Friday 30th January 2026

Maisemore    On the Leadon Meadows floods a redhead SMEW, 21 Shelducks, 25 Shovelers, 58 Wigeon and 108 Pintails. (Andy Jayne).

Smew by Mike King

WWT Slimbridge     16 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE on the Dumbles. The JACK SNIPE again this morning from Martin Smith hide. Two Water Rails in the rides at the Dragonfly pools, South Finger. On South Lake a MEDITERRANEAN GULL briefly, 16 Cattle Egrets, 161 Black-tailed Godwits and 73 Avocets. From the Estuary Tower a MERLIN briefly sat in the 50-Acre ground before flying towards Splatt Bridge. (Ian Hull/Dot Jones/Oliver Paisey/Jeremy Holland/John Elley).

Jack Snipe by John Elley

Berkeley shore     South of power station this morning 25 Canada Geese, 17 Teal, a pair of Oystercatchers, four Rock Pipits, 30+ Meadow Pipits, six Skylarks, a pair of Stonechats, two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Treecreeper and a Raven. (MK).

Treecreeper by Mike King

Dudbridge     Two Dippers by the sluice next to Redlers clock tower opposite Sainsburys at 8am this morning. Also two Grey Wagtails. (Steve Pullen).

Coombe Hill Meadows     Water levels are increasing so viewed from the Apperley
side. Birds included Canada Geese calling in the distance, 1000+ Wigeon, 2000+ Teal, 50 Mallards, 200+ Pintails, five Shovelers, two Grey Herons, 20 Fieldfares and a Raven. (Mike Smart).

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Thursday 29th January 2026

WWT Slimbridge     The JACK SNIPE again from Martin Smith hide this morning. (Paul Masters).  16 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE on the Dumbles. 85 Bewick’s Swans and 145 White-fronted Geese on site today. The drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL on the Top New Piece from Zeiss hide. A Goshawk in the Four Score viewed from Kingfisher hide. (Slimbridge Sightings).

Nailsworth     A female MERLIN again at Barton End perched on a wall today at 11:45am and present for the rest of the day. (Mark Dowie). A Dipper, a Grey Wagtail and a male Blackcap by Price’s Mill medical centre Nailsworth today. Two pairs of Ravens displaying over Shortwood today. Also three Red Kites, five Buzzards and two Sparrowhawks. (Jon Haw).

Dudbridge     A singing Blackcap in scrub by B&Q today. (Jon Haw).

Cotswold Water Park East     The BLACK-NECKED GREBE again on Horseshoe Lake in the North arm today viewable through the fence opposite the lay-by on the A361. (Tom Mabbett).

Cotswold Water Park West     A GREAT NORTHERN DIVER again on Pit 87 (Shorncote) today. (Neil Smith per Jon Mercer).

Leigh Meadows     This morning 240 Lapwings, 186 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 32 Mallards, two Shelducks, nine Egyptian Geese, six Grey Herons, two Little Egrets, 17 Black-headed Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, ten Herring Gulls, 32 Pied Wagtails, 16 Long-tailed Tits, 40 Redwings, 14 Fieldfares, eight Meadow Pipits, eight Chaffinches, ten Goldfinches, four Stonechats, a pair of Reed Buntings, four Skylarks and a Buzzard. (Shaun Curtis).

Highnam Woods     This morning two Buzzards, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a  Nuthatch, 25 Redwings, 10+ Blackbirds, 15 Long-tailed Tits, 2/3  Marsh Tits at the feeders, a Treecreeper and two Ravens. (Gord Avery).

Cheltenham     A Mandarin back at The Park Campus today. (Jeremy Holland).

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Wednesday 28th January 2026

WWT Slimbridge     Two PENDULINE TITS in a staff only part of the reserve this morning then flew towards the reserve but not relocated. (Oliver Paisey). 14 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE on the Dumbles. A juvenile Goshawk in the trees at the back of Bottom New Piece from Kingfisher hide this afternoon. This morning a Firecrest near Robbie Garnett hide. 85 White-fronted Geese from Van de Bovenkamp hide.  (Slimbridge Sightings). 60+ Black-tailed Godwits on the Tack Piece, 14 Common Cranes on the Dumbles from the Estuary Tower and a male Goldeneye on South Lake. (Paul Clark). 80 Avocets, including a colour-ringed bird, and a Great White Egret from Zeiss hide. (MK/Bridgette King).

White-fronted Goose by Mike King

Goshawk by Steve Money

Cotswold Water Park East     The BLACK-NECKED GREBE on Horseshoe Lake in the North arm today viewable through the fence opposite the lay-by on the A361. (Roberta Goodall/Andy Jayne). 31 White-fronted Geese on Pit 114 today. Numerous ducks included 43 Pintails, 14 Goldeneyes and a Goosander. Also a Blackcap, a Treecreeper and 30 Siskins. Nearby, 48 Red Crested Pochards at Pit 127 . (Andy Jayne).

Nailsworth     A female MERLIN today at Barton End, perched on a wall and briefly chasing a Skylark. It stayed for 90 minutes c200m from the road. (Chris Newton).

Merlin by Chris Newton

Wotton-Under-Edge     In Westridge Wood four Goldcrests, a male Bullfinch, a Marsh Tit, two Siskins, three Coal Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. (Chris Newton).

Goldcrest by Chris Newton

Forest of Dean     At Cannop top pond ten Goosanders (5 m, 5 redheads), another male and two redheads on lower pond.  At least nine Mandarins (6m, 3f) on floodwater at the E side of the access track. Also a Raven and a Grey Wagtail. Birds at the feed table included 1+ Coal Tit, a Marsh Tit and a Nuthatch. (Andy & Sue Gibbons/Martin Price). A brief Hawfinch sighting at Parkend. (Martin Price).

Frampton pools     This morning 17 Cattle Egrets, two Great White Egrets, three Stonechats, 15 Reed Buntings, three Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, two Cetti’s Warblers, two Grey Wagtails, 25 Song Thrushes, six Mistle Thrushes, 150+ Redwings, 30+ Fieldfares, 72 Tufted Ducks, 34 Gadwalls, 32 Mallards, 38 Shovelers, a Pochards, 23 Mute Swan and 184 Coots. (Nick Goatman).

Leckhampton Hill     On the footpath from the Scout hut to Daisybank, a Green Woodpecker, a Blackcap and ten Redwings, one singing for 5 minutes. (Steve Brown).

Stroud     Around Fromehall pond (Lodgemore Lake) a Dipper, a Little Grebe, a drake Mandarin and a female Muntjac. (Paul Sutton). A Cormorant in a tree overhanging the canal near Capel’s Mill, near Waitrose today at 1pm. (Graham Bullivant).

Dipper by Paul Sutton

Cormorant by Graham Bullivant
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Tuesday 27th January 2026

WWT Slimbridge     16 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE on the Dumbles this morning. A MERLIN on the cross fence viewed from Estuary Tower and a Little Stint on the Dumbles. (Ian Ralphs). Also a Sanderling. (Paul Rich). This afternoon a JACK SNIPE from Martin Smith hide. (Steve Venn).

Saul Warth     At high tide early afternoon 15 Shelducks, two Curlews, a Kestrel, 25 Pied Wagtails, 20 Fieldfares, 12 Redwings, 18 Chaffinches and ten Skylarks. 30 Cattle Egrets and 18 Little Egrets opposite the parking at the Fretherne end of Hock Ditch. (MK).

Cattle Egrets by Mike King
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Monday 26th January 2026

Cotswold Water Park East     The BLACK-NECKED GREBE on Horseshoe Lake in the North arm today viewable through the fence opposite the lay-by on the A361. (Chris Mabon/Les Ditchburn).

Cotswold Water Park West    At Cerney Wick at Pit 201 this afternoon, 20+ White-fronted Geese, a female Marsh Harrier, an adult Great Black-backed Gull and a Great White Egret. (Duncan Dine).

WWT Slimbridge     A drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL from Zeiss hide today. A MEDITERRANEAN GULL and 83 Avocets on South Lake. An Oystercatcher from Estuary Tower. (Ian Hull). A Great White Egret from the Kingfisher hide this afternoon. (Martin Price).

Slimbridge    Two WHOOPER SWANS again on the moor S of Shepherds Patch bridge on the far side of the canal at SO717037 at lunchtime but viewing difficult through the hedgerow. (Mark Dowie).

Whooper Swans by Mark Dowie

Berkeley shore    From Berkeley Power Station to Severn House Farm and beyond. Birds included four Shelducks, 25 Wigeon, 12 Turnstones, 11 Lapwings, four Curlews, six Dunlins, nine Snipe, 25 Redshanks, four Rock Pipits, three Meadow Pipits, a Raven, three Skylarks and three Blackcaps. (Paul Masters/MK).

Lydney    Around Lydney Harbour and Marsh 20 Tufted Ducks, two Great Crested Grebes, 46 Lapwings, 30 Snipe, two Sparrowhawks, two Ravens, two Cetti’s Warblers, a Grey Wagtail, four Bullfinches and 40+ Siskins. From Lydney to Guscar Rocks three Turnstones, two Jack Snipe, 18 Snipe, 34 Redshanks, two Little Egrets, 11 Stonechats and two Rock Pipits. (Andy Jayne).

Highnam Woods     This lunchtime a Sparrowhawk, a Raven, three Marsh Tits and three Mistle Thrushes. (Nigel Sluman).

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Sunday 25th January 2026

WWT Slimbridge     12 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE on the Dumbles today. A Firecrest in bushes between the Peng Observatory and the new gate. 17 Ruff on the Tack Piece. (Slimbridge Sightings). A drake Goldeneye on South Lake. (Oliver Paisey). A Water Rail from Zeiss hide. (Molly Gould).

Cotswold Water Park East     A female-type Marsh Harrier on Pit 131 with orange/black wing tags probably 3H. Also two Great White Egrets. (Duncan Dine).

Hazleton    Today c50 BRAMBLINGS and c10 Corn Buntings behind the usual 5-bar gate at SP 07438 18721. (Nick Truby/Mark Hobson/Kev Heath/Kyle Smith).

Brambling by Nick Truby

Corn Bunting by Nick Truby

Forest of Dean     A  Hawfinch at Parkend. At Cannop ponds a Coal Tit, a Marsh Tit, a Nuthatch, six Goosanders, two Mandarins, a Kingfisher, ten Little Grebes, a Grey Wagtail, three Ravens and a Buzzard. (Karle Burford).

Berkeley shore     This morning two Turnstones, 14 Dunlins, two Lapwings, 60 Common Gulls, 6+ Rock Pipits, 12 Meadow Pipits, five Skylarks and nine Linnets. (Oliver Paisey/MK).

Chedworth    A Hawfinch, two Marsh Tits, c60 Skylarks, a few Red Kites, c20 Fieldfares, a Treecreeper, a Nuthatch and a Grey Wagtail today. (Tom Mabbett).

Prestbury     A male Brambling with a small flock of Chaffinches in the hedges below Noverton Farm paddocks. (Ken Heron).

Whaddon     Between Whaddon and Brookthorpe, on the N side of the A4173, a Red Kite fairly low at 2:30pm. (Ian Elphick).

Wotton-Under-Edge     A Yellowhammer amongst the Chaffinch flock in the field at Westridge Woods this morning. (Tim Thompson).

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Saturday 24th January 2026

Cotswold Water Park East     A drake RING-NECKED DUCK at E end of Pit 114 at 12:15pm, plus c1800 ducks of ten species, mainly 1000+ Teal and including six Goldeneyes, two Goosanders, 40+ Pintails and 90+ Red Crested Pochards. Also 2 Egyptian Geese. The BLACK-NECKED GREBE still at Horseshoe Lake in the North arm earlier this morning viewable through the fence opposite the lay-by on the A361. (Peter Jackson).

WWT Slimbridge     16 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE on the Dumbles. Four Little Stints on the Tack Piece. (Ian Ralphs/Tom Mabbett). 38 Bewick’s Swans on the Rushy at 9am. 20+ Siskins along the Estuary Tower walkway, a Great White Egret from Kingfisher Hide and five Lesser Redpolls near the pond zone. (Paul Clark). 94 Avocets and 93 Black-tailed Godwits on South Lake. (Jeanne Vitkovskis).

Berkeley shore     Early morning seven Turnstones, 20 Dunlins, nine Curlews, nine Wigeon, 6+ Rock Pipits, six Meadow Pipits, three Skylarks, a male Stonechat, two Ravens, 1+ Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff and two Siskins. (MK). In the afternoon the WATER PIPIT again, Turnstones increased to 15, 15+ Teal and a Green Woodpecker. (Oliver Paisey).

Turnstone by Mike King

Rock Pipit by Mike King

Siskin by Mike King

Maisemore    At the Leadon Meadow 50 Shelducks, 21 Shovelers, 33 Gadwalls, 46 Wigeon, 124 Pintails, 175 Teal, a male Tufted Duck and three Little Egrets. (Andy Jayne).

Leigh Meadows     This morning birds included 21 Canada Geese, a Egyptian Goose, a Shelduck, 20 Wigeon, 28 Mallards, 16 Teal, three Cormorants, 18 Grey Herons, a Little Egret, 1000 Lapwings, two Stonechats, 34 Pied Wagtails, 47 Black-headed Gulls, 61 Herring Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Ravens and a Stock Dove. (Shaun Curtis).

Coombe Hill Meadows     Still inaccessible by the towpath on the south side, viewed distantly from the northern side near Lower Apperley, 2500 Wigeon, 15 Gadwalls, 2500 Teal, 50 Mallards, 500 Pintails, 150 Shovelers, six Grey Herons and five Fieldfares. (Mike Smart).

Boxbush     On the floods, c100 Teal, 19 Wigeon, 51 Lapwings and 62 Shovelers today. (Dan Watson).

Sharpness     A Cormorant seen on the sand banks below SARA station late afternoon. (Nigel Aldridge).

Cormorant by Nigel Aldridge
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Friday 23rd January 2026

WWT Slimbridge     16 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE on the Dumbles. A young male Goshawk from Kingfisher hide this morning. 73 Avocets on South Lake. (Ian Hull/Paul Masters/Dot Jones).

Berkeley shore     A WATER PIPIT this morning S of the power station. (Paul Rich).

Water Pipit by Paul Rich

Coombe Hill Meadows     The paths are flooded so no access to the hides. Seen from distance 1000+ Wigeon, 500+ Teal, 200+ Pintails, 100+ Shovelers, 100+ Mallards and two Mute Swans. (Shaun Curtis).

Cobney Meadows     52 Mallards, two Little Egrets, two Mute Swans and an Egyptian Goose this afternoon. (Shaun Curtis).

Halmore    Garden birds today included male and female Lesser Redpoll, four Greenfinches, six Chaffinches, two Coal Tits, six Long-Tailed Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Collared Doves, two Stock Doves, a Redwing, and a Red Kite over. (Chris Newton).

Lesser Redpoll by Chris Newton
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Thursday 22nd February 2026

WWT Slimbridge     13 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE on the Dumbles this morning and also seven Egyptian Geese on the Tack Piece. (Andy Jayne/Paul Masters/Geoff Moyser/Roberta Goodall). The juvenile Goshawk distant from Kingfisher hide late afternoon. (Martin Price).

Slimbridge    Two WHOOPER SWANS again on the moor S of Shepherds Patch bridge on the far side of the canal at SO717037 at 11:30am but viewing difficult through the hedgerow. (Geoff Moyser).

Cotswold Water Park East     The BLACK-NECKED GREBE still on Pit 120 Horseshoe Lake at 3pm. There is no public access. Horseshoe Lake is a private fishing complex. Viewed on the opposite side of the road from the layby on the A361 Burford Road looking through the tree fence on the Northern arm. (Brian Piercey).

Frampton     Six Egyptian Geese on Court Lake this morning. (Andy Jayne).

Witcombe Reservoirs     WeBS count late morning 255 Mallards, a drake Pochard, 13 Tufted Ducks, four Great Crested Grebes, 14 Cormorants, four Moorhens, three Coots, 34 Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls, four Herring Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Raven and c60 Siskins feeding in Alders on No.1 Reservoir. (Gordon Avery).

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Wednesday 21st January 2026

Severn Hams    Yesterday’s Slavonian Grebe was widely searched for by several local birders at Coombe Hill Meadows & Ashleworth Ham. CHM is severely flooded with limited access but Ashleworth is clear. No sign at either site but it could well be on one of the extensive inaccessible floods. PLEASE DO NOT TRY AND ACCESS DEEP WATER AREAS ON FOOT. (MK).

Chaceley Meadows GWT    A JACK SNIPE and 43 Snipe today, and 30 Teal on a nearby flood. (Andy Jayne).

WWT Slimbridge    Along the Estuary walkway a ringed Firecrest and a male Blackcap near Martin Smith hide. A male Marsh Harrier over the Dumbles and the Pink-footed Goose, of unknown origin, with Canada Geese. 67 Avocets on South Lake. (Oliver Paisey).

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