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Coombe Hill Reserve Opening: Gallery
Severn Hams (27 June, contributed by Mike Smart)
The Grundon Hide at Coombe Hill was only accessible with waders (or wet legs) the evening of 25 June, and the scrapes and islands were submerged by the following morning because of local streams backing up. On the evening of the 26th, the Severn started to come over its banks below Haw Bridge, thus making the floodwater even deeper and closing the road past the Red Lion. By the evening of the 27th, the Severn had also broken its banks above Haw Bridge on the west bank, which means that the Ham Road from Ashleworth to Tirley is closed and the Ashleworth roadside hides are no longer accessible. The current Severn level at Haw Bridge is 10.93m and rising, which compares with the highest of last winter on 8 March (itself unusually high) of 11.15 m.
The high levels and rainfall in May and early June meant that many ground and long grass birds were having a hard time of it: Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings were already doing badly, with very few juveniles, but the higher levels of the last few days will undoubtedly drown any remaining nests. Curlews seemed to be doing quite well because the wet weather meant that the hay had not been cut; but any Curlew chicks will not survive the deep flooding that has now occurred. The Sand Martin colonies in the Severn banks were already under water before the river broke its banks, so they will have to start again.
On the other hand, the Redstarts which nest in holes in willows seem to have done fairly well; at least three broods of young birds shave been seen at Ashleworth.
Seen at Coombe Hill on the 26th were a flock of 9 Black-tailed Godwits in full summer plumage by the floodwater, clearly failed breeders returning south already. A Flock of 19 Lapwings, including the only two fledged young produced by the ten pairs which attempted nesting, apart from a tiny non-flying chick, seen on 19 June apparently surviving on 26 June, but disappeared by 27 June, no doubt drowned by the rising water. Three adult Redshanks, which had produced one nearly fledged young; uncertain if the young one survived. Female Tufted Duck with seven ducklings, the second brood at Coombe Hill. One Green Sandpiper.
Coombe Hill on the 27th: two Green Sandpipers, sitting on fence posts, like breeding Redshank to keep their feet out of the water!
Ashleworth on the 27th: the male Shoveler still there; his one wing is damaged, he can shake it, but not fly. One female Wigeon.
Hank's Gorse, near Brockhampton (21 June, contributed by Neil Pryce-Jones)
Seen today were a Privet Hawk-moth resting on a gate post and hundreds, if not thousands, of Pyramidal Orchids growing among the profusion of ox-eye daisies in the set aside fields in the area.
Privet Hawk-moth and Pyramidal orchid, Brockhampton, June 2007, Neil Pryce-Jones
Cheltenham (4 June, contributed by Robert Homan)
Records of the old and the new from central Cheltenham today. On the left below, a flower spike of Ivy Broomrape ( Orobanche hederae) in the front garden of a house in Malvern Place. This is presumably the site mentioned in the 1948 "Flora of Gloucestershire". On the right, first generation mines of the the Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner (Cameraria ohridella) in nearby Malvern Road. This adventive insect should become even more evident in terms of the number and distribution of leaf mines during the summer.
Ivy Broomrape, Malvern Place and Cameraria ohridella, Malvern Road, June 2007, Robert Homan
Eastleach (18 May, contributed by Ian Ralphs)
There are several hundred Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor) plants in a broad strip along the southern side of the access road to Eastleach Downs Farm, SP10 Z, Eastleach in a recently sown Rye-grass and White Clover ley. Probably accidentally sown in to the ley with some wildflower mix added to the field margins.
Common Broomrape, Eastleach, 1 June, Ian Ralphs
Walmore Common (31 May, contributed by Andy Jayne)
A huge count of 254 Ravens flying into roost at Walmore Common in the evening, all arriving from an east or north-east direction with a few stragglers still coming in at dusk. There may well have been a higher total at a similar time last year when 208 were counted before 7.15pm on 27th May 2006.
East Wood, near Tidenham Chase (18 May, contributed by Roger Gaunt)
A mating pair of the spider Micrommata virescens was found in a Heath Trap placed in the wood to record moths. The species is quite uncommon, but I have recorded two females before in this wood in the same way.
According to David Haigh, the Society's spder recorder, this is only the second time that the male of this species has been seen in the county (the yellow and red abdomen of the male is shown very clearly in the picture below), indeed that seeing spiders mating is rare and that this coupling would be very rarely seen.
Micrommata virescens, mating pair, East Wood, May 2007, Roger Gaunt
Sudmeadow (15 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Roe Deer in the marsh in the evening constitutes a first record for the site.
Witcombe (14 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)
2 Dunlin at Witcombe Reservoir today plus a small hirundine flock brought down by the north west wind. The flock consisted of c.30 Sand Martin, 20 Swallows and 120 House Martins.
Ashleworth Ham and Coombe Hill (12 May, contributed by Les Brown and Mike Smart)
The continuing cool, wet windy weather seems of the last week to have played havoc with breeding Lapwings. On the other hand the chorus of song from warblers must be at its peak now.
At Coombe Hill: the Mute Swan by the Wharf has hatched five cygnets. A pair of Canada Geese with five goslings by the scrape (unusual here as a breeding bird; is this perhaps the first breeding record for the site?). Still five Shelducks; four male Wigeon, a pair of Gadwall. Lapwings behaving very differently from earlier in the week: no sitting females, no sign of any young birds; instead the males were back to doing aerial display flights with excited calling, as in early spring, very aggressive to one another, and constantly doing tail-up display to females; one attempted mating seen; looks very much as though they have lost their nests and are starting again. Three or four Redstarts singing, one Reed Warbler (first of year), at least a dozen Sedge Warblers along the canal, half a dozen Whitethroats, and the usual Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Big passage of over 100 Swifts and maybe 20 House Martins during a shower.
At Ashleworth, the three pairs of Lapwings which appeared to have young a week ago have all disappeared. A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers going into a nest-hole in an oak in Meerend Thicket to feed their noisy young. The Grasshopper Warbler still reeling at Hasfield.
Severn Hams (10 May, contributed by Mike Smart)
Continuing unsettled, with heavy cloud and showers not really suitable for birdsong.
Ashleworth/Hasfield Ham: Crack Willows justifying their name: a tree with a huge old pollarded head had cracked at the top and one half had fallen over , blocking Stank Lane. 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling and several Redstarts singing, despite the wind; one drake Shoveler still present. No sign of Lapwings: have they all failed? And only one non-demonstrative Curlew.
Severn Ham, Tewkesbury: 1 Corn Bunting, singing from the electric wires. One bubbling Curlew. Couple of Sand Martins.
Gloucester Landfill Site (10 April, contributed by John Sanders)
A pair of Shelducks have reared 6 ducklings on the GLS pond - an early record for the species from an unusual site.
GLS Shelducks, adults and 6 ducklings, May 2007, John Sanders
Ashleworth Ham (5 May, contributed by Les Brown, Mervyn Greening and Mike Smart)
One Shelduck, two Wigeon, two Teal, up to ten singing Redstarts, maybe eight singing Sedge Warblers. Two Hobbies chasing one another at midday, rather than hawking flying insects (too few insects, too much wind).
Coombe Hill (5 May, contributed by Les Brown)
The Meadows are all incredibly dry following a month without rain and with drying easterly winds; no surface water left, except in the scrapes and pools. The pair of Garganey has been seen every day since 2 May, and were still present today; also two Oystercatchers and two Little Ringed Plovers.
Sudmeadow (3 May, contributed by Gordon Avery)
The first Little Egret for 4 years flew off in the evening from the East channel and headed over Sudmeadow towards the tip.
Coombe Hill (2 May, contributed by Mike Smart)
In general, the last couple of weeks have been rather a quiet period for bird migrants at Coombe Hill, with few passing waders to report, mainly a small number of Whimbrel stopping to roost on their way to their Icelandic breeding quarters, and the odd Little Ringed Plover (there was one on the afternoon of 1 May). However, today 2 May, Les Brown saw the first two Coombe Hill Garganey of the spring, a male and a female.
St Mark's Fly (25 April, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
St Mark's Fly, so called because it usually appears around St Mark's Day (25 April), is in our garden in Standish today, and in Longridge, Painswick yesterday. I wonder if it was named after the change from the Julian to Gregorian calendar in 1752, the upshot of which is that what had been May 1st became May 11th. May blossom (hawthorn flower) was one of the traditional
flowers of May Day revels, hence its name, but because of the calendar change does not now normally appear until about the second week of the month. This year, of course, may blossom is already abundant, but it has been a record-breaking warm Spring. Perhaps the life cycle of St Mark's Fly is not governed by temperature.
Severn Hams (23/24 April, contributed by Mike Smart)
The fine anticyclonic weather seems to have been replaced by fronts coming in from the west. At Leigh Meadows on 23 April at dusk: one Whimbrel, apparently roosting in the fields; one Redstart with alarm calls; one Lesser Whitethroat singing. On 24 April at Coombe Hill (with Les Brown, Graeme Watson, John Wiltshire) all was pretty quite on the scrapes: 33 Mute Swans grazing on Southern Meadows, 3 Greylags, 10 Canadas, a pair of Shelducks, 6 Wigeon (all males, where are the females?), 3 Tufted Ducks, 1 Hobby, 12 Lapwings, 1 Redshank, 2 Curlews, 1 Cuckoo singing. There was a fair showing of migrants along the canal and in the willows with 5 Sedge Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers plus 3 Redstarts.
Hatherop church, GNS Lichen Group meeting (22 April, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
Seven members met for the group's first meeting of the year. This set us off to a good start, recording more than 80 species (our average for a Gloucestershire churchyard would be more like 50-60). The Cotswold churchyards of east Gloucestershire do seem to be better than average - have they escaped the pollution of the Severn Vale? - and this one had a surprisingly large number of old siliceous tombstones for a Cotswold site, boosting the chance of picking up a large number of species.
Coombe Hill (18 April, contributed by Mike Smart)
A rather quiet evening at Coombe Hill. There is no spring flooding this year, but water remains nicely in the scrapes. Many birds came in to roost in the evening: at least 30 Mute Swans, nearly 40 Canada Geese, 2 Shelducks, 6 Curlews. Still 7 Wigeon, about a dozen Lapwings, a couple of Snipe calling. Not much birdsong – just a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler.
Cleeve Hill (17 April, contributed by Andy Jayne)
At least 16, probably 19 Ring Ouzels on Cleeve Hill early this morning, no doubt held up by the northerly wind. Also four Stonechats, four Wheatears, 35 Fieldfares, a Redwing and a Grasshopper Warbler 'reeling' and showing very well on top of low gorse.
Whelford (14 April, contribution per Gareth Harris)
Large Red Damselflies started to emerge today.
Purton Field Meeting (14 April, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
Five people met for a beautiful hot afternoon at Purton on the south bank of the Severn. We followed the towpath of the canal towards Sharpness, then went out onto the saltmarsh and shore, examining the barge hulks beached there, distant views of Gatcombe where Sir Francis Drake kept a mistress and more recently Railtrack cut down the rare Service Tree (Sorbus domestica), and the site of the Severn Rail Bridge disaster which fell into the river one foggy night in 1960. This was very much a recording meeting, with highlights including finding of a rare Notaris weevil, refinding the canal spider (Larinioides scopetarius), the bug Podops inuncta, the ants Lasius nylanderi and L brunneus, and the pseudoscorpion Roncus lubricus. We counted six Little Egrets on the river, and heard Reed Bunting and Cetti's Warbler from the timber ponds. Botanically there was a very fine show of English Scurvy Grass (Cochlearia anglica). We discussed the implications of the proposed barrage on the natural history of the area.
Purton Field Meeting, April 2007, Andrew Bluett
Cleeve Hill (12 April, contributed by Robert Homan)
Willow Warblers have arrived with a total of 10 singing from various scrubby areas around Cleeve Hill this morning. In addition there were 3 Wheatears near the aerials and 4 Ring Ouzels in flight over the Washpool Valley. In the extensive gorse on the east side of the common there were 2 male Stonechats and 1 male Reed Bunting.
Bluebells are already in full flower in Queen's Wood and the area of scrub to the east - compare the photo below with that taken on 6th May last year.
Bluebells and Glow-worm larva, Cleeve Hill, April 2007, Robert Homan
Coombe Hill (11 April, contributed by Robert Homan)
The day belonged to the Mute Swan - in addition to the breeding pair there were 30 birds on the scrapes at lunchtime with many of them later moving to the fields on the south side of the canal to graze. In addition, there were 2 Tufted Ducks, 6 Shelduck, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Shoveler, at least 3 families of Mallard including with one with 9 ducklings, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Coot, only 3 Lapwings and just 1 Willow Warbler singing. There were many butterflies flying including a Red Admiral, many Brimstones, Peacocks and 2 Small Tortoiseshells.
Severn Hams (7 April, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
At Coombe Hill the flooding has gone, but water levels in the scrapes and Long Pool remain reasonably high: two Little Egrets, 1 Peregrine, 1 Little Ringed Plover (appeared to move off to the north, but could have returned), only 7 Lapwings, 3 Redshanks, 2 Curlews, duck numbers dropping fast: no more than 5 Wigeon and 40 Teal. Half a dozen Sand Martins moved through to the north. Plenty of Chiffchaffs singing, no sign of a Willow Warbler.
At Ashleworth, water levels have dropped by 50cms since the boards were removed from the sluice last Saturday; all remaining boards removed today, so levels will continue to drop. No Willow Warblers either.
At least three Mute Swan nests already being incubated in the general Ashleworth/Coombe Hill area.
Cheltenham (7 April, contributed by Robert Homan)
Continuing the theme of early butterflies - a Holly Blue was in Swindon Lane early afternoon.
Severn Hams (6 April, contributed by Mike Smart)
An evening visit to Walmore showed that the water level is back down to normal: 10 Mute Swans (two very territorial and aggressive, chasing others off); 2 Canada Geese (looking broody); 2 Shelducks (apparently a pair, perhaps thinking of breeding), 25 Teal, 1 Peregrine (a large brown female), 22 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 2 Redshank, 2 Skylarks singing, 1 Chiffchaff singing but no other warblers, 2 Ravens, but no vast roosting assembly, 2 Reed Buntings.
Ashleworth after dark was quiet on a still windless evening and perfect for the display of nocturnal species, but there was nothing showing, just the calls of Grey Heron, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Coot.
Overall it seems that the northerly winds have held up northward migration.
Cleeve Hill (6 April, contributed by Gordon Avery)
1 Ring Ouzel seen this morning.
Highnam Woods (6 April, contributed by Robert Homan)
An afternoon walk around the nature trail produced at least 15 singing Chiffchaffs but just one Willow Warbler. Many Peacock butterflies and a few early Orange Tips and one Speckled Wood. Large numbers of Cuckoo flowers Cardamine pratense along the rides with some flowers visited by bee flies (Bombylius major).
Cuckoo Flowers Cardamine pratense, Highnam Woods, April 2007, Robert Homan
Leigh Meadows (5 April, contributed by Mike Smart)
It was all a bit quiet: two or three Grey Herons, many pairs of Mallards looking as though they had nests somewhere close, two Shelducks. It seems better not to comment on potential breeding waders as you never know what malevolent souls might be looking at websites. The biggest thrill was a sizeable flock of Fieldfares, about 400 in all with a very tiny number of Redwings, collecting at dusk at the tops of willows as they often do before going to roost in winter; at this time of year it seems more likely that they migrants about to set off for Scandinavia. I understand Andy Jayne had a flock of about 260 at Hasfield Ham.
Cleeve Hill (5 April, contributed by Robert Homan)
4 Ring Ouzels this morning in the SE corner of SO9825 where the Cotswold Way leaves the common. 100 Fieldfares in and around the beech wood on the Bill Smyllie Reserve.
Collinpark Wood (2 April, contributed by Robert Homan)
A great deal to see and listen to this afternoon at this GWT reserve. All three species of woodpecker heard calling and/or drumming; parts of the wood are carpeted with Wood Anemones and male Brimstone butterflies were patrolling the more open rides. Mines of Ectoedemia atrifrontella were present in the stems of young oaks - this is an unusual micromoth which mines the bark of young oak growth, typically on the warm, south side of the trees. (If you are tempted to go, note that the road via Upleadon Court is closed between Upleadon and Oridge Street near the A417)
Ectoedemia atrifrontella mine in oak (left) and fungus (right), tentatively identified as Trametes versicolor, Collinpark Wood, April 2007, Robert Homan
Cheltenham (1 April, contributed by Robert Homan)
A complete surprise today was this Orange Underwing in Swindon Lane. This is a species of day flying moth usually associated with birch woodlands. There are some birch trees in my garden, but this individual was a long way from its known haunts.
Orange Underwing, April 2007, Robert Homan
Severn Hams (31 March, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
For birdwatchers, as for weather forecasters, life is governed by ridges and troughs. Today was distinctly a day of lows, perhaps because of the cool northeast breeze.
At Coombe Hill: one Little Egret, Mute Swan female incubating by the Wharf (eggs seen during the week – another global warming indicator?), 23 Shelduck, 250 Teal, only 2 Wigeon (looks as though most have departed), 25 Shoveler, one Peregrine (the small unstreaked adult male, sitting on the grass), only two Lapwings (sharp decrease and no sign of display), four Redshank, one Curlew, four Snipe, no Jack Snipe, about three Chiffchaffs singing. No sign of recent Ospreys, LRPs, Blackwits, White Wagtails.
At Ashleworth (where several boards were removed from the sluice, so that water levels will drop in the next few days), one pair of Mute Swans incubating, a second pair mating, still 40 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 50 Shoveler, a Peregrine flying over (same one?), three Blackwits actually swimming, first Swallow, a Treecreeper singing.
Severn Hams (28 March, contributed by Mike Smart)
An evening visit to Coombe Hill, now the clocks have gone forward; it is often interesting at this time of year to see what birds turn up at dusk to roost.
No sign of yesterday’s Black-tailed Godwits, which strengthens the argument that they were passing migrants, in a hurry to reach Icelandic breeding sites. However a first Little Ringed Plover and a White Wagtail were noted among a group of Pied by Laurence Skipp. Otherwise up to a dozen Curlews and eight Shelducks coming in to roost from the surrounding fields.
At Ashleworth, Laurence observed an Osprey perched on a dead tree at 7.00pm, recalling last year’s observation of a passing bird at Coombe Hill on 31 March 2006. This year’s Ashleworth bird took off at 7.15pm and flew off in the direction of Coombe Hill, but was never observed at Coombe Hill. It probably turned north along the Severn like the 2006 bird.
Ashleworth (27 March, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
There are many spring flowers now appearing. One of the early joys is Rue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga tridactylites), which is only about two inches high, but very lovely, with its neat three-fingered leaves and tiny white flower. In Ashleworth it grows on wall tops, so even though it is so small it can be examined with little difficulty.
Rue-leaved Saxifrage, March 2007, Juliet Bailey
Coombe Hill (27 March, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
Foggy today with several hours spent in the Grundon Hide, peering into mist.
The most interesting observation was of a flock of 32 Black-tailed Godwits at very close range: there have been several observations of flocks of 30-40 Black-tailed Godwits in the last ten days at Walmore, Coombe Hill and Ashleworth; our immediate reaction was to assume that these were part of the same flock, hanging around in the area. But their behaviour suggested otherwise: very anxious and nervous, and feeding extremely actively, as though famished; constant low-pitched chattering with plumage held in display mode – tail spread, back and wing feathers puffed up; everything suggested a recently arrived group of migrants; so perhaps there is a constant turnover of "Icelandic Godwits", passing though on their way to the breeding grounds.
Otherwise: a Little Egret, 100+ Teal, 40 Wigeon, 15 Lapwings, 4 Redshanks, 1 Water Rail, 1 Sand Martin.
Cooper's Hill Wood Field Meeting (24 March, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
Under the leadership of the county bryologist Peter Martin, a select band of members enjoyed the mosses and liverworts of Cooper's Hill Wood, recording some 50 species including the local speciality Oxyrrhynchium schleicheri (Eurhynchium schleicheri) seen here in the foreground with the much commoner Eurhynchium striatum behind.
Mosses at Cooper's Hill Wood, March 2007, Juliet Bailey
Severn Hams (24 March, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
The Severn continues to drop. Floods have fallen almost everywhere on the Severn Hams. Bird-wise it was a rather quiet day.
Coombe Hill: Duck numbers are down considerably: 200 Teal, 100 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 40 Shoveler, but 68 Shelducks; 34 Lapwings (some display), 2 Redshank, 1 Curlew (display), 5 Dunlin, 4 Snipe, at least 60 Coot, 3 Chiffchaffs singing.
Leigh Meadows: no sign of the Whoopers – looks as though they have left.
Ashleworth: 200 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 30 Pintail, 50 Shoveler, 10 Tufted Ducks.
Coombe Hill Meadows (22 March, contributed by Andy Jayne)
An interesting late afternoon with 74 Shelduck, two Dunlin, 45 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Curlew, six Redshank, an adult Little Gull and a first-winter Kittiwake!
Severn Hams (20 March, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
Floodwaters continue to drop and the Grundon Hide at Coombe Hill is now just accessible with Wellingtons and caution!
The ancient Black Poplar by the entrance from the canal bank to the meadows has been brought down by the gales of the last couple of days. There was a fine spectacle today with lots of birds on the remaining shallow floodwater: about 1,500 ducks including some 1,000 Wigeon and 310 Pintail; 32 Shelducks (plus another 18 at the Cobney Meadows end). 38 Black-tailed Godwits ( a few in breeding plumage), at least 34 Lapwings, all in breeding plumage and beginning to display, 5 Redshanks; one Sand Martin and at least two Chiffchaffs singing.
At Ashleworth, the floodwater has almost gone: the three Whoopers are still hanging on (a late date, they have generally left by now, but the cold northerly winds are probably delaying their departure), a few hundred duck (mostly Wigeon), seven Lapwing displaying and 3 Snipe.
The Coombe Hill Black Poplar in its glory days, December 2003, Juliet Bailey
Sudmeadow (20 March, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Peregrine over the area mid-morning today and a belated first Chiffchaff in song near the river.
Hay and Betty Daw's Woods (18 March, contributed by Robert Homan)
The wild daffodils in the area north west of Newent are providing a magnificent show this year. However, the return of cold weather with hail and sleet showers reduced the amount of bird activity. More Chiffchaffs were singing from Betty Daw's Wood and the disused canal cutting south of Dymock. A flock of 20 Redwings in the pasture opposite Gwen and Vera's Fields
Gwen and Vera's Fields, March 2007, Robert Homan
Severn Hams (18 March, contributed by Andy Jayne)
At Walmore Common during the morning there were 15 Shelduck, 100 Teal, adult female Peregrine, two Jack Snipe, 80 Snipe, one Black-tailed Godwit and two adult Mediterreanean Gulls.
In the afternoon, the three adult Whooper Swans were at Ashleworth Ham and there were 440 Pintail and a first-winter Mediterranean Gull at Hasfield Ham.
Stow-on-the-Wold (17 March, contributed per Mary Palfrey)
A Red Kite seen near the Tesco supermarket today.
Cheltenham (17 March, contributed by Robert Homan)
The number of Chiffchaffs has crept up during the week with 1 heard singing from gardens at the rear of St George's Road near the town centre yesterday (16th) and 3 singing along the Honeybourne Cycle Path at lunchtime today.
A Comma flying in Swindon Lane in today's afternoon sunshine.
Walmore Common (16 March, contributed by Andy Jayne)
A morning visit produced 38 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Little Egrets.
Severn Hams (13 March, contributed by Mike Smart)
The River Severn has gone down considerably and floodwater levels on the meadows are dropping, but more slowly than in the river; the water on the flood plain takes a long time to clear once the Severn has overtopped its banks. This is rather frustrating as most areas are still inaccessible.
Coombe Hill is still inaccessible from the Wharf car park; you can admire the hide (water still up to floor level) from a distance on the high ground by Deerhurst Walton: a few Wigeon and Pintail round the edges; some Tufted Ducks and four Curlews.
Ashleworth is still deeply flooded; the hide is inaccessible from the road, but can be reached from footpaths over the higher ground at the back: there was no sign of the Whoopers, but they could be almost anywhere; 2 Shelducks, a few Pintail and Tufted Ducks. Many Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming and a burst of rather uncertain Chiffchaff song as though the bird was trying it out for the first time. A Blackcap in subsong.
Cheltenham (12 March, contributed by Robert Homan)
A Chiffchaff singing at the north end of the Honeybourne Cycle Path this morning.
Betty Daw's Woods (11 March, contributed by David Anderson)
The daffodils are providing a good display in both Betty Daw's Wood and at Gwen and Vera's Fields. Betty Daw's Wood also had two Chiffchaffs singing with a third, shown below, moving through the trees. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen in the woods adjacent to Gwen and Vera's Fields.
Chiffchaff and Daffodils, Betty Daw's Wood, March 2007 (D Anderson)
River Severn (11 March, contributed by Robert Homan)
The river level has fallen in the last 24 hours, but most of the flood plain between Tewkesbury and Gloucester is still under deep water. As Mike Smart's recent contributions suggest, the extent of the flooding offers a real challenge to the bird watcher and little could be seen in the Deerhurst/Haw Bridge area today apart from a few Canada Geese and Mute Swans on the isolated patches of green. The Haw Bridge road is open to all traffic, but the roads to Wainlode, Ashleworth Ham and Tirley Church are all closed at their junctions with the B4213 and are impassable immediately beyond these points.
Left: Chaceley Stock from Deerhurst, Right: The car park at Odda's Chapel, Deerhurst, March 2007 (R Homan).
The flood plain north of Haw Bridge, March 2007 (R Homan).
Sudmeadow (10 March, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A pair of Mandarin on the River Severn just below the weir today. This is the first record since April 2002.
Severn Hams (9 March, contributed by Mike Smart and Hichem Azafzaf)
Water levels are even higher today and are approaching November 2000 levels. The main road to Ledbury is closed at Maisemore, the Haw Bridge road is impassable except by lorries and tractors.
Near Tirley, a Red Kite was seen soaring, spotted by Mr Hichem Azafzaf from Tunisia (co-author of Birds of Tunisia).
Ashleworth: the hide can be reached by the footpath from the high ground behind: a flock of water birds on water’s edge below Great House at Hasfield included the three Whoopers, about 150 Wigeon grazing on the edge and about 75 Canada Geese.
Tewkesbury (9 March, contributed per Mary Palfrey)
A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was seen today feeding from the flowers of Daphne odora in a Tewkesbury garden. This is a significant record of a species which normally regarded as migrant during the summer months. However, such an observation suggests that the moth has been able to hibernate successfully and has been induced to feed by the recent warmer day time temperatures. Until now the occasional record of a hibernating insect has been confined to the South West Peninsula.
Severn Hams (6 March, contributed by Mike Smart)
The Severn continues to rise and is overtopping its banks in several places, thus causing much deeper flooding on riverside meadows. Current high tides are aggravating the situation. The road over Haw Bridge (B 4213) is still open.
Leigh Meadows: River Chelt has broken its banks in so many places that there is a single water surface covering the whole area: 3 Whooper Swans asleep on one of the few bits of bank emerging from the water, Curlew (surprisingly) bubbling still. The Red Lion road closed.
Coombe Hill: water is now covering the canal banks from the Wharf car park onwards, so that even the canal banks are inaccessible; The Grundon Hide (viewed from afar at Deerhurst Walton) has water nearly up to lowest window. Two Mute Swans are still looking hopefully at a nesting site by the Wharf where a Blackcap was in subsong, and a Curlew bubbling somewhere in the distance.
Ashleworth Ham: the Ham Road is closed, and the hide inaccessible from the road; the river bank from Haw Bridge is still passable, though water is coming over the top in places; water levels on surrounding meadows have risen by a metre and a half since Saturday, so there is little unflooded land: 15 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe on one remaining bit of setaside (but no Short-eared Owls!); some ducks on floodwater including at least 150 Pintail. Many ducks have gone to Longdon Marsh, just over the border in Worcestershire, where flooding is less extreme: there were about 500 surface feeding ducks (including 330 Pintail), 5 Curlew and a singing Corn Bunting.
Standish (6 March, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
In my sheltered back garden, I watched a Red Admiral nectaring on Daphne and Primula, and then sunning itself. This is not my first Red Admiral of the year; I saw one nectaring on Viburnum at Ashleworth on 3 February, but did not have a camera handy. The books mostly state that this is a migratory butterfly, unable to over-winter here, with large numbers only arriving in late May or June. One of the more recent books, the Millenium Atlas (2001) says that such early sightings may indeed be over-wintering individuals. So if the world is really hotting up, Red Admirals on Daphne may be an increasingly
common sight.
Red Admiral, Standish, March 2007 (J Bailey)
Severn Hams (3 March, contributed by Mike Smart)
The River Severn continues its yo-yo changes in water levels, up again since last week end, and still rising. Meanwhile, water on riverside meadows cannot escape, and they have been almost permanently under water since the end of November.
Coombe Hill: water higher, both hides still completely inaccessible, canal bank still just passable. Not many ducks on open water, but 200+ Teal, 20 Tufted, 2 Shelduck, 120 Lapwings, 3 Dunlin, 3 Ruff, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Redshank (first of spring), 2 Curlews, and last year’s pair of Mute Swans prospecting nest site.
Leigh Meadows: water very high and the River Chelt breaking its banks: 20 Mute Swans (non-breeding flock), 3 Whooper Swans (quite difficult to find of late, hidden below bank of river), 20 Shelducks, 150 Wigeon and 50 Pintail.
Ashleworth Ham: A lot more water on Ham Road, hide only just accessible; no green grass visible on the reserve, all under water. 4 Shelducks, Wigeon and Pintail dotted over floodwater, 5 Snipe on setaside by river, 1 Chiffchaff singing from Meerend Thicket by hide.
No sign of Bewick’s anywhere.
Churchdown (2 March, contributed by Ingrid Twissell)
A Red Kite over the centre of Churchdown in the morning, mobbed by a corvid.
Standish (1 March, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
Continuing the theme of colour variation on from the Winchcombe white blackbird, there seems to be a gene around here for white-flowered Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum). Last year I saw several white plants on the roadside verge, and this year I have a white flowered red deadnettle in my garden. Only one, though, of the tens of thousands that are in bloom now. I have never noticed this colour Red Dead-nettle elsewhere, though white forms of plants are not uncommon, and the botanists' field guide, Stace, says "corolla usually pinkish-purple".
White-flowered Red Dead-nettle, Standish, March 2007 (J Bailey)
Severn Hams (27 February, contributed by Mike Smart, Les Brown and David Anderson)
The River Severn level continues to drop, but very slowly, so that water cannot flow off the meadows. So, with recent rain, flood levels at both Coombe Hill and Ashleworth have risen slightly since last weekend. No sign of Bewick’s today.
Great Hay Meadow, Twyning on Sunday 25 February: a very early Wheatear seen by Les Brown.
The main interest today was an influx of waders, presumably moving up the Severn towards breeding sites further north.
Coombe Hill: both hides totally inaccessible, birds visible from canal towpath: 2 Shelducks, 300+ Teal, other surface feeding ducks less numerous and probably spread widely; 30 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 120 Lapwing, 19 Curlew, 4 Ruff, 2 Dunlin.
Leigh Meadows: extensive flooding, can be viewed from Wainlodes Hill: 3 Whooper Swans, 26 Mute Swans, 26 Shelduck, 50 Pintail.
Ashleworth: floods extensive on meadows but roads free of water, hides easily accessible. 75 Pintail, 1 Oystercatcher, 5 Black-tailed Godwits (only one showing any sign of summer plumage).
Sudmeadow (24 February, contributed by Gordon Avery)
There were 3 Stonechats by the Lower Parting today, 1m & 2f. All but one of the Snipe have moved on.
Severn Hams (24 February, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
The River Severn remains high, and water levels have not dropped at all in the riverside meadows.
The main feature was movement of Bewick’s Swans presumably departing migrants: flock of 35 flew north over Coombe Hill, very high at 07.40am, in V formation and calling, going north east following the line of A38 and M5; then four birds, three adults and a cygnet, flew in at about 08.30am, landed on floodwater at Coombe Hill, fed for a while, then flew off to west at 09.45am, and not seen again. There were another four, all adults found on floodwater on Cobney Meadows, south of canal, feeding and not moving.
Coombe Hill: flooding is still extensive, and both hides are still completely inaccessible. Viewing still possible from canal bank however: 2 Little Grebes whinnying, 2 Great Crested Grebes on floodwater, 2 Shelducks, 350+ Teal, 350+ Wigeon, 6 Curlews (calling and bubbling) and at least 5 Reed Buntings singing.
Leigh Meadows (from the hill at Wainlodes, flooding extensive): 3 adult Whooper Swans, 9 Shelducks, 50+ Pintail.
Ashleworth: flooding very extensive, hides along roadside easily accessible. 60+ Pintail, 7 Snipe, 1 Stonechat.
Severn Hams (20 February, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
The Severn level has dropped by a metre since Sunday, but tides are high (9.8m tide at Sharpness this morning and one of the biggest bores of the year), so the water keeps getting pushed back upriver. In any case the river level still hasn’t dropped enough to let water flow off the meadows at Coombe Hill and Ashleworth yet, so floods remain extensive.
At Coombe Hill, the hides are still inaccessible, but you can see birds from the canal bank: at least 1,000 ducks this morning, with about 500 Wigeon, an absolute minimum of 300 Teal and probably many more, all hidden in the Long Pool as the air was full of their calls; Little Grebe still whinnying, and a couple of Curlew were taking up territory and doing their bubbling display call.
At Walmore, no Bewick’s, though there are reports of up to 20 in the last few days. About 425 Teal on light flooding, 160 Lapwing, 1 Little Egret.
At Rodley (Wilmer Common) however, 19 Bewick’s (6 cygnets – two families of three) probably the ones missing from Walmore; three of them had darvic rings, in all cases birds that have been about all winter and not birds that have wintered further west on their return migration. Also 37 Shelducks on farmland.
On the Leigh Meadows, three adult Whoopers and a Stonechat.
Winchcombe (19 February, contributed by Thelma Mallard)
This spectacularly marked Blackbird has been recorded in a Winchcombe garden for well over a year. The photograph was in part a response to a recent article in a national paper concerning a similarly marked individual in South Devon said to be "one of a kind."
Blackbird, Winchcombe, February 2007 (T Mallard)
Sudmeadow (19 February, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A good total of 22 Snipe this afternoon in the marsh, the largest number for many years.
Severn Hams (18 February, contributed by Mike Smart)
The Severn is still high, so smaller streams such as the Chelt continue back-flooding. At Coombe Hill, the hides remain inaccessible, but birds can be observed from the canal bank: still a fair number of ducks on the floodwater, with at least 300 Teal, several hundred Wigeon, 20 Shoveler and 30 Pintail: there were some signs of spring with at least two Little Grebes whinnying, at least two Curlews bubbling (very early for this) and at least three Reed Buntings singing.
There was fairly widespread flooding on Leigh Meadows as well: one Shelduck, three Stonechats, 8 Gadwall, 60 Lapwings and a flock of 15 Pied Wagtails and 25 Meadow Pipits with a couple of Reed Buntings, probably migrants, feeding in flooded fields.
The floods were also extensive at Ashleworth, but the hide is easily accessible; about 12 Tufted Ducks, usual Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pintail.
No sign of the Whooper Swans, though they have been seen in the last week and no Bewick’s.
Cheltenham (17 and 18 February, contributed by Robert Homan)
A male Blackcap in full song in Swindon Lane on both mornings.
Sudmeadow (12 February, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Woodcock was in the osier bed this afternoon, the first here since January 2004.
Cheltenham (12 February, contributed by Robert Homan)
The bright floodlights around the Prince of Wales Stadium induced 6 Robins and a male Blackbird to sing this evening at 6.45 along the Honeybourne Cyclepath.
Standish (8 February, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
Today brought the first snow of the winter to the Vale. Many birds were feeding on the grassland of old air field, including Golden Plover (flock of 80 seen overhead), Lapwing, Common and Black headed gulls, Fieldfare and Redwing.
Sudmeadow (6 February, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Water Rail was seen in the marsh today.
Cheltenham (5 February, contributed by Robert Homan)
A Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage was an unlikely visitor to the River Chelt in the Royal Well area of Cheltenham town centre this morning.
Sudmeadow (5 February, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Green Sandpiper was seen in flight over Sudmeadow this afternoon.
Gloucester Hospital (3 and 5 February, contributed by Rob Purveur)
A female Peregrine Falcon was present on the 3rd February and a male bird was there on the 5th.
Sudmeadow (4 February, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A pair of Stonechats were by Lower Parting today.
Woorgreens, Forest of Dean (4 February, contributed by Robert Homan)
5 Goosanders, including 4 males, on the lake today. A male Brambling feeding in the larch plantation to the north of the lake.
Severn Hams (2 February, contributed by Mike Smart)
On World Wetland Day (36th anniversary of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetland of international importance): water levels are dropping everywhere and are nearly back down to normal, non-flooded winter levels.
Ashleworth at first light: about 60 Canada Geese roosting and a total of about 1200-1500 ducks, many over on Hasfield side, the majority Wigeon, but a couple of hundred Teal, 70 Shoveler, 50 Pintail, 13 Tufted duck, 2 Shelduck. Six (!) Whoopers flew off from Hasfield early, heading northwest: a group of six Whooper Swans were seen later on Hasfild Ham, all apparently adults and all definitely not ringed. They may have been the same six, but it is just possible there is a total of twelve in the area; the six Hasfield birds flew off towards Coombe Hill at 09.00.
Walmore Common 11.00-12.00: the floods have almost disappeared. There were no Bewick’s Swans, about 500 Teal, 2 Shelduck, 1 Pintail, 1 Stonechat and about 25 Meadow Pipits.
Standish (31 January, contributed by Juliet Bailey)
I heard the first blackbird song of the year today at dusk at the end of a fine warm day. He was perched on the apex of the roof overlooking the garden, and though possibly not at full belt, this was not sub-song and it was audible from some distance away above the sound of the rush-hour traffic. Last year (which was much colder) the earliest date I heard a blackbird singing in the garden was 1 March. According to 'The Blackbird' by A F Hillstead (1944) "although from time to time there are reports that it has been heard in January and December, I have no full song recorded before February or after August."
Severn Hams (30 January, contributed by Les Brown)
The flooding in the Coombe Hill and Ashleworth areas has continued for most of the month of January, and has only just begun to drop. The Ham Road at Ashleworth is now open and the hide accessible; at Coombe Hill, the Grundon hide is still inaccessible today, but the road past the Red Lion at Wainlodes is now open.
The four Whooper Swans have been difficult to find, because of the vast extent of open water; all four were rediscovered in the Haw Bridge area on 23 January, where they had probably been lurking all the time. Today they were visible from the Ashleworth hide, though a long way off and quite difficult to see behind lines of flooded hedgerow and vegetation. No sign of Bewick’s Swans at either Ashleworth or Coombe Hill for the last two weeks. Still just over 1,000 ducks at Coombe Hill today, with 800 Wigeon and at least 220 Pintail.
Rodley and Walmore (28 January, contributed by Andy Jayne)
Two Jack Snipe, 15 Snipe and four Stonechats at Rodley near Longney Crib. Plenty of wildfowl at Walmore, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Gloucester (26 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Short-eared Owl being mobbed by corvids and gulls over Hucclecote Meadows NR, Gloucester at 11.47am and a single Stonechat seen on Port Ham this afternoon.
Sherbourne (21 January, contributed by Robert Homan)
Wildfowl on Sherbourne Brook included Mallard, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wigeon (c.100) and Little Grebe. In Sherbourne Park naturalised Snowdrops, Winter Aconites and even 1 Daffodil were in flower. Signs of winter were 24 7-spot Ladybirds (Coccinella 7-punctata) hibernating in clusters of 2-4 in the junctions of branches on elder bushes and 103 Orange Ladybirds (Halyzia 16-guttata) hibernating in clusters of upto 12 on a beech tree.
Hibernating Orange Ladybirds, Sherbourne Park, January 2007 (R Homan)
Sharpness Docks (21 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)
Early in the afternoon there was a adult male Peregrine on the silo box and a Rock Pipit on the grass near the Post Office. However, there was no sign of any Black Redstarts.
Frampton and Fretherne (20 January, contributed by Robert Homan)
A Red Admiral was flying in early afternoon sunshine along the Severn Way near Fretherne canal bridge. In the woods above Hock Cliff, Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) and Spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola) were in the flower. (The latter is noted at this site in the Supplement to the Flora of Gloucestershire). About mid-way between Fretherne Church and the canal swing bridge there was a flock of c.20 Little Egrets.
Spurge-laurel, Hock Cliff, January 2007 (R Homan)
Cheltenham (16 January, contributed by Robert Homan)
More effects of the mild January weather, so far, were evident today with a Peacock butterfly in flight over the Winston Churchill Memorial Gardens in the Lower High Street at lunchtime. More Lesser Celandines in flower - these along the Honeybourne Cyclepath and a very early record of the adventive micro-moth Epiphyas postvittana on the kitchen window at home this evening.
Walmore (15 January, contributed by Andy Jayne)
At Walmore Common today: 12 (3imm) Bewick's Swan, 43 Canada Goose, four Shelduck, 80 Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, 200 Teal, 16 Pintail, six Shoveler, three Little Egrets, a Peregrine and six Stonechats.
Severn Hams (14 January, contributed by Mike Smart)
The Severn continues to rise and to overtop its banks, and so the flood levels in the meadows have risen sharply even since yesterday, and are much deeper than in December. The floodbank on the Coombe Hill side is slightly lower, so that water comes over more easily, and the Severn and floodwater on Coombe Hill meadows are now at the same level; at the Grundon Hide at Coombe Hill, which can be viewed from overlooking high ground at Deerhurst Walton, the water now comes nearly half way up the hide, nearly to the lowest window slit; it will be a long time before this hide is accessible on foot again, as the floods on the meadows will drop more slowly than the river level. On the Ashleworth side, the water on the meadows is slightly lower than the river level, but still covers nearly all land in the area.
At Walmore (where water levels are also high, but not as high as in December) between 13h00 and 14h00, 5 Grey Herons, 12 Bewick’s Swans (notes on rings read below), 17 Mutes, 300 Wigeon, 1 Stonechat.
A walk along the Severn riverbank south of Haw Bridge in the late afternoon produced two Short-eared Owls, flushed from about the only unflooded bit of setaside / rough ground left; one flew across the Severn and landed in an oak; sharing the patch of rough ground were 25 Meadow Pipits, 10 Skylarks and 40 Pied Wagtails, no doubt preparing to roost.
Bewick’s at Walmore: the 12 birds were first seen sitting on floodwater on field E; they then flew over to field D, which is slightly higher and has been reseeded, and was the only field of reseeded grass still emergent; they fed happily there. There were three cygnets, keeping close company with two adults, both ringed, presumably their parents. None of the other nine were ringed; at least one was a yearling.
Cheltenham (14 January, contributed by Robert Homan)
A female Blackcap in Swindon Lane this morning - the first for this winter and a rather late date. Are there fewer over-wintering Blackcaps around?
Severn Hams (13 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
The rivers continue to rise and the floods to extend across the Severn and Avon Vales, and the water is now deeper than it was in December. The Severn is still rising and overtopping its banks in several places, both above and below Haw Bridge. As a result there has been a rapid rise in levels in the and several roads closed: Red Lion to Wainlodes, Tirley to Ashleworth, Tirley to Chaceley all impassable. Water is pouring under the causeways leading to Haw Bridge on the meadows side.
The hides at Coombe Hill are totally inaccessible, and the Ashleworth hide is only accessible by coming in from the high ground at the back.
This extensive deep flooding is not really attractive to waterbirds and the ducks and geese are very widespread: a couple of hundred Wigeon on the floods at Ashleworth, a few Pintail, about 100 Canada Geese, no sign of Whoopers or Bewick’s Swans.
Most of the ducks seem to have crossed the county boundary into Worcestershire; about 1,100 ducks at Longdon Marsh, five miles north of Ashleworth, including nearly 800 Wigeon and about 250 Pintail, plus 700 Lapwings, all sitting round the grassy edges of a little hump emerging from the floodwater; (no such humps left in the Ashleworth/Coombe Hill area or the Avon valley). This is probably typical of what happens in high flood conditions.
Severn Hams (11 January, contributed by Mike Smart)
A day for hydrology rather than ornithology, with appalling conditions of strong wind and rain. The Severn is rising fast (up a metre since Tuesday), so that local streams were unable to discharge and have flooded the meadows even more. The analogy of a motorway occurred to me: the Severn should go straight through without affecting feeder roads, though there may be congestion on the latter. However, from this morning, the Severn began to break its banks just below Haw Bridge, thereby adding to the floodwater from the River Chelt on the Coombe Hill Meadows; this means that the hides remain inaccessible. The road by the Red Lion is closed; the Ham Road from Tirley to Ashleworth is still open and the hide is just accessible, but for how long? Water is over the road by the GWT Reserve at Chaceley and the reserve itself is covered by a very shallow surface water – how does this affect the haymeadow vegetation? Chaceley Stock is only accessible by tractor. The Severn Ham at Tewkesbury is deep under water, and the valley of the Avon completely flooded from Tewkesbury, past Twyning and Bredon, and up to Eckington; the Bredon-Pershore road is impassable due flooding at Eckington Bridge. It is still not quite as deep as in November 2000, but almost, and it is still rising.
Not much to report birdwise; neither Bewick’s nor Whoopers visible at Coombe Hill or Ashleworth; Mute Swans sitting mainly round the edge of the flood (where they could find an edge!), 16 at Wainlodes and 15 on the Avon above Tewkesbury. A flock of 150 Lapwings on the edge of the flood at Wainlodes. Still appreciable numbers of ducks at Ashleworth, but they didn’t like the wind and waves; maybe 500 Wigeon, 100 Pintail, 5 Tufted; Canada Geese on the flood, not at Tirley Court Lake.
A fair number of ducks (about 500) on Bredon’s Hardwick Gravel Pits (just in Worcs), mainly Wigeon, but about 30 Tufted and Pochard; so deeply flooded that you couldn’t tell the pits weren’t part of the floodplain.
Sudmeadow (10 January, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A pair of Stonechats seen today on Fieldings old playing field, Sudmeadow Road.
Severn Hams (9 January, contributed by Mike Smart, Les Brown, Julia Newth, Colin Butters, Mervyn Greening, David Anderson, et al)
A co-ordinated Bewick’s Swan count in Gloucestershire was made at 09.00 today. All sites that have recently held Bewick’s were covered. The result was a total of 191 (including 28 cygnets), which is pretty much in line with the current total of different individuals identified at Slimbridge so far this winter (260). So, numbers are so far low in this mild winter. Of the 191, 179 were at Slimbridge, 10 at Walmore and the remaining two roosted at Ashleworth before flying over to Coombe Hill. None found at Berkeley or the Leigh Meadows.
The main excitement of the day however was the sighting of not two, but four Whooper Swans, two pairs on the water at Ashleworth; so another pair has joined the birds that have been about since late November. This is in line with events of previous winters, when the first arrivals have often been joined in January with additional birds.
Otherwise, vast extents of water: the Severn is rising again, and so the smaller rivers are unable to discharge into it, so that water is also rising on the meadows. Not a blade of grass to be seen from the Ashleworth hide; the same is no doubt true of the Coombe Hill hides, but you can’t reach them because of the depth of flood water.
Severn Hams (6 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
A typical Gloucestershire winter’s day: low grey clouds, light persistent drizzle for most of the day, wind mild and southwesterly probably originating somewhere in the Sargasso Sea; if this is global warming, it’s very like previous years! Conditions in the Severn Hams reflected the weather; not very good for precision ornithology as binoculars and telescopes were constantly steaming up, water was running down your neck and getting into the gap between sleeve and glove.
The Severn continues to drop, but not enough to allow the water on the meadows to flow away through the outfalls. Water levels still high at Coombe Hill, no question of reaching the hides and the canal bank is under water in places; vast areas of open water with ducks dotted about in the distance. Plenty of ducks about, but very widespread and difficult to assess numbers; the air was full of the sound of Wigeon and Teal calling, still lots of Pintail about; all the surface feeding ducks still doing courtship displays as they have been doing since November; this is logical really as they come into fresh full plumage in about November and so they start courtship rituals and displays straight away. The mild weather and wet conditions must be important for forming and strengthening the pair bond before they leave to breed in the north. Probably 1,000 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 75 Pintail, 40 Shoveler, 6 Tufted, 3 Pochard, a lone Shelduck. No sign of Bewick’s or Whooper swans.
Leigh Meadows: also extensively flooded; the two Whoopers were eventually found there; they later flew over to Ashleworth.
Ashleworth: floods extensive and the reserve can only be surveyed from the hide in Meerend thicket, or from the river bank between Haw Bridge to Ashleworth Quay which is a long walk in the rain, but the light is better; 2 Bewick’s Swan (as yesterday), about 300 Canada Geese, 1 Little Owl; about 15 Snipe and 15 Meadow Pipits on partly flooded setaside fields on slightly higher ground near the river bank; we tried to find a Jack Snipe but failed. Ducks widely spread as at Coombe Hill.
In short absolutely normal observations for the time of year with nothing at all unusual.
Walmore (6 January, contributed by Andy Jayne)
At Walmore Common this morning there were 12 Bewick's, 4 adults on field C2 and 8 including 3 cygnets on field J. The group of 8 flew off south at 09.30. The highlight today though was 6 White-fronted Geese, my first for several years here. Also 1 Greylag, 49 Canada Goose, 1 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 220 Teal and 44 Pintail. I did not count the Wigeon, but there were not many. At Rodley there were 65 Shelduck, two Little Egrets and 250 Lapwing.
Severn Hams (5 January, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
Following the floods in December, the waters went down in the week after Christmas, and the Grundon Hide at Coombe Hill became accessible again. However, in the first few days of the year, the Severn level rose, and the floods recurred at Coombe Hill, Ashleworth, Leigh Meadows, Walmore and Rodley. The river was at its height on Wednesday, and is now dropping, though hardly enough for the floodwater on the meadows to decrease yet; the Grundon hide is inaccessible again.
It looks very much as though the Bewick’s have spread round a bit, with no significant number at Walmore.
At Ashleworth there were two Bewick’s Swans (both adults/yearlings) on the floodwater far off, feeding by sitting on the surface and putting their heads underwater, rather than upending; at least 300 Canada Geese roosting; some ducks, at least 12 Gadwall, but others rather widespread.
At Walmore, five Bewick’s Swans on field C2. All adults/yearlings, again sitting on the floodwater and feeding by putting their heads underwater. There has been a sharp decrease in ducks since last week: about 150 Mallard, 200 Teal, 65 Pintail, 200 Lapwings, 1 Little Egret, 4 Stonechats.
At Rodley, (where water was a good deal higher than it has been in the last month) 74 Shelducks, plus the curious Australian/Paradise Shelduck cross that has been about for some time at various sites, 150 Lapwings, no Little Egret today, lots of gulls.
At Leigh Meadows, Whooper Swans not in view, but they are probably hidden away somewhere in the vast extent of floodwater.
Cheltenham miscellany (early January, contributed by Robert Homan)
In flower along the Honeybourne Cyclepath on 2 January were: Red Clover, Yarrow, Ox-eye Daisy, Oxford Ragwort, White Deadnettle, Groundsel, Herb Robert, Wild Carrot, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Daisy, Stinging Nettle, Smooth Sow-thistle and Bristly Oxtongue. In Pittville Park on 5 January Dandelion, Lesser Celandine and Common Chickweed were in flower.
There were 2 Chiffchaffs at Brockhampton Sewage Works on 4 January and a Kingfisher in Pittville Park on 5 January. The mild weather has had an effect on the Great Crested Grebes in Pittville Park - on 5 January there was a first winter bird, probably the off-spring of breeding in 2006, as well as the usual breeding pair, the female of which is currently sitting on a nest!
Chaceley (1 January, contributed by Robert Homan)
Another record of the rare micro-moth, Celypha woodiana, today with the discovery of a leaf mine in mistletoe near Chaceley. For the purists, the site is in VC 37, although now Gloucestershire. The picture below shows the underside of the leaf with the charactersistic crescent shape of the early stage of the mine.
Celypha woodiana mine in Mistletoe, Chaceley, January 2007 (R Homan)
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