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birding...
England Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire, on the English border with Wales, is a many faceted jewel of a County set in the very heart of rural Britain. None of its several towns and cities (Cheltenham, Cirencester, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury) are so large that the countryside cannot be reached within a couple of miles or so. In Gloucestershire`s 1,000 square mile area there are many wildlife-friendly habitats, which include: The bird-rich beautifully scenic grass covered chalk and limestone hills of the peaceful Cotswolds [a high plateau patch-quilted with mature beech woods] in the East. Deep, quiet ravines of ancient woodland in the Wye Valley. The (almost sea level) floodplain of the estuarine Severn Valley where waders breed and migrant wildfowl over-winter. The upland of Cleeve Hill (1,000-foot altitude). The easily accessible wooded, wild hills and valleys of the 35 square miles of working forest that make up the (one-time Royal hunting preserve of the) Forest of Dean in the West. In this last environment the mixture of mature broad-leaf forest and managed young coniferous sections, produce a variety of habitats that include ancient woodlands, open meadows of acid grassland, grass-clumped bogs and broad heathland - a diversity of bird and other wildlife that is an almost guaranteed recipe for good birding. |
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top sites |
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Ashleworth Ham
(SO830260)On the West bank of River Severn 6 miles north of Gloucester - Bewick`s Swan, Bittern, Cormorant, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Mallard, Pintail, Pochard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon.Avon Valley
Anywhere along the Avon after Tewkesbury - Bewick`s Swan, Coot, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pochard, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Willow Tit.Aylburton Warth
(S0620000)On the West bank of River Severn 6 miles north of Gloucester - Black headed Gull, Kestrel, Lapwing, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Raven, Redshank, Skylark, Tree Sparrow.Bourton Pits
(SP175205)At Bourton-on-the-Water. Canada Goose, Coot, Dipper, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Little Grebe, Kingfisher, Mallard, Mute Swan, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck.Chedworth Woods
(SP052135)South side of River Colne - Barn Owl, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Corn Bunting, Dipper, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Grey Partridge, Grey Wagtail, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl, Mallard, Mandarin Duck, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Tree Sparrow, Treecreeper, Woodcock, Yellowhammer.Cirencester Park
(SP019019)Near Cirencester - Bullfinch, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Willow Tit.Coombe Hill Canal
(SO885273)On the East bank of River Severn 6 miles north of Gloucester - Bewick`s Swan, Bittern, Cormorant, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Mallard, Pintail, Pochard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon.Cotswold Water Park (Gloucestershire/Wiltshire border)
(ST055967)Canada Goose, Coot, Dipper, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, Little Grebe, Mallard, Mute Swan, Red-crested Pochard, Tawny Owl, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck.Dowdeswell Reservoir
(SO990197)Near Cheltenham - Bullfinch, Coot, Goldcrest, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Grebe, Mallard, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Willow Tit.Forest of Dean
(SO620100)(Forest area encircled by towns of Cinderford, Monmouth and Lydney) [Places of birding interest: RSPB Nagshead reserve (OS: 5909); Woorgreen`s Lake (near Speech house); Cannop ponds. (OS: 6010); Soudley ponds. (OS: 6611) & New Fancy view] - Blue Tit, Buzzard, Coot, Cormorant, Dipper, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Hawfinch, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Peregrine, Pied Flycatcher, Raven, Redpoll, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Willow Tit, Woodcock, Yellowhammer.Frampton Pools
(SO750070)Disused gravel pits outside Frampton - Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose, Coot, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Greylag, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Little Grebe, Little Owl, Mandarin Duck, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Red-legged Partridge, Reed Bunting, Ruddy Duck, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, White-fronted Goose, Willow Tit.Hailey Wood
(SO955005)Near Cirencester - Bullfinch, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Kestrel, , Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Willow Tit.Oakley Wood
(SO968028)Near Cirencester - Bullfinch, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Kestrel, , Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Willow Tit.Overley Wood
(SO971050)Near Cirencester - Bullfinch, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Kestrel, , Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Willow Tit.Severn Valley
Along the public footpath The Severn Way - Coot, Goldeneye, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Reed Bunting, Smew, Snipe, Water Rail, Willow Tit.Silk Wood
(ST841899)Near Tetbury on A433 - Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper.Slimbridge - Dumbles
(SO722048)Off Junction 13 or 14 of M5 - [Extensive and World renowned captive collection of Wildfowl] - Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Cormorant, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Little Owl, Mandarin Duck, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Shelduck, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Treecreeper.Symonds Yat
(SO555160)On River Wye near Chepstow - Buzzard, Cormorant, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Peregrine, Redpoll, Sand Martin, Siskin, Sparrowhawk.Tidenham Chase
(ST545984)Near Tintern Abbey - Buzzard, Coal Tit, Crossbill, Goldcrest, Kestrel, Nightjar, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Tree Pipit, Whinchat, Whitethroat, Willow Tit, Woodcock, Yellowhammer.Walmore Common
(SO740155)On River Severn near Gloucester - Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Tawny Owl.Westonbirt Arboretum
(ST855900)Near Tetbury on A433 - Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper.Withington Woods
(SP030140)South side of River Colne - Barn Owl, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Corn Bunting, Dipper, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Grey Partridge, Grey Wagtail, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl, Mallard, Mandarin Duck, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Tree Sparrow, Treecreeper, Woodcock, Yellowhammer.Wye Valley
(SO558153)Near Chepstow - Buzzard, Cormorant, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Peregrine, Redpoll, Sand Martin, Siskin, Sparrowhawk.contributor |
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Mr Arker
eric@forest-haven.co.uk
county recorder |
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Richard Baatsen
1 Prestwick Terrace, Bristol Road, Whitminster, Glos, GL2 7PA
Baatsen@surfbirder.com
useful reading |
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Where to Watch Birds in Somerset, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire
by Ken Hall & John Govett 3rd edition Helm ?Where to Watch? series. 2004 ?14.99pSee Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0713666145
Buy this book from NHBS.com
useful information |
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Cotswold Falconry Centre
Batsford Park, Moreton in Marsh GL56 9QF. Tel: 01386 701043
National Bird of Prey Centre
Newent GL18 1JJ Tel: 01531 820286
Proact
Coordinator: none (why not apply?)
see http://www.proact-campaigns.net/coordinators
Members: 1
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team
clubs |
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Cheltenham Bird Club
Welcome to the Cheltenham Bird Club website. If you have a passion for birds, natural history, wildlife or the outdoors in general – then Cheltenham Bird Club could help enhance your interests. We are a club of like-minded people who enjoy something of all the above and meet throughout the year to share in our interests. Please take a few minutes to scan through the pages of this website to learn a little more about our club and its many and varied activities. There is much more to Cheltenham Bird Club than purely birdwatching. We are actively engaged in round-the-year conservation work by contributing vital information through bird surveys in our gardens and at locations around Gloucestershire...
Disabled Birding in the Forest of Dean
http://www.deanbirders.co.ukDisabled Birding in the Forest of Dean. Gallery and daily records of a small group of diabled birders in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire...
Gloucestershire Naturalists Society
http://www.glosnats.org.uk/The Gloucestershire Naturalists Society (GNS) was formed in 1948 with the aim of promoting an interest in the varied wildlife of the county of Gloucestershire, U.K. At the same time, it assumed the task of recording the county`s flora and fauna. To assist in this, the GNS appoints and supports county recorders for all aspects of wildlife - birds, mammals, insects and wildflowers for example.
Gloucestershire Orchard Group
http://www.orchard-group.uklinux.net/glos/wildlife.htmlConserves, promotes and celebrates traditional orchards in Gloucestershire - With such a wealth of fruit and insects available in old orchards, it is only to be expected that there is a wide range of feeding opportunities for birds and mammals. Birds such as woodpeckers (green and great-spotted); nuthatches, treecreepers and tits may be seen on tree trunks and hollow branches. Fieldfares, starlings, redwings, thrushes, blackbirds and jays will be feeding on the fruit (on or off the tree).
Gloucestershire Ornithological Co-ordinating Committee
The GOCC is the overall co-ordinating body for ornithological activities in the county, and produces the Gloucestershire Bird Report. Contact: John McLellan, 15 Charlton Road, Tetbury Glos GL8 8DX Tel: 01666 504757
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
http://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust was formed in 1961 by local people, including Sir Peter Scott, who wanted a better future for the county`s wildlife. A variety of programmes and initiatives have been developed to help achieve the Trust`s aim of caring for the wildlife and wild places of Gloucestershire.
National Birds of Prey Centre
http://www.nbpc.co.uk/The Aims of The National Birds of Prey Centre are Conservation of all birds of prey through Education, Captive Breeding, Research and Rehabilitation. We are one of the oldest, probably the largest and certainly the best known and respected specialist collection of birds of prey in the world. Housing approximately 300 birds of over 80 species, the Centre leads the world in the number of species bred in captivity. To date 55 species have been bred here, with new species laying eggs each year.
reserves |
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Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Reserves
http://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/?section=places:reservesList of reserves and contacts etc...
Prinknash Abbey Bird park
http://www.thebirdpark.com/Not my sort of thing but you can brush up your ID skills I guess - There are also many varieties of geese including Snow Geese, Bar Headed Geese from China, and Red Breasted Geese from Siberia and in the middle distance you will see the first ponds with Ducks and other birds. All the birds and animals in the Park are free and feed out of your hands...
RSPB Reserve - Highnam Woods
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/h/highnamwoods/index.aspWith its carpets of bluebells and primroses, this is an ideal reserve to visit in the spring when the nightingales can be heard...
RSPB Reserve - Nagshead
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/n/nagshead/index.aspNagshead is famous for its breeding pied flycatchers. The nestboxes in which they nest have been monitored continuously since 1948. The wood is also home to hawfinches, buzzards and all three species of British woodpecker...
RSPB Reserve - Symonds Yat
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/symondsyat/index.aspThe peregrine viewing point at Symonds Yat Rock is a joint project run by the RSPB and Forest Enterprise, who own the site. Between April and August, telescopes are set up to give close views of the nesting peregrines. The rock is a spectacular site high above the River Wye...
WWT Slimbridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWT_SlimbridgeSituated on the Severn Estuary, WWT Slimbridge is our birthplace, national centre and the focus for the WWT`s breeding programme for threatened species. The world`s largest collection of wildfowl, including all six kinds of flamingo, is joined in winter by thousands of migratory swans, geese and ducks.
WWT Slimbridge
http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge/Eight million people have visited Slimbridge to get closer to wildlife & wetlands since Sir Peter Scott opened the doors in 1946. Some people come to get close to the birds, other people just love the ambience of this haven by the Severn. The birds keep coming back too - more than 20,000 wild birds dropped by last year, some staying for months before starting out on their great migratory journeys.
trip reports |
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Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!
tour operators |
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Birding Pal
http://www.birdingpal.org/Unitedkingdom.htmLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
places to stay |
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Hambutts Mynd
http://gloucestershire.staysoon.co.uk/accommodation.cfm?i=3956Hambutts Mynd was built in the 1700s as a corn mill, which was driven by a wind mill. It still has the original beam and character. In 1800s it was converted into the first Girls School in the Gloucester village of Painswick and then in latter years it was converted into a normal dwelling house which is now run as a renowned Bed and Breakfast by John and Elizabeth.
New House Farm
http://www.newhousefarm-accommodation.co.uk/New House Farm is a 64 acre working farm ideally situated between the Cotswolds, the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. The property is set in a commanding position on the hillside of a quiet valley with far reaching views towards the Malvern hills.
Swan House Country Guest House
http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/hotels/swanhouse.htmlFor those interested in birds there are 3 RSPB reserves, the world famous Slimbridge wildfowl centre and the National Birds of Prey Centre, all within easy reach...
other links |
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Allnmark Goes Birding
http://www.allnmark.pwp.blueyonder.co.ukI’m Mark and I’m a Birder! Even worse than that - I take my kids, Nats and Cam, birding with me! We live in Yate, South Gloucestershire and work in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire so are not geographically natural county listers. Instead we spend most of my time birding between South Glos and Gloucestershire . . . . . with a little Devon, Dorset, Norfolk, Pembrokeshire or Yorkshire thrown in, or wherever else we can get away with! This site is still in it’s infancy and I haven’t really publicised it yet, so bear with me I’ll get there - unless we go birding first!
Anser Birding - Martin McGill
http://www.anserbirding.comBirding diary, images and travels of Martin McGill, a Gloucestershire based birder and WWT Slimbridge Warden. Also Birding holidays, identification courses and day trips. Trip reports section from all holidays and a gallery...
Barn Owl Centre
http://www.thebarnowlcentre.co.ukThe Barn Owl Centre... is based in Gloucestershire, England. Our aims are simply to educate and to help stabilise the Barn Owl population in the wild. The Centre advises and works very closely with a large number of landowners within five counties, these counties are Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, parts of Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.
Biodiversity Action Plan for Gloucestershire
http://www.ukbap.org.uk/lbap.aspx?id=471Conservation plans and partners...
BLOG - Bob Philpott - Cotswold Water Park
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/cotswoldwaterpark/This weblog covers sightings in the Cotswold Water Park irrespective of county. It is designed to record all recent sightings within the Cotswold Water Park and aims to increase reports of sightings for this area...
Gloster Birder
http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Gloucestershire is one of the best counties to see many special birds. There are many important sites throughout the county and you will find a short report on each of the sites by clicking on the links to the left. There is also a County list showing first dates if known. I have used as references the excellent Birds of Gloucestershire by Christopher M. Swaine and also the Gloucestershire Bird Reports from 1951 to date.
Naturenet
http://www.naturenet.net/england/gloucs.htmlList of reserves etc...
artists |
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Artist - Martin Ridley
http://www.martinridley.com/A Creative Process Revealed: Wildlife Art Description - Gallery of wildlife and wilderness art depicting birds and other animals, paintings in oils and watercolours with accompanying original sketches by artist painter / illustrator Martin Ridley. View how sketches, preparatory drawings and a gallery of wildlife paintings are evolved from initial field encounters, detailed information about creative working methods with wildlife watching tips, painting stages from initial brush stroke to completion, oils in progress. Services include e-Cards, wildlife artwork screensavers, forthcoming wildlife art events calendar, selected art, conservation and wildlife links and search facility to source images.
Photographer - Paul Bryant - Image Dowload
http://imagedownload.co.uk/birdimages/index.aspA small but growing portfolio of birds amongst a larger selection of images of the natural world...
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