Severn Hams, Tidenham Chase (14 October 2011, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
The WeBS count was carried out today in still extremely dry conditions.
At Coombe Hill, both scrapes completely dry still and Snipe Pool almost dry; just a little water left at west end of Long Pool; rather little water even in the canal itself. 22 Mallard, 14 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Grey Heron; nice flock of 75 Fieldfares; 3 Redwings.
Ashleworth Ham: the pools on the GWT reserve are almost completely dry: 1 Snipe, 1 Buzzard.
Chelt and Leigh Meadows also very dry: 2 Mute Swans, 2 Mallard, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron.
Some of the missing birds had taken refuge on the Severn above Haw Bridge, where there were: 67 Canada Geese, 1 Barnacle Goose, the White Farmyard Goose that interbred with a Canada at Coombe Hill in summer, and their one hybrid offspring, 89 Mallard.