies was seen in the afternoon. Adonis, Common, Chalkhill and Brown Argus were all present and with the humid conditions there were good opportunities for photography. Meadow Browns were about plus one Green Veined White and a few Small Heaths. Moths too were there, plenty of Straw Dot with single examples of Setaceous Hebrew Character, Yellow Shell, Magpie and Dusky Sallow, and a large group of Buff-tip moth caterpillers were observed on a small tree.

Witcombe Reservoir (27 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A nice find this morning during my WEBS count was a juvenile Arctic Tern that stayed around for about half hour, also worthy of note were: a Common Sandpiper, a Mandarin and a Kingfisher

Two Common Terns and a Tufted Duck with full grown ducklings on the pools by Lydney Industrial estate.

Guscar and Aylburton (21 August, contributed by Mike Smart)

On a moderately high tide (8.0 metres at 11.30 am), any flocks of small Palaearctic or American waders eluded me. Nevertheless, there were at least 475 Curlews feeding on the mudbanks before the tide rose and they went to high tide roosts at Guscar and Pill House. The only other wader was a lone Common Sandpiper. Also a Little Egret, some autumn migrants: about 50 Swallows, 7 Wheatears and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

Two Common Terns and a Tufted Duck with full grown ducklings on the pools by Lydney Industrial estate.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (19 August, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Quite apart from all the excitement over the Stilt Sandpiper seen yesterday evening, there was a good selection of migrants at Coombe Hill in the morning: all the hay fields (except one neighbour’s field) have been cut and cattle have already been grazing, resulting in an even sward and control of vegetation round the scrapes. There were already 150 geese (85 Canadas, 64 Greylags, 1 Barnacle and a Greylag x Barhead cross; one of the Greylags was carrying a white plastic ring inscribed J16; can anyone identify the origin?); 25 Teal, four Shoveler; a good selection of passage waders – 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, one Wood Sandpiper, six Green Sandpiper, seven Snipe and a Black-tailed Godwit (NB not one of the usual Glos wader quarter of Curlew, Lapwing, Redshank, Dunlin); first thing there was heavy passage of Sand Martins (over a hundred) and Swallows; plus the odd Wheatear, and singing Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff along the canal.

At Ashleworth, the high river level has caused water to back up into the reserve, lightly flooding the main field in front of the hide; this means that the grass which has been cut but not baled on some fields on the reserve will be very difficult to collect; some neighbouring fields not cut yet: about 40 Mallard and three Teal.

CWP(E) (11 August, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At pit 126 there was a juvenile Shelduck, two Teal, 11 Little Grebes, two Little Egrets, two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, two Dunlin, seven Green Sandpipers and two Common Sandpipers. Also a Brown Hawker.

Longford (2 August, contributed by Andy Jayne)

A Hobby took a House Martin at 11.20 this morning.

Coombe Hill (1 August, contributed by Andy Jayne)

An adult Water Rail seen and another bird calling.

Coombe Hill (31 July, contributed by Andy Jayne)

The highlights at Coombe Hill Meadows today were one Teal, a Little Grebe, five Little Egrets, 120 Lapwing, seven Snipe, a Greenshank, 12 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and male Redstart.

Cleeve Hill (23 July, contributed by Peter Fitchett)

A range of butterflies seen in the evening included ten Dark Green Fritillaries (top left below), plenty of Marbled Whites, Small Skippers and Meadow Browns. There were also 6-Spot Burnet Moths (bottom centre below) in abundance. The Pyramidal Orchids were still in bloom but going over with a new element to the summer colour palette added by a few Harebells (top right below).

Coombe Hill (12 July, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Sightings today included three Teal, a Little Grebe, four Little Egrets, three Little Ringed Plovers, c.65 Lapwing, a Dunlin, a Snipe, two Greenshanks, five Green Sandpipers, two Common Terns and a Turtle Dove.

Painswick Beacon (12 July, contributed by Peter Fitchett)

Peter’s pictures below show a nice variety of species to be found in the Cotswolds in early July. They are: top left – Marbled White (Melanargia galathea); top right – Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis); bottom left – Musk Orchid (Herminium monorchis); bottom right – Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Severn Hams (8 July, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

At Coombe Hill this morning, the water level in scrapes was fairly low, with good muddy edges for waders. Still very little hay cut, because of the recent wet weather.

There was a good showing of passage waders: about 11 Green Sandpipers, one Greenshank, one Redshank, one Common Sandpiper, one Oystercatcher, two Lapwings; but no Wood Sandpipers (one recorded on 2 July). Also a singing Turtle Dove. Seven Teal, one Shoveler. Still the odd Lesser Whitethroat singing, some Sedge Warblers and a few Reed Warblers.

In the evening, there were yet more migrant waders: a very excited flock of 15 Black-tailed Godwits, flushed by a Peregrine and doing the “grutto” display call before flying off; two Greenshanks were there compared to only one this morning. They also flew off at dusk. The entirely fearless Common Tern chased off the Peregrine; I wonder if it had taken a chick? The pair of swans that nested at The Wharf have seven cygnets, and are eating duckweed further down the canal. The air at dusk was full of low-flying swifts; you could hear the whirr of their wings as they whistled by.

At Ashleworth in the morning, there has been but little hay cut either; a Quail still singing late morning on the Hasfield side.

Coombe Hill (7 July, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Today there were three Little Egrets, 50 Lapwing, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, two Common Terns, a Turtle Dove displaying, 50+ Sand Martins, a Yellow Wagtail and singing Lesser Whitethroat.

Severn Ham, Tewkesbury (2 July, contributed by Andy Jayne)

A pair of Corn Buntings was present today, with the female feeding two fledged juveniles. This is a very welcome record showing that the species is still present at this traditional site.

St Briavels (30 June, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Seen today – a Curlew on territory and two Crossbills flying over.

Deerhurst (29 June, contributed by Robert Homan)

2 Hornet Moths were seen today by the River Severn. This follows a single moth on the 28th at the same location and another seen in Woodmancote by David Iliff on the 24th. These are the first records of the moth since 1946.

Hornet Moth pair, Deerhurst, Robert Homan, June 2008.

Hornet Moth, Woodmancote, David Iliff, June 2008.

Coombe Hill (26 June, contributed by Mike Smart, Juliet Bailey, Jackie Birch)

The theme of passage waders continues; yesterday at Coombe Hill, a summer plumaged Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover, neither of which have been seen there for several weeks and must be on return passage; also seven Lapwings and at least two Green Sandpipers. There was also a Little Egret.

Not forgetting extensive stands of Canary Reed Grass Phalaris arundinacea, presumably the legacy of last year’s summer flood, and some stands of True Fox Sedge Carex vulpina, the rare plant for which the site is famed.

Ashleworth and Haw Bridge (24 June, contributed by Mike Smart)

Yesterday at Ashleworth, things were quite interesting: Quail still singing early morning and late evening ( as they have been for most of June). There are nesting Curlew present, but in addition, small groups of birds (which have presumably failed at sites further upriver) are flying straight over, very high, calling, presumably en route for the estuary. In the evening there were eight non-breeding Curlews (a large number for the site and time of year) feeding on a newly cut hayfield.

Today, Quail calling both morning and evening. During a ringing session, good to average numbers of Redstarts, Whitethroats. Lesser Whitethroats, Reed Buntings, Reed Warblers were caught, but numbers of Sedge Warblers are drastically down – no doubt an effect of the floods of last year.

On the Severn above Haw Bridge this evening, more signs of autumn passage of waders: a Common Sandpiper on the river (also a Kingfisher and two local broods of Canada Goose); on the cut hay meadows, at least 15 Lapwings, undoubtedly migrants.

Downriver movements of waders are clearly under way already, now we have passed the summer solstice: Green Sandpiper and Redshank last Saturday, Curlew yesterday, Lapwing and Common Sandpiper today; only small numbers, but the return migrations is clearly in full swing; interesting to see whether these birds are noted when they arrive on the estuary.

Coombe Hill (21 June, contributed by Mike Smart)

In general it was rather quiet: Canada Goose with five ducklings, two Common Terns on the island in the scrape, chasing crows and gulls; two Little Egrets; Cuckoos very active – still singing and four all at once chasing one another; signs of autumn passage already on midsummer’s day: first two Redshanks for quite a long time and four Green Sandpipers, undoubtedly waders on return passage.

Chase End Hill (4 June, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

Now is a good moment to go out looking for wild flowers – orchids on the Cotswold commons, foxgloves in the Dean, and buttercup meadows in the Vale. The picture below is of a fine display of foxgloves on Chase End Hill.

Foxgloves, Chase End Hill, Juliet Bailey, June 2008.

Castlemeads (31 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)

There were 2 Little Egrets on Castlemeads in the afternoon at 3.45, viewable from the Severn Way at Sudmeadow.

Castlemeads (30 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A single Little Egret was present today.

Sudmeadow (24 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A Kingfisher flew through during an otherwise uneventful ringing session.

Guscar and Aylburton (21 May, contributed by Mike Smart)

On the morning high tide it was rather quiet with not much by way of a high tide wader roost: 5 Little Egrets; 2 Hobbies flew upriver very high; 20 Shelducks; 4 Oystercatchers; 1 Dunlin; 3 singing Reed Warblers in the reeds in ditches; 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Coombe Hill, Tirley and Staunton (20 May, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

A quiet day at Coombe Hill: 25 Coot, some with young; at least 50 Swift hawking insects, no doubt migrants; two Redstarts singing and one Reed Warbler in song. At Tirley Lake six Barnacle Geese. At Staunton a Yellow Wagtail in a grass field.

Witcombe Reservoir (20 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A first summer Little Gull this morning at the reservoir.

Llantony Weir (14 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A Hobby over the weir at 4.30pm, heading towards the docks.

Edge Hills (9 May, contributed by Andrew Jayne)

In the Edge Hills area near Cinderford this evening there were two Mandarin (in flight), four Buzzards, a Peregrine, two Woodcock roding, three Turtle Doves ‘purring’, three Tree Pipits, a Wood Warbler, two Willow Tits, two Ravens and c.25 Crossbills.

Sudmeadow area (8 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A singing male Reed Bunting on the Plantation Pool. A pair of Tufted Duck on the GLS pond plus a pair of Mute Swans nearby but not nesting. Up to 15 Sand Martin nestholes on the Minsterworth Ham side towards the Rea with birds still excavating right under the top of the bank. A single Common Sandpiper on the river at Port Ham.

Severn Hams (7 May, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

At Coombe Hill this morning there was no sign of the Wood Sandpiper. There was one Little Ringed Plover, at least six Redstarts singing along the canal between The Wharf and Wainlodes. Several Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats in full song with many of latter doing song flights.

Ashleworth at 1.00pm: two hobbies chasing large insects overhead.

Aylburton Warth (6 May, contributed by Mervyn Greening, Andrew Jayne, Barrie Mills and Mike Smart)

On the evening high tide there were 16 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, about 20 Ringed Plover, 60 Dunlin; one Wheatear and three or four Yellow Wagtails.

Sudmeadow (6 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)

3 Shelduck flew over Sudmeadow then back down river and there was 1 Common Sandpiper on the river. In the marsh area, during a ringing session there were: 5 Lesser Whitethroats, all trapped; 2 Reed Warblers with 1 trapped and another singing male; 2 Garden Warblers with 1 trapped and another singing male.

Severn Hams (5 May, contributed by Mike Smart)

At Staunton: a female Yellow Wagtail looking as though it was going to nest in a cereal field, also two Ravens.

At Ashleworth at 1.00pm, a Hobby chasing insects.

At Coombe Hill in the evening it was fairly quiet, until it got dark when everything started getting lively. 1 Little Grebe, 2 Shelducks, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin in summer plumage (flushed by a hare), two or three Curlews coming in to roost when it was nearly dark, with a vast repertory of variations on the bubbling call and at least one Whimbrel after dark.

Severn Estuary (4 May, contributed by Ian Ralphs)

A Harbour Porpoise has coming up the Severn on the high tides. It was seen this morning for ten minutes off Fretherne shore around 0930 hrs, on the rapidly falling tide. A little later it was seen off the Dumbels and Mid Point.

Ashleworth Ham (3 May, contributed by Mike Smart)

The first session of Constant Effort ringing. Lots of birdsong early on: two Cuckoos, at least six Redstarts, at least eight or ten Sedge Warblers, two or three Whitethroats, two Blackcaps, four or five Willow Warblers, rather few Chiffchaffs, at least half a dozen Reed Buntings, but by eight or nine o’clock the volume had decreased considerably. Birds caught included seven Sedge Warblers (including three birds originally ringed in 2004 and 2005), a Garden Warbler (infrequent at Ashleworth), three Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat (even though none were singing), only one Reed Bunting. Other birds seen included: seven Barnacle Geese (flew over), one Greenshank, one Hobby (chasing insects at midday) and two Ravens.

Cheltenham (2 May, contributed by Ian Ralphs)

Flowering plants of Purple Toothwort (Lathraea clandestina) were found scattered along the banks of the Hatherley Brook, immediately downstream of Robert Burns Avenue Bridge, Benhall. Purple Toothwort is parasitic on tree roots, Willows and Alder mainly. It was originally introduced into UK gardens in the late 1800’s, and is assumed to be spread by flood water. It is now quite widespread in southern and central England, but is no where particularly common.

Purple Toothwort, Cheltenham, Ian Ralphs, May 2008