All news

Severn Hams (13 February 2011, contributed by David Anderson, Les Brown and Mike Smart)

The Severn is now dropping, but not quickly enough for water to flow out from the meadows, where water levels are therefore still rising gradually. There has been a decrease in Greylag and Canada Geese and duck numbers also much lower than on January flood.

Ashleworth on Saturday 12 February: 4 Greylags and 14 Canadas, only 75 Wigeon, 256 Teal, 31 Mallard, 15 Pintail, 18 Shoveler, 6 Tufted, 1 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, only 1 Snipe (remarkably few despite careful search), a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, 2 Reed Buntings singing (first I’ve heard this year).

Leigh/ Cobney Meadows (moderate flooding): 22 Greylags, 3 Canada Geese, 147 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 3 Pintail.

Coombe Hill (the boardwalk is ankle deep in water, but easily accessible with wellingtons; scrapes submerged under shallow flood water): 4 Mute Swans, 50 Canadas, 30 Greylags, the Greylag x Barnacle cross again, 8 Shelducks, 350 Wigeon, 150 teal, 20 Mallard, 10 Shoveler. 1 Buzzard, 10 Lapwings, 8 Curlews (apparently a territorial pair and a group of six passing migrants); and a Reed bunting singing.

Today at Upper Dumball at 0930: swans in the same field as Friday: 4 Whoopers (one cygnet), 47 Bewick’s (37 adults, 10 cygnets), 3 Mute Swans.

Rodley and Walmore (13 February 2011, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Rodley there were 48 Bewick’s (11 cygnets) and four Mutes (one cygnet) as well as the Whoopers, while my complete WEBS figures for Walmore Common today were three Shelduck, 27 Teal, eight Mallard, three Grey Herons, five Lapwing, a Jack Snipe and seven Snipe.

Walmore and Rodley (11 February 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

I was told about a flock of swans at Rodley today, so I went to have a look and there was a flock of 4 Whoopers (three adults and one cygnet), 48 Bewick’s (37 adults and 11 cygnets) and 3 Mutes (two adults and a cygnet) on a field of what appeared to be kale; this is not on Wilmer Common but close to the river at Upper Dumball. I didn’t have time to ask the farmer how long the swans have been there, but I guess that is where they have been going for some weeks now.

The four Whoopers represent the family of two adults and a cygnet, plus a single adult, all of which have been hanging about for some weeks, though as yet nobody (as far as I know) has seen them together. I’ll bet they are just flying over the seawall (about 500 yards) to roost on the river; there are broad safe sandbanks for them there). I couldn’t see any rings on the Bewick’s but I didn’t go very close so as not to disturb them; I expect they are returning to Slimbridge every evening. This would explain why numbers of Bewick’s have been so low at Walmore this year. There were none there today.

Also one Sparrowhawk, flying off carrying a squealing Blackbird, quite a large prey item.

Severn Hams (5 February 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Coombe Hill: 1 adult (or conceivably yearling) Whooper Swan (no doubt the one recorded roosting in the week at Ashleworth) had roosted and flew out at 08.10; no idea where it goes to graze. 1 Barnacle x Greylag cross. 590 Wigeon, 95 Teal 3 Pintail, 3 Shelducks, 50 Lapwings, flock of 15 Pied Wagtails, many of them males in fresh plumage feeding round the scrapes; migrants?

Wainlodes: 1 redhead Goosander on the Severn.

Ashleworth Ham; water levels continuing to drop. 2 Mute Swans, 450 Wigeon, 250 Teal, 32 Pintail, just 3 Shoveler, 13 Snipe.

Minsterworth and Walmore (2 February 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

Minsterworth Ham: at 10.00 the Whoopers family (two adults and a cygnet) were back on the usual field below the A48 lay-by together with two Mutes, but they had all disappeared by 12.30.

Walmore Common; family of five Bewick’s (two adults and three cygnets) present at 10.15, on the freshly reseeded edge of the ditch on field C, but they rose and flew off towards Slimbridge at about 10.45. In addition maybe 100 Teal, 1 Snipe and 4 Ravens.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (29 January 2011, contributed by Les Brown, Tim Cash, John Wiltshire and Mike Smart)

Water levels continue to drop gradually, but Coombe Hill was largely iced over following the sharp frost, Ashleworth had more open water, so some redistribution of birds between the two sites.

At Coombe Hill 119 Greylag Geese, two with darvic rings, 57 Canadas; three Bewick’s Swans, probably the same family roosting (two adults and a cygnet), flew off to northeast early on (going to feed somewhere north of Haw Bridge??); 1200 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 7 Gadwall, 30 Pintail, 14 Mute Swans, 3 Grey Herons, 60 Lapwings, two Curlews apparently territorial, very few passerines.

Leigh Meadows: no sign of any swans.

At Ashleworth: 450 Wigeon, 650 Teal, 17 Gadwall, 68 Pintail, 11 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Ducks.

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

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

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

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

Walmore (27 January 2011, contributed by Mike Smart)

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

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

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

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

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