Recent sightings
First Curlew of the year
The level of the Severn rose considerably on 1-2 February, though it is dropping again now; as a result, smaller local streams could not flow out into the Severn and…
Coombe Hill and Ashleworth today
For some weeks now, water levels at both Coombe Hill and Ashleworth have been unusually low for the winter months, and water bird numbers have been low: we really need…
Urban Wildlife…
The old Gloster Aircraft Company airfield between Abbeymead and Brockworth has a number of areas of old and undisturbed grassland between the housing and the retail / commercial sites on either…
Polecats in Gloucestershire
Polecats have not in living memory been very common in Gloucestershire but are now believed to be increasing as the population rises in the west and Wales so that more…
Asian hornet identified in Gloucestershire
The National Bee Unit has confirmed a sighting of the Asian hornet in the Tetbury area of Gloucestershire – the first time the hornet has been discovered in the UK….
An extensive floating colony of Water Fern
During several recent journeys through Willersey, in the north of the county, I had noticed that the ornamental pond on the village green seemed to have become largely covered by…
“Lighthouse gall” on ground ivy
Some of the ground ivy Glechoma hederacea leaves in my garden are pocked with white-rimmed craters reminding me of rivet washers on jeans. On closer examination, there are hairy green…
Breeding birds in the Severn and Avon Vales this year
The bird breeding season in the Severn and Avon Vales is almost over, so this seems a good time to offer an update on the results, based on observations made by…
Latest news on the breeding Curlew survey in the Severn and Avon Vales
Below are further notes on the survey of breeding Curlews in the Severn and Avon Vales in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, as of mid July. The survey is being carried out…
GNS Nightjar Walks June / July 2016
30th June 2016 For the first of the series of Nightjar meetings the weather didn’t look promising, heavily overcast with low cloud, almost constant drizzle, strong wind from south-west…
Diamond-back Moth Migration
We are currently on the receiving end of a large-scale migration of Diamond-back Moths (Plutella xylostella) into the UK. I thought I was doing well with a count of 16…
Results of the Bioblitz 700 at The Park and Poor’s Allotment 25th – 26th July 2015
Results of this bioblitz were assembled months ago. I did mention in the September 2015 issue of GNS news that they will be published on this website. I have been busy in…