Sudmeadow (30 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A superb Barn Owl hunting around the marsh at Sudmeadow early in the morning and a passage Curlew heard. Also 3 Jays were the first in the area this year.
At the pond in the afternoon were 5 Green Sandpipers, 11 Tufted Ducks including the brood mentioned on 1st August, also at least 1 adult Dabchick there.
Guscar Rocks to Pill House Warth (29 August, contributed by Andy Jayne)
The highlights were 1 Peregrine, 8 Knot, c.450 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatears and 2 Ravens. Also a Clouded Yellow.
Swindon Village (26 August, contributed by Robert Homan)
A fairly late Swift feeding with a flock of approximately 100 House Martins and Swallows over pasture west of the village in the afternoon.
Coombe Hill Meadows (23 August, contributed by Robert Homan)
A mixed flock of 200+ Swallows and House Martins feeding over the meadows on the south side of the canal. 2 Chiffchaffs singing, many Bullfinches along the canal and a Kingfisher fishing near the Wharf.
GLS/Sudmeadow (15 and 16 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
On 15th, 2 Green Sandpipers still at the pond on GLS and a Kingfisher by Llantony Weir. On 16th, 34 Linnets at Sudmeadow and 3 Garden Warblers trapped.
Coombe Hill Meadows (14 August, contributed by Andy Jayne)
In the evening there were 3 Little Egrets, 13 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 1 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 70 Swallows and 2 Whinchats.
The scrapes have almost completely dried out now and unless we get some heavy rain shortly, it looks likes the area will, alas, be dry during peak migration over the next few weeks.
Prestbury (10 August, contributed by Robert Homan)
A flock of 52 Swallows, mainly juveniles, congregating on overhead wires at Queenwood Grove this afternoon, a typical sign of late summer.
Witcombe (10 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A very large moulting flock of 71 Tufted Ducks plus a small duckling so at least one pair bred. In addition, 76 mainly adult Coot there, which is a good count for this time of the year.
GLS/Rea (8 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A juvenile Cuckoo this morning by the river at the Rea (GLS) end. The 3 Green Sandpiperss are still on the pond.
Nottingham Hill (8 August, contributed by Robert Homan)
3 Ravens and 2 Buzzards taking advantage of thermals as the temperature rose, mid-morning.
Lower Rea (7 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Whimbrel over during the morning and 3 Common Terns by the river.
Woorgreens/Crabtree Hill (7 August, contributed by Andy Jayne)
During the afternoon there were: 1 Hobby, 1 Tree Pipit, 17 Willow Warblers (with tit flock), 3 Willow Tits, 2 Ravens, 2 Siskins and 6 Crossbills.
GLS (5 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
3 Green Sandpipers still present on the pond, but no other waders. Also a female Pochard and 2 Reed Warblers, which were the first since May 2002.
Coombe Hill (3 August, contributed by Mike Smart)
On the scrapes, water levels are declining fast, but conditions are still fine and attracting some waders: 4 Little Egrets (after an all time record of 10 seen by Les Brown last Saturday!); a single Curlew strangely hanging on, but not behaving like a breeding bird; one Greenshank; two Green Sandpipers; one Snipe; about 15 Lapwings, clearly migrants; a Wheatear, sitting in the top of a tree; at least two Redstarts seen, calling anxiously from lines of willows, not sure if they were adults calling to young, or solitary young birds; a Whinchat at the southern end of the canal.
Ashleworth (3 August, contributed by Mike Smart)
Hay is being cut for silage on the main reserve fields, the rest is to be cut for bedding in the next few days, and willows along main central ditch will be pruned next week; both Buzzards and Lesser Blackbacks following the tractors in search of prey, both frogs and dead voles seen in the cut hay.
GLS (1 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
In the morning – on the pond were 3 Green Sandpipers/ 3 Little Grebes (2ads and 1 juv) almost certainly bred here for the first time. Female Tufted Duck and 6 young/ 2 adult Shelduck and 5 young. Greenshank over as well. In the evening there was a migrant Redstart at Sudmeadow.