Little sign of any rise in water levels in the Severn Vale: at the GWT reserve at Coombe Hill, the north scrape was till dry, there was just a small puddle in the south scrape, but still shallow water on the Long Pool (the only place where water has lasted throughout the summer). Some hay late had recently been cut on neighbouring fields – a sign of just how dry the conditions are. Storm Brian didn’t succeed in blowing the Grundon Hide away, but made it hard to see songbirds, which stayed in thick vegetation.
The colour-ringed pair of Mute Swans that had nested locally were still present, with their eight full grown cygnets; at least 260 Greylag Geese grazing, eight Canada Geese, one very striking Canada x white Farmyard Goose hybrid, four Wigeon (the first of the winter here), 160 Teal, eight Shovelers, 11 Grey Herons, a single Green Sandpiper left; 6 Redwings flew over to the southwest (also the first of the winter).
At Cobney Meadows, not much water left on the flight pond either: 1 Sparrowhawk hunting, 1 Buzzard; a single Snipe on the old Parish Drain.