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Coombe Hill Reserve Opening: Gallery
Coombe Hill and Uckington (30 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
Still many Fieldfares feeding on hawthorn berries along the canal. 3 or 4 Water Rails heard in the willows around the new hide and there were many Wigeon calling from the Long Pool. At Uckington, NE the junction of the M5 and A4019, there were 820 Lapwings in a field of winter cereals.
Cheltenham (24 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
The satsuma shown here was bought in a Cheltenham shop on Christmas Eve. The mark on the peel shows the track of the larva of the micro-moth Phyllocnistis citrella. This is the first time this species has been recorded in the British Isles. The moth originates from S. E. Asia, but has spread widely to most of the world's citrus growing areas, arriving, for example, in Spain in 1993.
Blemishes on the peel of citrus fruit are not unusual, but what is distinctive about this example is the serpentine shape of the mine and the deposit of frass along the centre of the track - both of these features are shown in the more detailed view below.
Bourton-on-the-Water (24 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
A morning visit produced the following:
3 Little Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Cormorants, 8 Mute Swans, 70 Canada Geese, 31 Pochard, 3 Red-crested Pochards, 56 Tufted Ducks, 102 Coot and a very aggressive Black Swan.
Pittville Park, Cheltenham (21 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
A variety of wildfowl present this morning, including 34 Canada Geese, 16 Tufted Ducks and, the highlight, the first Goosander (a male) of the winter.
Port Ham (14 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
2 pairs of Stonechats overwintering in the area.
Frampton and Fretherne (14 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
Among the more usual ducks on the Sailing Lake was 1 female Goldeneye. At nearby Fretherne there were 4 Little Egrets feeding in a pasture field just north west of the swing bridge this morning.
This superb picture of a Kingfisher at rest was taken by Brian Bailey at Frampton on 13th December.
Gloucester Landfill Site (13 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
The "pond" by the Household Waste area in the morning had 1 Little Grebe, 1 Shelduck, 1 Pintail and a adult 'Yellow legged' Gull amongst the bathing gulls there.
Cheltenham (11 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
A flock of 25 Canada Geese in Pittville Park this afternoon - it took this species a long time to work out that there were rich pickings of bread to be had in the park, but this flock now seems to be well established. A Kingfisher also present. There was a male Blackcap in Swindon Lane.
CWP (early December, news via Gareth Harris)
Pit 32 - a Peregrine hunting pigeons on 7th
Pit 68c - a male Hen Harrier hunting over reed beds on 8th
Pit 68c - 2 or more Jack Snipe flushed while strimming willow on 8th.
Brockhampton, near Swindon Village (7 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
A Chiffchaff feeding with a mixed flock of Blue and Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests by Hyde Brook on the south side of the sewage works.
Sudmeadow (6 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A pair of Stonechats and a Chiffchaff reported this morning.
Sudmeadow and Whiteway (29/30 November, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Small Tortoiseshell in the morning sunshine on the 29th in the Sudmeadow area with 2 Chiffchaffs by the R Severn on 30th. A flock of 2000 Wood Pigeons flying SE over Whiteway on 29th.
Westbury-on-Severn (23 November, news via Gordon Avery)
A Waxwing feeding on rowan berries in a garden in the village today.
Longford Water Works (22 November, contributed Andy Jayne)
A Firecrest, Chiffchaff and Blackcap seen today.
Ashleworth Ham (17 November, contributed Mike Smart)
Twice in the last month, I have seen a Barn Owl at Ashleworth Ham, sitting in old pollarded willows, once in mid afternoon on 11 October, once at first light on 15 November. There was a record of one going into an outhouse near Haw Bridge last winter, so maybe they are quietly surviving there. The purpose of the early morning visit was to see if any Whooper Swans were roosting there on the open water; none found, nor in their usual day feeding area on the Leigh Meadows. The Purple Sandpiper seems to have moved on from Leigh Meadows.
Sudmeadow (16 November, contributed Gordon Avery)
4 new Chiffchaffs were ringed a.m. and there was at least one other unringed bird in the area, along with a male Peregrine.
Chaceley (16 November, contributed Robert Homan)
3 Swallows feeding around the church spire between 2.00 and 3.40 this afternoon: a real surpise!
On safari in..... Cheltenham! (13 November, contributed Robert Homan)
Just to prove that exotic destinations are not essential in order to record the unusual, a lunch time walk in the town centre this week produced these leaf mines of unusual micro-moths.
Left: Mines of Phyllonorycter platani in London Plane leaf; the uppermost mine is 4cm in length. Right: Tenanted mine of Ectoedemia argyropeza forming a "green island" in an Aspen leaf.
Winter Warblers (13 November, contributed Robert Homan and Gordon Avery)
In the past week there have been records of Blackcaps in gardens in Cheltenham and of 3 Chiffchaffs in the Gloucester area.
Ashleworth Ham (12 November, contributed Mike Smart)
With the official opening of the GWT reserve at Coombe Hill, we shouldn't forget the long-standing GWT reserve just across the Severn at Ashleworth Ham. In fact the two sites are only a few miles apart as the Wigeon flies, and the birds certainly move back and forth.
The Ashleworth sluice is operating normally, so water levels have reached their usual winter state; because of the wet summer, it wasn't possible to cut the vegetation on all the meadows in the reserve, so some of the area is looking more overgrown than usual. But the birds don't mind! Today there were at least 1,000 Wigeon, with a sprinkling of other ducks (Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pintail); a large whisp of more than 40 Snipe flew over, calling; a Sparrowhawk flew past; there was a pair of Stonechats, the male carrying a metal ring on his left leg - no doubt one of those ringed by Mervyn Greening and his team during the summer, described here; plus, as usual at this time of year, large numbers of winter thrushes, mainly Fieldfares sitting right up in the tops of trees with no leaves, and a few Redwings.
Still no wild swans, though!
Coombe Hill (9 November, contributed Mike Smart)
The floodwater has dropped a little at Coombe Hill, so that the new GWT hide in the withy bed at Broad Mere is easily accessible (to those wearing wellingtons). At present, there is a real wildlife spectacle at close range from the hide; about 2,000 ducks, mainly Wigeon, with a few Teal, Shoveler and Pintail; over 500 Lapwings, a dozen Dunlin and plenty of Snipe; over 30 Mute Swans, but neither Bewick's nor Whooper Swans as yet; Little Grebe and Kingfishers too, and Water Rails squealing like stuck pigs from the withy bed. Every so often there is a scare, and the whole lot fly up with a rush of wings, but settle again rapidly. Walking down the canal bank the bushes and tall willows are full of Redwings and Fieldfares, several hundred today, there may have been an overnight fall of migrants with light winds and heavy cloud.
And the Purple Sandpiper is still on the Leigh Meadows.
Leigh Meadows and Severn Vale (6 November, contributed Mike Smart)
The Purple Sandpiper was still there on the morning of 5 November (accompanied by a Goosander, a Green Sandpiper and a Stonechat). It really is extraordinary that this maritime wader, which is normally found on rocky shores and is rare in Gloucestershire even on the Severn estuary, should turn up on an inland freshwater marshland site. However, it is not entirely unique; I remember a similar record, at exactly this time of year, some twenty years ago, at Coombe Hill. Perhaps birds nesting in Canada and Greenland cross central Britain on the way to wintering grounds in Brittany and continental Europe?
Incidentally, the floods of last week-end have now dropped, making the meadows along the Chelt, at Coombe Hill and Ashleworth altogether more accessible. All boards have been put into the sluice at Ashleowrth, so that water levels there should remain constant until the spring, providing habitat attractive to ducks, geese and swans.
Leigh Meadows (4 November, contributed by Andy Jayne)
A Purple Sandpiper was a surprising find by the River Chelt late this afternoon.
Sudmeadow (30 October, contributed by Gordon Avery)
2 Chiffchaffs by Llantony Weir and 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls on the tip, one showing very good characteristics of the cachinans race.
Coombe Hill (29 October, contributed by Andy Jayne)
Seen during the opening ceremony of the new Meadows Reserve were: 1 Little Egret, 12 Pintail, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander, 1 Water Rail (heard) and a Lesser Redpoll, though flood water prevented access to the new hide.
Redwings
There was a large movement of Redwings into the county on Saturday 9th October. Gordon Avery reported 200 at Sudmeadow and on Sunday (10th) there were small numbers on the north side of Cheltenham.
Lydney New Grounds (27 September, contributed by Andy Jayne)
Late afternoon produced 1 Merlin (probably imm fem), 2 Golden Plover, 50 Skylark and 2 Raven.
GLS (19 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
There were 2 Wheatears just by the tip offices, one of which was a classic 'Greenland' and a migrant Stonechat at the Rea end of the tip. There were in addition the usual 6+ Ravens and up to 6 Buzzards.
Saul Warth (14 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
In the strong winds in the morning there were 6 Gannets including 3 adults and a immature together, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Little Egret, 2 juvenile Common Terns and 1 juvenile Arctic Tern. There were also at least 3 Wheatears along the foreshore and a Ruddy Shelduck with the Shelduck flock.
River Avon, Twyning - Tewkesbury (5 September, contributed by Robert Homan)
A Kingfisher flew up stream and 18 Yellow Wagtails were feeding in a sheep pasture opposite Tewkesbury Sailing Club early afternoon.
Tidenham Chase (4 September, news via Andy Jayne)
A Honey Buzzard, probably a juvenile, flew south towards Chepstow in the afternoon.
Standish (Late August, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
Swallows have nested in the barns here, and currently there are flocks of 30 or more, joined by House Martins that I believe eschewed the immediate neighbourhood for nesting. I have surveyed the four corners of the tetrad that includes SO7909 this summer for the BTO Swallow feeding survey, and it would appear that this is about the busiest part of the tetrad for them. All this hirundine activity is bringing in the raptors. We had beautiful views today of a Hobby stooping to try to catch various Swallows, when not being pursued by a jeering pack of them.
My neighbour tells me of Wheatear on the fence last week. He had good views over several hours of “a little brown bird with a thin beak that, when it flew, showed a white rump”.
Severn Vale (August Bank Holiday Weekend 2004, contributed by Robert Homan and Gordon Avery)
A Little Egret was at Coombe Hill Meadows Reserve on 26 August. A Hobby was over Ashleworth Ham on 27th. Ravens have been much in evidence with a family party of 5 at Sudmeadow on 28th , 2 over Lower Lode, Tewkesbury on 28th and 2 at Elmstone Hardwick on 29th. Also seen at Sudmeadow on 28th were 2 Green Sandpipers and a Greenshank. A few warblers moved through with 7 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler trapped for ringing.
Longford (23 August 2004, contributed by Andy Jayne)
It's surprising what can be found just on the outskirts of Gloucester. This evening a short walk around the Longford Water Works/Drymeadow Farm area produced 4 Snipe, 1 Swift, 1 Kingfisher, 13 Yellow Wagtails, a Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher. It seems the heavy showers are grounding a few migrants.
Sudmeadow (16 August 2004, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Clouded Yellow and 2 Green Sandpipers seen today.
Cheltenham (15 August 2004, contributed by Robert Homan)
An addition to the county's moth fauna was found in a moth trap in Swindon Lane this morning. Tachystola acroxantha has an interesting history as it is an Australian species first found in the UK in Devon in 1908. Since then it has gradually expanded its range in southern England. As the picture here shows, it is a distinctive moth even with its fairly small wingspan of about 15 mm..
Tachystola acroxantha, Cheltenham
Cheltenham (12 August 2004, contributed by Robert Homan)
A big movement of Swifts involving about 100 birds moving SE round the edge of a big rain storm over Cheltenham this evening.
CWP(W) (8 August 2004, contributed by Robert Homan)
Damselflies were at their most striking this morning, with hundreds of Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum) in the lee of the trees on the NE side of pit 57 . 2 "Commic" terns over pit 57 and 7 Red-crested Pochards on pit 41.
Common Blue Damselfly
Coombe Hill (7 August 2004, contributed by Andy Jayne)
A good variety of bird species at the Canal and Meadows this evening including a Teal, 3 Snipe, 2 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, 100 Greenfinch (plus the usual warblers).
Cleeve Hill (6 August 2004, contributed by Robert Homan)
3 Ravens over West Down this afternoon. Many Gatekeepers on thistles and brambles. Chalkhill Blues flying over the Butterfly Conservation Aerials Reserve.
The fenced areas on the common have a good display of Heather Calluna vulgaris, Harebell Campanula rotundifolia and Betony Stachys officinalis. At West Down ragwort flowers hosted a typically rich variety of insects, including Cinnabar moth larvae and many hoverflies (Scaeva pyratri shown here).
Severn Vale, Wainlode area (2 August 2004, contributed by Andy Jayne)
An all dark immature Marsh Harrier at Wainlode flew towards Coombe Hill Canal at 7pm. There was a Little Egret and Yellow Wagatil by R. Severn just south of Haw Bridge and a Quail and 3 Whinchats at Hasfield Ham.
Lower Lode, Tewkesbury (29 July 2004, via C Guy)
2 Little Egrets reported from the area today.
Gatekeeper (25 July 2004)
This butterfly species is particularly numerous at the moment - typical were 20 seen by Gordon Avery at Sudmeadow yesterday evening. Bramble blossom is a definite attraction.
Cheltenham (23 July 2004, contributed by Robert Homan)
A Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on phlox flowers in a garden in Swindon Lane this afternoon.
Coombe Hill (23 July 2004, contributed by Robert Homan)
A Turtle Dove purring by the canal between the Wharf and the foot bridge. A Little Egret flew into the new north scrap at about 11.00am but became very difficult to see in the tall vegetation. The new ditches by the footpath to Deerhurst gave good views of a variety of dragonflies including Ruddy Darters and a Black-tailed Skimmer.
Walmore Common (10 July 2004, contributed by Andy Jayne)
A Redstart, 2 Whinchats, a Garden Warbler and 16 Ravens in the morning.
Woorgreens, Forest of Dean (6 July 2004, contributed by Andy Jayne)
Three Crossbills today and a family party of at least 4 Wood Warblers near the sluice.
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