Sightings

Coombe Hill (31 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

The level of the Severn continues to drop gradually, but the water is much slower to drop on the riverside meadows.

At Coombe Hill, flooding is still extensive and there has been no drop in the water level. The hides are still inaccessible, but the floodwater can be viewed from the towpath. Not as many ducks as on 27 January: 60+ Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 27 Pintail; two Song Thrushes singing already (a difficult bird to find for BTO Atlas roving records).

At Ashleworth, duck numbers were also lower: 120+ Wigeon, 380+ Teal, 20 Pintail, four Little Grebes and a Peregrine on the pylons.

There was no sign of the Whooper Swans anywhere.

Coombe Hill (28 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Severn level is a bit lower today, allowing the Chelt to discharge; but it is still too high for water to flow off the meadows at Coombe Hill, so the Long Pool and Grundon hides are still inaccessible.

The four Whoopers were back near Wainlodes, on slightly higher grass emerging from the flood, accompanied by four Greylags.

Plenty of Teal on the floodwater at Coombe Hill, but no sign of Garganey or Goosander.

Severn Hams (27 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

The Severn is dropping, but slowly and water is still high on the meadows at Coombe Hill and Ashleworth.

At Coombe Hill, the hides are still cannot be reached, but access is still possible along the towpath. There was a magic atmosphere at first light: light ice on the water, with the sun just catching the brown stems of the dead canary grass and turning them to gold, behind the willow stems showing wine red; already some pussy willows showing white. There was perfect visibility with a very faint east wind. The air was full of the sounds of ducks, mainly Teal, which were carrying out vigorous courtship display, the males (much more numerous) throwing back their heads at the small numbers of females they surrounded. A group of Mallard “decoyed” a fox: that is they all swam towards it as it sat on a spit of land, swimming very close and peering intimidatingly at it from only two or three metres, until it turned away and slunk off. Altogether about 900 ducks present, one of the highest counts this year: 590 Teal, 130 Wigeon, 30 Pintail, 15 Tufted and a Pochard. On the way back we stopped to have a closer look and to our astonishment found a male Garganey, not yet in full plumage but obvious among the Teal ; this is a species that should be in Senegal right now; it must have stayed to winter with its close relative the Teal; as if that wasn’t enough, a redhead Goosander swam past.

At Ashleworth, the Ham Road is just open and the hides accessible and conditions similar to Coombe Hill with lots of ducks on the water – a total of about 1200 ducks with the majority (about 550) Teal, but 400 Wigeon and 180 Pintail.

There was still no sign of the Whoopers; where have they gone?

Slimbridge (28 January, contributed by WWT)

A juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen around the reserve on a number of occasions today.

Sudmeadow (27 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A single Green Sandpiper, a Peregrine and 3 very vocal Little Egrets, that headed towards Port Ham, were all seen just before 9.00 am.

Walmore and Rodley (26 January, contributed by Mike Smart)

At Walmore today, nine Bewick’s Swans were seen at midday: two of the nine were ringed and were white TUV and BCH, which have been regular visitors from Slimbridge to Walmore over the years and have been seen at Walmore several times this January; there were two cygnets (probably the one parent family that has been regular in January) among the nine, but the other seven were not ringed. By 3.00pm two more Bewick’s had joined them. There were also 12 Mutes, keeping quite separate from the Bewick’s. One Stonechat was seen.

At Wilmer Common, Rodley, there was still some floodwater, but not a lot of birds, just one Grey Heron and four Shelducks. Bird highlights were more in the passerine line: a Goldcrest in the hedges a Grey Wagtail on a wet spot and a flock of 100 Fieldfares.

Ashleworth and Walmore (24 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

The Severn is still pretty high (9.98 metres at Haw Bridge) but has not broken its banks. However, this means that local streams, swelled by the recent heavy rain, cannot flow out into the Severn, so are flooding the meadows. The Red Lion and Ham Roads are still both open. Shallow water was icebound this morning.

At Ashleworth there was no sign of the Whoopers at first light, and they were not grazing on the heavily flooded Leigh Meadows later. Still plenty of ducks on the floodwater at Ashleworth, though they are very widespread and difficult to count:

perhaps 200 Wigeon
perhaps 400 Teal (very active courtship display)
10 Gadwall
180+ Pintail (also active courting)
40+ Shoveler
3 Tufted Duck

A Peregrine was on the pylons and there were one or two Snipe on the icy fields. At least ten Reed Buntings were also seen.

At Walmore, where there is very little flooding: 11 Bewick’s on grassland, including at least two ringed birds BCH and one of its offspring 607 (both seen there in the last week). Rodley was largely iced over with eight Shelducks and a dozen Meadow Pipits.

Slimbridge (23 January, contributed by WWT)

A pre-roost flock of 15,000 Starlings has been performing some spectacular dusk displays over the last few days.

Sudmeadow (22 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

Continuing Tuesday’s theme of unusual species locally was a drake Pintail at the lower Parting this afternoon – the first seen by me in this area for 5 years.

Sudmeadow (20 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A new species for the area in 2009 this morning was a Little Egret, which flew over towards Castle Meads. Also 2 Green Sandpipers on Sudmeadow.

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

The Severn is high again (though not overtopping its banks), and causing tributaries to back-flood. As a result, the hides at Coombe Hill are inaccessible again, though the towpath along the canal is still accessible. From the canal bank today: 13 Mute Swans, 5 Greylags, 1 Shelduck, 120 Wigeon, 30+ Teal (many more calling from behind the willows in the Long Pool), 2 Gadwall, 39 Pintail, 149 Lapwings, 1 Snipe.

At Ashleworth, the meadows are flooded but the road and hides still accessible: 250 Wigeon, very good numbers of Teal – at least 600, 40 Mallard, 30 Pintail, 30 Shoveler, 2 Tufted, at least 60 Snipe (which seem in winter to like fields of lightly flooded Glyceria), 3 Jack Snipe.

No sign of the Whoopers on the Leigh Meadows or anywhere else, but they are probably out there somewhere.

Severn Hams (17 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

At Coombe Hill this morning: 130 Teal, 60 Mallard,13 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 190 Lapwings.

At Leigh Meadows: 4 Whooper Swans (three adults and one cygnet) grazing behind the Red Lion; 1 Peregrine.

At Ashleworth (water just above the normal winter level); birds returning slowly after cold snap of last week, though Snipe present in force: the Whoopers had been recorded coming in to roost late last night, but were not seen at first light this morning; 75 Canada Geese, 12 Greylags, 130 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 23 Gadwall, 45 Mallard, 87 Pintail (in active courtship display on the water, with lots of drakes surrounding and chasing lone ducks amid excited calling), 50 Shoveler, 6 Tufted Ducks, 3 Lapwings, 88 Snipe, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming.

At Walmore: 16 Bewick’s Swans, all on “improved” agricultural grass: 14 adults and two cygnets; the cygnets again with a single parent, no doubt the same group previously seen there: three of the adults ringed: 607 yellow ring, reading upwards on the left leg(“Wylfa” seen earlier in the week); TUV white ring, reading upwards on left leg; and (not read with absolute certainty, but it’s TUV’s mate) BCH white ring, reading upwards on right leg. 607, TUV and BCH have all been regular visitors to Walmore from Slimbridge in previous years.

Cheltenham (17 January, contributed by Peter Fitchett)

A flock of 17 Waxwings on a house roof in The Grove, off Hales Road this morning at 10.30. Pictures below taken by Peter.

Sudmeadow area (17 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A Green sandpiper seen today by the river.

Port Ham and Castlemeads (16 January, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Birds seen in this afternoon were very predictable. The highlights were 150+ Teal, 16 Shoveler, 22 Snipe, one Green Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail, three Stonechats and three Reed Buntings.

Witcombe Reservoir (15 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

Not much about this morning as the 3 tanks had been almost completey frozen over during the cold snap. Of interest though was an extremely handsome male Gooseander, the bird of the day!!

Sudmeadow area (14 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

At least 1 Redpoll this morning (less than annual here) and 4 Goosanders (including 3 males) flew downriver at 11.20ams after the bore had gone up, this is another species hard to come by here.

Sudmeadow area (11 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

3 Stonechats, Hempsted Meadows Nature Reserve.
5 Snipe on the Sheep Downs (old tip).

On the Severn between the NR and Minsterworth Ham were:
12 Mute Swans ( the Lower Parting gang!)
60 Wigeon
40 Teal
35 Shoveler

Also 3 Canada Geese on Minsterworth Ham.

Cheltenham (11 January, contributed by Robert Homan)

What a difference a day makes – yesterday there were some 300 Fieldfares feeding on apples in Swindon Lane. Today, with much milder temperatures, the flock was much smaller with only 50 birds present.

Standish (11 January, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

The cold snap seems to have come to an end and the ice on the pond, that was thick enough to slide on yesterday, is finally melting. Chasing up a report of Waxwings I had a good morning birdwatching. Among the more unusual sights was a white-headed Fieldfare and some Siskins. Manure has been spread on some of the nearby arable fields, which are now laden with gulls (Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Common and Black-headed), Rooks, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Starlings and Lapwings. Smelly it might be, but a fantastic spectacle. Snowdrops and aconites are starting to bloom.

Sudmeadow area (10 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A mega find this afternoon was a Short-eared Owl by the Severn Way. This the first live record of SEO in the area since there were 2 on Sudmeadow on October 13 1989. I did find a dead bird attached to barbed wire in May 1990.

14 Mute Swans are now in the general area of the Lower Parting and 24 Teal were also noted.

Tewkesbury area (10 January, contributed by Robert Homan)

Still the flock of 100 Golden Plover in the fields on the west side of the A38 opposite the Odessa Inn and 20 Lapwing an autumn sown cereal field north of Staverton village.

Severn Hams (10 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

It was very quiet at Coombe Hill today, the ground was very hard and the scrapes and ditches almost completely frozen over. There were practically no ducks on the scrapes and Long Pool, but 200 Teal at the Wainlodes end on the flight pool, with about five Wigeon. There were about ten Snipe, all on the open water at the edges of icy ditches. One Sparrowhawk. Very few Fieldfares and Redwings in the hedges. One Treecreeper.

There was another Sparrowhawk at Bishop’s Norton which put up a flock of 300 Fieldfares from an orchard in which there were also two Blackcaps.

At Ashleworth about 40 teal and 10 Wigeon.

There was no trace of the Whooper Swans at Coombe Hill or at Ashleworth.

Most of the Teal and Wigeon have abandoned the Severn Hams in the icy conditions. Mallard, on the other hand, seem to survive in the area by sitting on the Severn.

Sudmeadow (8 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

On the river below the Parting there was a dramatic change in the Teal numbers with only 18 being found. The Gadwall had increased to 5 with another male appearing. 13 Shoveler and at least 1 Wigeon had also turned up. A male Peregine was seen flying SW over Sudmeadow at 1.10pm and the Stonechats continue to survive by the Parting.

Ashleworth (7 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Main reserve at Ashleworth still almost completely iced over today, and even less ducks in view: 100 Mallard, 3 Wigeon, 10 Teal 2 Pintail and 1 Shoveler. No sign of roosting Whoopers at first light and they weren’t on the field by Stank Lane where they usually graze either.

Passerines in the hedges were very few and far between, most seem either to have left or to be keeping their heads down in the cold weather. However, one set-aside field had about 20 Greenfinches, 25 Reed Buntings, a dozen Yellowhammers and a few Bullfinches.

We looked along the Severn at many spots from Lower lode to Wainlodes in search of Goosander or Smew, which sometimes appear in cold snaps like the present, but we had no luck.

Ashleworth (6 January, contributed by Mike Smart)

Extremely quiet today, as almost all the water is frozen over, except for a small and contracting pool near the main ditch, around which the few remaining ducks are sitting. No sign of Whoopers on the field where they have been grazing for the last week; have they taken a holiday at Slimbridge? Only 5 Canadas, 100 Mallard, 30 Teal, 10 Wigeon left at midday; one Grey Heron, couple of Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and some Redwings feeding on short grass in the absence of berries.

Sudmeadow (6 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

The Teal numbers on the River below the Lower Parting have increased dramatically for here. I counted 140 this morning, also a surprise find was a pair of Gadwall which is a very rare species here, a young Coot and a first winter Great Crested Grebe. The pair of Stonechats are still by the Parting and a female Blackcap continues to visit the garden.

Cheltenham (6 January, contributed by Robert Homan)

Until a flurry of records in late June 2008 (see the June News Archive page), the Hornet Moth Sesia apiformis had not been seen in Gloucestershire since 1946. The adult moth is a tricky insect to find, but the pupal exit holes are a noticeable feature around the bases of the trunks of large poplar trees. The pictures below were taken in Pittville Park today and similar holes have been seen in the area between Tewkesbury and Ashleworth. The holes have a diameter of 8-9mm.. These records suggest that the moth is more widespread than previously thought.

Nearby in Swindon Lane, a flock of 200 Fieldfares and 1 or 2 Redwings were feeding on wind-fall apples and there was a male garden Blackcap.

Sudmeadow (4 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A single Snipe and a Kingfisher seen this morning.

Sudmeadow (3 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

9 Mute Swans (2 First Winter) now at the Lower Parting and an increase in the Teal numbers with 65 being present along the river bank. A pair of Stonechats still at the Parting and 1 male seen on Port Ham. Also 2 Snipe Sudmeadow marsh.

Severn Hams (3 January, contributed by Les Brown and Mike Smart )

Certainly the coldest day of the winter so far, with temperature down to about -5 C. At first light the whole water surface was iced over, except for one of the small pools near the main ditch, where geese, ducks and swans had been roosting and had kept a small area free of ice. The four Whoopers had roosted on this pool, and flew out to feed on the usual grassy field along Stank Lane at 08.57am, once the geese had left, leaving them room to take off. About 23 Greylags, about 320 Canadas and one Barnacle Goose took off between 08.30am and 08.50am, heading north (is this the flock that feeds at Bredon’s Hardwick?). About 50 Shovelers, 8 Pintails, 4 Gadwalls, 60 Mallard and only about 70 Teal and 40 Wigeon left.

Interestingly, there were two Bewick’s in the middle of the ice at first light, which had obviously roosted, quite separate from the pool. One was an adult the other appeared to be a yearling; it looked as though they had been looking for Slimbridge, got lost and landed, but didn’t associate at all with the other waterbirds. At about 08.10am, not having been served breakfast, they got up and flew off to the south in the direction of Slimbridge; will be interesting to see whether they were noted as new arrivals at Slimbridge today.

Otherwise, two Peregrines on the pylons, a couple of Ravens, only about 10 Snipe in the whole area; 45 Lapwings flew south in an obvious weather movement, together with a single Golden Plover. Also a dozen Reed Buntings and a similar number of Yellowhammers.

Tewkesbury (3 January, contributed by Robert Homan)

A flock of c.100 Golden Plover in the fields on the west side of the A38 opposite the Odessa Inn.

Ablington (2 January, contributed by Ian Ralphs)

An Otter spraint was found by the River Coln today.

Sudmeadow (1 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)

8 Mute Swan, 6 adultss and 2 first winter birds at the Lower Parting. (High number for here, presumed iced out from various local sites)? 65 Wigeon flew downriver at the Lower Parting at midday. 44 Teal on the river below the Parting. 2 Grey Wagtails at Sudmeadow and a pair Stonechats on the Severn Way below the Parting.

Walmore Common (1 January, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Seen in the morning – three Bewick’s Swans, 50 Teal, one Peregrine, one Water Rail, one Snipe, one Woodcock, two Stonechats and a Cetti’s Warbler. Nearby at Broadway Farm, another Woodcock and a Lesser Redpoll.

Severn Hams (30 December, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Everything very quiet, passerines especially so, with cold weather and partly iced water surfaces.

At Coombe Hill, where the hides are now easily accessible, two Shelducks, 3 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 60 Mallard, 10 Pintail, six Shoveler, one Merlin, maybe 20 Snipe all very scattered.

At Ashleworth, the four Whoopers (three adults and one cygnet) feeding on the same field along Stank Lane; maybe 80 Canadas, 160 Wigeon, 140 Teal, 30 Pintail, 70 Shoveler, six Tufted Ducks and two Peregrines on pylons.

Sudmeadow area (29 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)

Seen in the morning over Sudmeadow were 19 Teal flying NE and a Peregrine with a kill. There was one Chiffchaff in riverside willows below Llantony Weir.

Sudmeadow area (28 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)

Seen in riverside willows adjacent to Sudmeadow this morning was a ‘flock’ of 4 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests by Llantony Weir.

Ashleworth Ham (27 December, contributed by Les Brown)

The solitary adult Whooper Swan at Ashleworth has been joined by a family of two adults and a cygnet, seen in a field along Stank Lane.

Tewksbury area (26 December, contributed by Robert Homan)

A Chiffchaff in Lower Lode Lane and 16 Cormorants in the “usual” tree at Lower Lode. In the autumn sown cereal fields at the junction of the lane to Deerhurst and the B4213 were 120 Lapwings and 4 Golden Plover. In the churchyard at Deerhurst, a small “Glastonbury Thorn” tree (Crataegus monogyna ‘Biflora’) is just coming into flower.

Severn Hams (23 December, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

At Coombe Hill(MS), the floodwaters are dropping only slowly and the Grundon Hide was still not accessible today, though it will probably become accessible in the next day or two. As usual, the falling flood attracted a good number of ducks, visible from the canal bank: 800+ Wigeon (the biggest number this winter so far), at least 500 Teal, 80+ Pintail, 10 Shelduck, 280 Lapwing and a single Golden Plover.

The lone Whooper has moved to Ashleworth (LB), feeding on a field north of Stank Lane. A couple of Peregrines and a Water Pipit also present.

Hempsted Meadows Nature Reserve (SO 809166) (23 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)

2 pairs of Stonechats and 15 Teal were found here midday.

Walmore Common (22 December, contributed by Mike Smart)

The floods have dropped very rapidly and the fields, though wet underfoot are green again.

No Bewick’s Swans this morning. 11 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 275 Teal, 12 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Stonechats.

Sudmeadow (20 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)

On Sudmeadow Marsh this morning were 11 Teal and 1 Woodcock and at Sudmeadow: 1 Chiffchaff and 25 Goldfinches.

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

The Severn has gone down considerably in the last two or three days, but water only moves slowly off the meadows. The hides at Coombe Hill are still inaccessible, but good views across the floodwater looking towards the Long Pool can be obtained from the towpath. One Whooper still feeding with the family of Mutes on good grass on higher ground south of the canal. Fair numbers of ducks: 620 Wigeon, 100+ Teal (many more calling from the Long Pool), 70 Pintail, 30 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Ducks. Red lion road now open.

At Ashleworth, the hide is still easily accessible from the Ham Road (which never flooded), but there is still deep water on the meadows. 330 Canada Geese, 2 Tufted Ducks, small numbers of Wigeon, Pintail, Gadwall, all rather scattered. On an old setaside by Stank Lane conditions were perfect for Snipe: 60 Common Snipe, 4 Jack Snipe, also about 15 Meadow Pipits, 4 Skylarks and 6 Yellowhammers (the latter not often found here).

Rodley and Longney Sands (19 December, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Seen briefly this afternoon were a first-winter Glaucous Gull and an immature (second-winter ?) Iceland Gull amongst the thousands of other large gulls present. Also a Sparrowhawk, about 1000 Golden Plover, 1000 Lapwing, 25 Snipe, 151 Curlew, a Kingfisher and a pair of Stonechats.

Cannop Ponds and Oakenhill Wood (19 December, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Cannop Ponds this morning there were 104 Mandarin, seven Tufted Ducks, eight Goosander (six adult male) and eight Little Grebes. At Oakenhill Wood there were eight Crossbills.

Meysey Hampton (18 December, contributed by Gordon Kirk and Mike Smart)

Seen today at Meysey Hampton, straddling the Glos/Wiltshire border, a Little Egret on a tiny pond where a family of Mute Swans appeared to have nested this year. Bullfinches and Yellowhammers present as well.

Severn Hams (16 December, contributed by Mike smart and Les Brown)

The Severn itself is now dropping, but water is backing up in the meadows. The Ham Road is still open and the Ashleworth hide is still easily accessible. The water is quite deep at Ashleworth and fair numbers of ducks about (though some appeared to have moved to Longdon Marsh in Worcs., where there were 600 ducks, including 61 Pintail): 1 Little Grebe, 100 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 50 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 40 Shoveler and 21 Pintail.

At Walmore, the water is also rising: no Bewick’s at 11.00 this morning, but there were 11 Mute Swans, 30 Canada Geese, 120 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 20 Shoveler, 20 Pintail and 50 Mallard.

Walmore and Minsterworth (15 December, contributed by Andy Jayne)

At Walmore Common there were six Bewick’s Swans, ten Canada Geese, four Shelduck, 180 Teal, 160 Mallard, 24 Pintail, 26 Shoveler and a Yellow-legged Gull.

At Minsterworth Ham there were 100 Wigeon, 210 Teal and singles of Pintail, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper and Kingfisher.

Sudmeadow (15 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)

On Sudmeadow marsh there were 10 Teal, 1 Water Rail, 6 Snipe and 1 Green Sandpiper. Flying north were c120 Wigeon and a nominate race adult male Chiffchaff was trapped during a ringing session.

Severn Hams (14/15 December, contributed by Les Brown and Mike Smart)

The Coombe Hill hides were inaccessible on 14th with viewing from the canal bank only; a Whooper Swan was still present (Les Brown).

On the 15th the Severn had risen a bit more, and was beginning to overtop its banks between Haw Bridge and the Red Lion, so that road will very soon be closed. The Chelt was also overtopping its banks which means levels will rise at Coombe Hill. The Ham road from Tirley to Ashleworth was still open and the Ashleworth hide easily accessible; it may get more difficult if the river rises any more. In the morning at Ashleworth there were at least 14 Gadwall, 40 Pintail in courtship display, about 50 Shovelers and a male Peregrine sitting on a pylon. There were no Canadas roosting; does anyone know where they feed by day? (Mike Smart).

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (9 December, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

A slight frost this morning, with light icing on much open water; at Ashleworth the edges of the water were thinly iced over (not cleared by midday) but the middle remained clear, probably because of the numbers of Canada Geese there. At present, the majority of the ducks and geese seem to prefer Ashleworth to Coombe Hill.

At Coombe Hill, a lone Whooper had roosted, and flew out to feed on rich grass on the southern meadows at 07.30am. It seems likely that this was the bird seen briefly at Slimbridge on Sunday; it definitely seems to have lost its mate.

At Ashleworth, 320 Canada Geese, one Barnacle Goose and 25 Greylags had roosted and most had flown out to the north by 08.15am; where do they go? No swans. 120+ Wigeon, 160+ Teal, 31+ Pintail, 47+ Shoveler and 70 Mallard. The only ducks feeding were Shoveler (upending); lots of display from the Pintail, the rest asleep. Two Coot. About 20 Snipe, dotted over three or four partly iced rough fields, 1 Jack Snipe. Surprisingly large numbers of Reed Buntings, maybe 25 in hedges and rough vegetation; quit a lot of Greenfinches too in the hedges. 1 Peregrine on the wires.

Severn Hams (6 December, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)

Coombe Hill: a distinct decrease in duck numbers following the ice earlier in the week: No Wigeon, only 120 Teal, 1 Pintail, 20 Shoveler. Still only a single Whooper Swan which had roosted but flew at first light flew with Mutes to graze on the good grass south of the canal. 60 Lapwings, 5 Snipe, 5 Bullfinches, 4 Reed Buntings; a Great tit already singing .

Walmore Common: the November floods have gone but the grass is still very wet underfoot. No Bewick’s Swans (it seems that none at all have been recorded yet this winter), 8 Mute Swans, 60 Teal and 2 Stonechats.

Coombe Hill (4 December, contributed by Mike Smart)

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth were both iced over at the beginning of the week, but the ice had all disappeared today.

Rather few birds at Coombe Hill, maybe they had all moved to the estuary because of the ice. Since Sunday, only one Whooper has been in the area, and it was there again today, grazing with Mutes in the fields south of the canal, then flying onto the scrapes at nightfall. Has the other one flown somewhere else because of the ice? This seems unlikely, as pairs almost always stick together and the two looked like a pair; a worrying thought is that it may have hit the overhead power-lines like so many other birds, especially swans in the area. One piece of good news is that Central Networks say they are going to fit bird diverters when they next overhaul the lines; they only do this once every thirty years, so it’s a once in thirty years opportunity!
Castle Meads, Gloucester (4 December, contributed by Mike Smart)

A Short-eared Owl flew over the by-pass into Castle Meads at 10.25pm.

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

Leigh Meadows (28 April, contributed by Mike Smart)

Two Peregrines (a male and a female) on the pylons, two or three Curlews, one Lapwing, one Green Sandpiper, one Wheatear, two or three Redstarts calling and three Whitethroats singing.

Witcombe Reservoir (24 April, contributed by Gordon Avery)

3 Common Sandpipers at the reservoir this morning.

Cheltenham (23 April, contributed by Robert Homan)

In addition to several Peacocks and a Brimstone, other butterflies seen today were an Orange Tip and Speckled Wood on the Honeybourne Cyclepath and a Holly Blue in Swindon Lane.

Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (22 April, contributed by Les Brown and Mike Smart)

A pair of Garganey at Coombe Hill, and a one o’clock Hobby looking for dragonflies at Ashleworth.(LB)

In the evening at Ashleworth: 76 Teal, 1 Peregrine, still at least 15 Snipe but no drumming despite perfect conditions, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 cuckoos, 2 Lesser Whitethroats singing and at least 6 Redstarts calling. (MS)

Hempstead and Sudmeadow (21 April, contributed by Gordon Avery)

A Whitethroat singing on Hempsted Nature Reserve yesterday and another one singing on Sudmeadow today. 50 Linnets on the tip slope at Sudmeadow this afternoon and a rather unseasonal “abietinus” Chiffchaff by the river at Sudmeadow probably reflecting the strength of easterly winds over the past few days

Aylburton (20 April, contributed by Mike Smart, Barrie Mills and Lewis Thomson)

The easterly winds continue to bring in good numbers of migrants. At Aylburton Warth this morning, a small but steady stream of migrant Swallows and Sand Martins upriver from about 8.15am; fair numbers of skulking Whitethroats doing faint subsong in the brambles, but most spectacularly, the best concentration of wagtails I have ever seen in Gloucestershire: birds sitting just on the edge of the warth, having obviously recently arrived: a carpet of at least 50 Yellow Wagtails and 31 White (not a Pied among them), with associated Meadow Pipits.

Also a good showing of waders, mainly on the warth at high tide: six Oystercatchers, many displaying Lapwing and Redshank, 120 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, one Little Ringed Plover, four Common Sandpipers, 30 Ringed Plovers, 47 Dunlin, 3 Sanderlings, five Golden Plovers in summer plumage, and a Snipe.

Cheltenham (20 April, contributed by Robert Homan)

A Lesser Whitethroat at Swindon Lane, singing throughout the morning.

Frampton area (19 April, contributed by Gordon Avery)

At a Splatt reedbed north, a Water Rail calling. A single Swift through flying NE and a Whitethroat singing from the scrub further along the canal.

2 Cattle Egrets seen, one with the horses at Splatt and another in the field with horses by the church gate.

Severn Hams (19 April, contributed by Les Brown and Mike Smart)

At Coombe Hill, nine species of wader were present: seven Little Ringed Plovers, one Ringed Plover, seven Lapwings, one Grey Plover, two Greenshanks, three Redshanks, two Curlew, six Snipe, two Black-tailed Godwits; also a singing Whitethroat and two singing Sedge Warblers, three Yellow Wagtails, two White Wagtails and two Pied Wagtails; good numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins, though less than last Thursday.

At Ashleworth, one Green Sandpiper, at least one Redstart, some hirundines. The bottom two boards were removed from the sluice, so the water levels should drop further.

Coombe Hill (19 April, contributed by Mike Smart, Lawrence Skipp et al)

The strong easterly winds continue to bring birds to Coombe Hill: still fair numbers of hirundines, mainly Sand Martins with some Swallows and the odd House Martin, though not as many as yesterday morning. In addition, a winter plumage Grey Plover, two Greenshanks, at least eight Little Ringed Plovers, and a female Merlin which skimmed over the head of the Grey Plover (causing it to lie doggo) landed to be admired for a few minutes, then moved on to the north. A few Yellow Wagtails too.

Matson (18 April, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

A report received this evening that the Bald Eagle had been taken back into captivity on the ski slope at Matson.

Standish (18 April, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

A Bald Eagle was seen in a poplar tree in the garden today, where there was commotion from the local birds. My immediate reaction was that it was the Sea Eagle reported from Slimbridge. Within seconds of first seeing it, it flew off jingling and trailing strings – jesses presumably. It was a huge raptor with a broad white tail very evident. It moved a couple of hundred yards across a field north east, and perched in a tree for a good half hour. It was quite unconcerned at my approach, and I was able to get under the tree to take photos, which show the white head. It then moved on to another tree another couple of hundred yards distant, in a field where there were several vehicles shifting manure.

Bald Eagle, Standish, Juliet Bailey, April 2008

Walmore Common (18 April, contributed by Andy Jayne)

A Hawfinch in a tall hawthorn hedge this afternoon. The only previous record here was on 22nd December 1981. Also a pair of Redstarts present.

Coombe Hill (17 April, contributed by Mike Smart)

The strong easterly wind opened the door for vast numbers of hirundines. There were many over the Canal by the Wharf and even more over scrapes – hundreds of Sand Martins, smaller numbers of Swallows and just a few House Martins. Migrant waders included three Little Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin. Among the breeding birds were a couple of Curlew, three Redshanks, and a Lapwing’s nest with the first egg.

R. Severn, Deerhurst to Haw Bridge (10 April, contributed by Robert Homan)

Apart from a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps singing, summer migrants were few and far between with only 2 Willow Warblers heard and a single Sand Martin near Haw Bridge. 4 late Fieldfares were also seen.

Sudmeadow area (9 April, contributed by Gordon Avery)

The first Willow Warbler in the osier this year and a Green Sandpiper on Sudmeadow as well.

This morning there were 45 Carrion Crows loafing and generally making a lot of noise in the Grey Poplar near Hemmingsdale Road. This seems to be a annual event much to the annoyance of the breeding pair who have a nest in the same tree!

Longford (9 April, contributed by Andy Jayne)

There were two Green Sandpipers in Horsbere Brook today.

Coombe Hill (9 April, contributed by Andy Jayne)

Highlights at Coombe Hill Meadows this evening were three Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 200 Sand Martins, 20+ Swallows, a House Martin and male Yellow Wagtail.

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

Another frosty start that must have made the swallows think again!

At both sites, the hedgerows are clearly still suffering from the effects of last summer’s flooding: lots of hedges are sprouting from the top; while the lower parts, submerged in the big flood look dead and have no green areas; some blackthorn hedges have very little blossom. On the other hand, some of the fields already have a good showing of Great Burnet leaves – maybe this plant really is adapted to immersion. At Ashleworth, a must unusual observation: two Roe Deer ran across one of the meadows – the first we ever remember seeing: wherever did they come from?

Birds at Coombe Hill: the Lapwings were very quiet and it looks as though they are not yet paired up; one Little Ringed Plover, two Common Sandpipers, half a dozen Pied Wagtails, a couple of Willow Warblers singing; one pair of Mute Swans nest-building just by The Wharf. At Ashleworth (where water levels on the main reserve fields have dropped following removal of boards from the sluice last Saturday), still about 50 of Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler; the non-breeding flock of Mute Swans feeding on one grass field which escaped flooding now numbers over 30; a distinct increase in willow Warblers in the last couple of days, at least half a dozen singing, but no Redstarts on World Redstart Day.

Walmore Common (7 April, contributed by Mike Smart, Barrie Mills and Lewis Thomson)

About 60 Teal, 7 Shelduck, five Lapwings, two Redshank and a female Peregrine hunting.

Aylburton, Guscar and Lydney (7 April, contributed by Mike Smart, Barrie Mills and Lewis Thomson)

Aylburton and Guscar: a massive tide of 9.5 metres (one of the highest of the year) covered most of the area outside the seawall, and probably inundated most nesting Lapwings and Redshanks. Some Lapwings inside the seawall survived.
About 50 Shelducks, two to three pairs Oystercatchers, c. 100 Lapwings, c. 15 Redshanks, c. 80 Curlew; 1 Little Ringed Plover flew over, going north; a fair amount of movement upriver of 80+ Swallows and 10+ Sand Martins mid morning, one male Wheatear; also a gorgeous female Merlin sitting on top of a hedge, waiting to be admired through the telescope.

Lydney Harbour Pools: 1 Little Egret, a female Mallard already with a duckling, 20 Tufted Ducks, a few Swallows, a Willow Warbler singing.

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

This morning at Coombe Hill there was a pretty standard selection of species: one Great Crested Grebe on the Long Pool, four Shelducks, 40 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 14 Lapwings, only two or three Curlews, five Redshanks, one Green Sandpiper, one Willow Warbler singing, one Blackcap singing and about 10 Swallows. Last week’s large flocks of Fieldfares with a few Redwings have disappeared. Two Mute Swans (not the usual ones) on eggs.

At Ashleworth four half boards and one whole board were removed from the sluice, so the water levels will fall sharply in the coming days. 1 Great Crested Grebe, still 40+ Wigeon, a few Teal, 10 Swallows, 30 Sand Martins, 1 House Martin, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap.

Slade Bottom, near St Briavels (4 April, contributed by Ivan Proctor)

During a pleasant warm afternoon there were chiffchaffs and blackcaps singing and skylark on the fields at the top. The flora was looking very good with with wood anemones and lady’s smock at their peak, bluebells coming on nicely and ramsons and herb paris still in tight bud. Butterflies included peacocks, comma and a single male orange tip. 16-spot ladybird was swept from grassland near Orles Barn and along the main ride through the wood there were 7-spot, kidney spot and pine ladybirds. Other insects included several bee flies, Bombylius major, nectaring at bluebells, and a sloe bug, Dolycoris baccarum.

Wood Anemones and Sloe Bug Dolycoris baccarum, Slade Bottom, Ivan Proctor, April 2008

Coombe Hill (4 April, contributed by Mike Smart)

I was at Coombe Hill during the evening to see what migrant waders might be passing and what breeding waders might be assembling. No migrants were present, but the breeding waders were very interesting: as usual they assembled to roost very late, and numbers were much higher than during daylight hours: six Redshank, 10 Lapwings, and as many as 16 Curlews, the latter all arriving very late with bubbling display calls, so they were not migrants. They then gathered to roost in the dusk in a tight flock, not looking territorial at all; the question arises as to where 16 (eight pairs!) of Curlews come from? They must be birds from a long way round, all gathering together. 1 Green Sandpiper, two or three Snipe calling at nightfall, but no sign of drumming.

Standish (3 April, contributed by Juliet Bailey)

Swallows have returned to the area with sightings today and yesterday.