All news

Coombe Hill (19 March 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Coombe Hill was still quiet, but there was a sense of spring being at hand: still 9 Shelducks, 5 Wigeon, 110 Teal 20 Mallard, 2 Pintail, 10 Shoveler. Among probable breeding waders, the pair of Oystercatchers still present, being pursued by 13 Carrion Crows that tried to steal food from them; at least 12 Lapwings displaying (last year they didn’t arrive until late April); 6 Curlews, looking like local territorial birds; a sole Redshank. Two Meadow Pipits (the first for ages) and two Pied Wagtials, likely to be migrants. Three drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers on a bright frosty morning, and a Treecreeper singing. Four singing Chiffchaffs, and four Reed Buntings, all singing.

Coombe Hill (15 March 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Ducks continue to decline in numbers: only 35 Teal, 17 Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Ducks (mating!); nine Shelducks, at least two pairs. The pair of Canadas which last year had a farmyard goose as a nanny/gooseberry for their three goslings is developing into a ménage à trios. The white one appears to be a gander and is devoting much of his attention to Mme Canada; M. Canada is being elbowed out; stand by for more hybrids! A pair of Oystercatchers; nine Curlews first thing (six looked like local breeders, three off to the north early on); Lapwings looking much interested in breeding: four over scrapes, five over arable, all displaying well; another 14 which were probably a flock of passing migrants; three Snipe. Three singing Chiffchaffs, about 40 Fieldfares; at least three singing Reed Buntings, a singing Yelllowhammer.

Rissington and Barrington area (12 March 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

In the Rissington Airfield and Barrrington Bushes area this morning there were: a ‘ringtail’ Hen Harrier, 11 Red Kites, two Kestrels, 31 Golden Plovers circling overhead and four Ravens.

Winchcombe area (9 March 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Winchcombe, the Great Grey Shrike was still present at Waterhatch this morning and ranging towards Spoonley Farm. Also a pair of Mandarin there. Nearby, 28 Golden Plovers and two male Stonechats at Hawling and a Little Egret at Andoversford.

At Windrush Airfield, a female Merlin, an adult male Sparrowhawk, 50 Golden Plovers, four Ravens and a single Corn Bunting.

Ashleworth and Coombe Hill (8 March 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Coombe Hill: a continuing decrease in duck numbers, mostly on the Long Pool: 40 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 90 Teal, 40 Mallard, 8 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Ducks; but 16 Shelducks on scrapes, lekking and pair forming. 26 Curlews had been recorded at dusk on the previous evening; yesterday morning 29 were present, calling to one another. Clearly they were passing migrants, as they all flew off to the north very excitedly with whiffling flight between 07.30 and 08.00. At least 7 Reed Buntings already singing, some not yet in full breeding plumage. And bird of the day, a WREN !!! along the canal bank; they have been few and far between since last December’s cold weather.

At Ashleworth: rather more ducks: 200 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 150 Teal, 40 Mallard, 10 Pintail, 20 Shoveler. 33 Snipe flushed. A female Stonechat, the first since last autumn. And a Goldcrest singing in Meerend thicket, another species that has been few and far between.

Brockworth (2 March 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Henley Bank Plantation, a Short-eared Owl was flushed and there was a Woodcock at dusk. Nearby, an immature Peregrine scattered a flock of at least 600 Woodpigeons and there were seven Roe Deer in fields to the north.

Severn Hams (2 March 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

At Coombe Hill this morning, a very slight rise in water levels. Most of the wintering duck have gone, only about 100 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 1 Pintail, 10 Tufted left. About five pairs of Canada and one of Greylag Geese, looking ready to nest. A few waders round the scrapes, no doubt mainly migrants on their way north: 5 Curlew, 3 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 28 Lapwings. 1 hunting female Sparrowhawk. Otherwise very quiet. (MS/LB)

At Upper Dumball this evening, on the same rape field: the swans had clearly not left, presumably because of the north-easterly winds since Saturday: 4 Whoopers (three adults and a cygnet), still 40 Bewick’s (29 adults and 11 cygnets), 2 Mutes (one adult and one cygnet). The Whoopers took off and flew the 200 yards or so to the river at 5.50pm, landing on the water by the pub at Epney, and were then carried downstream; lost sight of tehm in the darkness, don’t know if they landed on a sandbank. The Bewick’s waited until 6.14pm, then flew off in the direction of Slimbridge. The Mutes took off at the same time as the Bewick’s, but also flew to the Severn, and were gradually carried downstream.

Upper Dumball (25 February 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

Another look at the swan field at Upper Dumball this evening where the swans were still grazing in a field of oil seed rape; there were still 48 Bewick’s (37 adults, 11 cygnets, none of which could be specifically identified); 4 Whoopers (three adults, one cygnet), four Mutes (three adults, one cygnet). I stayed until it was nearly dark; at 5.53 pm the Bewick’s all flew off towards Slimbridge, flying south across the river towards Upper Framilode. The Whoopers and Mutes didn’t go with them. I think they went on to the sandbanks on the river, but couldn’t be absolutely certain. Also a Little Owl calling at dusk.

Witcombe Reservoir (24 February 2011, contributed by Gordon Avery)

Seen late this morning were: an adult summer plumage Mediterannean Gull with Black-headed Gulls and 20 Siskin feeding in alders.

Blaisdon and Aylburton Warth (20 February 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Around Blaisdon this morning my sightings included five Mandarins, a Little Owl, two Ravens, 150 Siskins, six Lesser Redpolls, a Hawfinch and 15+ Yellowhammers.

In the Aylburton Warth area one, probably two, female Merlins late morning. Also 44 Shelducks, 28 Teal, a Sparrowhawk, a male Kestrel, two Oystercatchers, 34 Golden Plovers, c.400 Lapwings, 460 Dunlins, 330 Curlews, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 1000 Black-headed Gulls, 50+ Goldfinches, 50 Linnets and a Hawfinch.