This site publishes sightings from the Cotswold Water Park, irrespective of county boundaries or rarity. Each entry shows maximum numbers reported during the day. Records are forwarded to the CWPT Database and then on to Local Record Centres.
You can send in records by using the contact form (Sidebar or Comments page). Or direct to: Email: cwpbirds[at]outlook.com. Twitter: @CWPBirds. Bob Philpott
2018 Bird List (142 as at 15/04)
CWP 74: Cuckoo singing from Twitchers gate this am also Lesser Whitethroat and 2+ Common Terns over the lake. Jon Mercer
Nightingales are back and singing in the Water Park with several reported at sites in the western section at present.
Last year there were some issues with visitors straying onto private land in order to hear these and, in doing so, potentially causing conflict with landowners.
We are trying to find a way of easing this problem and as a result if birds are reported from locations likely to cause problems they will only be reported on the website in very general terms.
Please continue to send in any reports and they will be used for the CWP database and to assess how the population is faring. If, as expected, a number of birds are singing in Cleveland Lakes and therefore adjacent to the gravel track or public road then I will publish those locations.
Whelford Pools:. Cuckoo calling. Duncan Dine
CWP 125: 2 Common Tern. Duncan Dine.
Clattinger Farm: Male Whinchat flycatching from hedgerow. Dave Collins.
Shorncote: Barn Owl this evening. Also singing Reed and Sedge Warbler. Possible Lesser Whitethroat heard. Beany Birder per Twitter.
Eysey: 4 Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Green Woodpecker Martin Saunders.
CWP 36: Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Sedge Warbler. Martin Saunders
Eysey: Oystercatcher and 11 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Black Swans. 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin and a Lesser Whitethroat. John Durell. Graham Lawlor. Kim Milsom, Pete Adams.
CWP 12: Arctic Tern and 3 Common Tern at 5.10pm. Graham Lawlor.
Shorncote: Birds singing this morning included chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcap, 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and many Cetti’s and Sedge Warblers. Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat singing this evening. This morning an adult otter with 3 large and mobile youngsters. Kim Milsom. Jon Mercer.
CWP 130: Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warblers, Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Reed Buntings, 4 Yellowhammers, 4 Greenfinches, 2 Bullfinches, Skylark, Treecreeper, 5 Pied Wagtails, 7 Lapwings, Oystercatcher, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, a few Swallows and a Peacock butterfly. Steve Davies
CWP 72 and 59; 11 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 7 Willow Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Cetti’s Warbler and a Common Sandpiper. Kim Milsom.
Male Red-crested Pochard at GWT site Lechlade. Julie Redpath
CWP 125: 2 Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat. Duncan Dine.
CWP 126: 2 Little Ringed Plover. Duncan Dine.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has secured a £50,000 grant from Biffa Award (part of the Landfill Communities Fund) to help a range of birds, bats and insects at its three nature reserves within the Cotswold Water Park.
The On the Wing project will support species at Whelford Pools (CWP 111), Roundhouse Lake (CWP 116) and Bryworth Lane nature reserve (Just North of the Lechlade / Fairfrd road). These areas are important because they are home to a wide range of species, including many which are in need of protection.
“The Cotswold Water Park is a wonderful area, with a mosaic of different habitats next to each other. There is open water, reed beds, woodland, and grassland. There is easy access, making it a great place for visitors to see a huge range of wildlife. The funding from Biffa Award will allow Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers to manage these nature reserves for the correct balance of tree cover, scrub, reed beds and open grass spaces. This benefits the many winged species that find a home and food here.” Tim Bevan (Senior Reserve Manager at GWT)
One ongoing task is to manage the trees surrounding the lakes. The willows, hazels and thorns are cut back in rotation to ensure a varied habitat. It’s also important that there are open areas of grassland as this supports the insects that birds rely on for food. Meanwhile, the insects found on the lakes provide vital food for bats.
To help with the work Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust will be offering more opportunities for local volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the On the Wing project, please contact Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust on 01452 383333 or email info@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk.
CWP 12: At 3.30. Common Tern (first report of the year). Lyn White.
Wheatear, 4 Curlew at Blakehill this morning. Also Goshawk being chased off by a crow. Beany Birder per Twitter. Neil George.
3 Little Ringed Plovers at Eysey. Beany Birder per Twitter.
CWP 74: 6 Warbler species singing at Twitchers gate, including Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler. Jon Mercer.
