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Adder identification & survey workshop

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News of an upcoming ‘Back From The Brink’ Adder identification and survey workshop for anyone interested in helping to survey for Adders in the Cotswolds. The training will take place on Saturday 21st March from 9.30am-4pm at the National Trust’s Ebworth Centre.

The day will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to help us undertake surveys for adders and other reptiles which we aim to begin following the training day. The aim is to get a comprehensive picture of where adders currently are and how they are doing which in turn will help us conserve them here in Gloucestershire and across the Cotswolds as a whole.

If you would like to come along please reply by email to jgilbert@butterfly-conservation.org to book your place but please note spaces are limited. Click here for more information.

Peregrines on the cathedral

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Andrew Bluett had the following sighting of the Peregrines at Gloucester Cathedral on Friday. The male came in from the north over the roof (2025a) then headed for a perch on the highest south-east pinnacle (2031x); he then collected Prey from somewhere out of sight behind the tower (2039x – small and unidentifiable) and passed it to the female on the west face of the tower with some brief calling. The male has a metal BTO ring on the right leg, Orange Darvic ring “PAC” on the left leg. This bird fledged from Cheltenham in 2017. Also present was the Black Redstart which has been there for a while now.

Squatters in Little Owl box

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Photo – David Priddis

As part David Priddis’s annual bird box check, he found some honey bee ‘squatters’ in the Little Owl box.

There is some nice natural wax comb, it looks as if they have had all the stores of honey from the right combs and are clustered around those on the left, which hopefully still have some honey left for them.

He managed to replace and screw the front back on without being stung!

New WeBS site in Gloucestershire

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Alney Island (photo: Andrew Jayne)

The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is a nationwide survey, administered by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), which aims to make monthly counts of water birds at as many wetlands as possible, in order to assess numbers of birds, and to pinpoint the principal sites important for them. (Similar surveys are carried out all over Europe and Africa, so this is part of an international effort).

Many Gloucestershire sites are already covered – on the Severn estuary, in the Severn and Avon Vales, at pools and reservoirs, along Cotswold rivers and at the Cotswold Water Park. The counts are carried out by a large group of volunteer observers, many of then GNS members, whose results contribute to the national picture, with an annual report produced by BTO; (new volunteers always welcome!).

The latest addition to the county list of WeBS sites is Alney Island, an area of low floodable meadow alongside the Severn, very close to the centre of Gloucester, part of which is a reserve managed by Gloucester City Council. In times like the present, with extensive flooding, the site holds a variety of surface-feeding ducks such as Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler, as well as birds that frequent thicker vegetation like Water Rail and Coot; in addition the site is a winter home to Reed Buntings which roost in the Typha bed at Port Ham, and rarer birds like Yellow-browed Warbler or Siberian Chiffchaff.

Sightings from GNS meeting at Ripple Lakes

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Ripple Lakes are two former sand and gravel pits in the floodplain of the Severn in south Worcestershire, very close to the Gloucestershire boundary, one on each side of the M50, on the left (east) bank. These new lakes, where extraction has only just been completed, hold fairly deep water throughout the year, in particular in late summer and early autumn when other natural wetlands in north Gloucestershire and south Worcestershire (such as Coombe Hill, Ashleworth/Hasfield Ham or Longdon Marsh) often dry out (though not in autumn 2019!). As such they represent a new wetland for the area, and are attracting water birds, both diving ducks which seek deeper water, and surface-feeding ducks and geese which can graze around the grassy edges. Clearly a topic worthy of further investigation by a recording society like Gloucestershire Naturalists’ Society: a field meeting had been scheduled in early December, but had to be postponed because the whole of the floodplain was deeply flooded. Nothing daunted, a doughty band of GNS members (with some guests from the Cheltenham Bird Club) gathered on 19 January, in bright frosty conditions with brilliant light, to investigate the birds present.

As expected, numbers and variety of diving water birds were greater than in shallower Gloucestershire sites: 35 Pochard, 65 Tufted Ducks and a Goldeneye, plus ten Great Crested Grebes. Numbers of geese and surface feeding ducks proved disappointing – just 100 Greylags and 60 Canadas (some of which may already have returned to nesting sites further north) and only 4 Wigeon and 2 Shoveler (perhaps the bigger numbers of these surface-feeding ducks were still back in shallow floodwater at Coombe Hill and Ashleworth). Another bird of interest was a Great White Egret, a still rare Mediterranean heron which has only recently begun to occur, like its smaller cousin the Little Egret, in southern England. Finally an interesting series of waders was noted: a Green Sandpiper and three Snipe would have been winter visitors. as was a most unexpected Common Sandpiper (which normally winters south of the Sahara). On the other hand two Oystercatchers on the island in the south lake were no doubt early returning birds, just arrived to assert their territorial rights on this island which holds a variety of nesting waders; spring must be just around the corner!

Talk by Julian Hector at the AGM on 6th March

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Gloucestershire Naturalists’ Society 
Presents: 

“Big Natural History Television and the Conservation of the Natural World”. 

A Talk by Julian Hector, 
head of the BBC Natural History Unit. 

Julian heads up the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, a department of nearly 300 staff making best in the world content for BBC channels, digital platforms and broadcasters around the world. Julian has worked for the NHU for over 25 years with an executive producer portfolio across radio, TV and digital. Under his leadership the NHU has delivered Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Dynasties, Springwatch, Blue Planet Live, Seven Worlds One Planet and other cutting edge series such as Earth from Space and Animals with Cameras.

Date: 6th March 2020

Venue: Gala Club Gloucester, Fairmile Gardens, Longford, Gloucester. GL2 9EB

Time 19.30

Talk to be preceded by short (10 minutes) AGM of the Gloucestershire Naturalists Society.

Refreshments available

Hedgehog in winter

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Here’s one hedgehog at least that hasn’t gone into hibernation. A hedgehog has been coming to this feeding station in a garden near Redmarley throughout the winter so far, including the night of 15 January 2020.

Winter wildlife of the Cotswolds – 8th December, Edge Common/Haresfield Hill

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On a fine winter’s day, the beech woods and the limestone grassland near Edge are lovely. The light flooding through onto the woodland floor, the twittering flocks of little birds in the canopy, the elegant boles of the trees, then out onto the common where the  landscape is laid out before you from the micro scale of the ant hills, to the old quarryings, to the Painswick valley and arrow-straight horizon of the Cotswold tops.

Juliet Bailey will be leading a general interest meeting of the Gloucestershire Naturalists’ Society, Sunday 8 December, starting at 10am from the Shortwood car park on Beacon Lane (SO832086, GL6 6PP gets you close). All are welcome.

The first hour will be round Shortwood to the topograph where there are magnificent views down the Severn Vale and across to the Forest of Dean and beyond. Then at 11am we will set out to explore Edge Common and Haresfield Hill. We will finish by 1pm.

WWT Slimbridge – Estuary Tower Opening Weekend – Lots of events – 16-17 Nov

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WWT Slimbridge are having a huge celebratory weekend with lots of activities on 16th and 17th November.  All the details and event booking information is on their website here.

Join us for a celebratory weekend as we launch the NEW Estuary Tower Hide with ecologist and presenter Mike Dilger.

This new, fully accessible tower offers unprecedented views of the spectacular variety of wildlife here at Slimbridge. With two spacious floors and a wide open terrace, it really does fulfil Sir Peter Scott’s vision of bringing people closer to nature.

To celebrate, we’re hosting a packed weekend of activities, talks and demonstrations. We’ve invited some special guests, too, including the renowned naturalists Mary Colwell and Mike Dilger. So whether you’re a keen birdwatcher, or someone who simply enjoys the great outdoors with your family, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this weekend.

On all weekend

  • Head out to our hides and meet our expert ‘guide in the hide’ volunteers who will be on hand to help you identify a wealth of wildlife across the reserve.
  • Visit the South Lake Discovery Hide to find out how you can take part in the Wetland Bird Survey, and help us monitor and conserve our precious waterbirds.
  • Marvel at the expert skills of the Severn Wildlife Carvers as they shape pieces of wood into breath-taking pieces of art with their display and demonstration in the Visitor Centre Foyer.

Saturday’s special events

  • 12 noon – 1pm: WWT’s Jackie Harris explains how Slimbridge 2020 is transforming the reserve with immersive, stimulating experiences:BOOK NOW
  • 11am, 1:30pm & 3pm: Take a fascinating tour of Scott House Museum where Sir Peter Scott championed the cause of conservation throughout his life: BOOK NOW
  • 2 – 3pm: Watch us guide wild birds into our historic duck decoy, allowing our team to catch them and attach identification rings. Book on arrival at admissions desk.
  • 4 – 4:30pm: As the light fades, enjoy the spectacular sights and sounds of thousands of wild birds being fed by floodlight at a Wild Bird Feed. No booking required, just meet in the Peng Observatory.
  • 5 – 6:30pm: Join naturalist and broadcaster Mike Dilger for an entertaining evening as he shares his unbridled passion for nature: BOOK NOW

Sunday’s special events

  • 11 – 11.45am: Hear naturalist Mary Colwell’s expert insights into the plight of one of our most beloved and endangered birds, the curlew: BOOK NOW
  • 12 noon – 1pm: Find out how we’re working with farmers and landowners to save the curlew, Europe’s largest wading bird: BOOK NOW
  • 2 – 3pm: WWT’s Elle Von Benzon explains how we’re working to repair, restore and conserve the UK’s precious waterscapes: BOOK NOW
  • 2 – 3pm: Watch us guide wild birds into our historic duck decoy, allowing our team to catch them and attach identification rings. Book on arrival at admissions desk.
  • 11am, 1:30pm & 3pm: Take a fascinating tour of Scott House Museum where Sir Peter Scott championed the cause of conservation throughout his life: BOOK NOW
  • 1:30 & 3pm: Join our willow weaving experts as they show you the techniques involved in shaping this fine, flexible wood.
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