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.