Recorded Natural History of the parish

The listings below must form part of a larger group of sightings. Those listed, are from observations by two people, both very knowledgeable in the field tabulated. If any parishioner can expand the below I would be very interested in hearing from them. This page does not cover Flora, but I hope to include this in future updates.

Great News!  I have received an email confirming the sighting of Otters along the Colne Brook. Received from Shirley Nash, this information is invaluable and I ask all residents to keep an eye open for the beautiful animals. Thank you Shirley.

I regretfully have to write that once again the finch population in the Forest of Dean and in the whole Country is being decimated by a disease which Naturalists thought had diminished over the last few years. To help control this transferable disease would all people who put out bird feeders and water baths please ensure fresh water is available in cleaned receptacles; whether stone, plastic of metal.

Birds daily seen in our garden:-  Blue Tit ,Tree Sparrow, Hedge Sparrow, Coal Tit, Robin, Wren,  Song Thrush, Gold Finch, Bulfinch, House Sparrow,  Great Tit, Starling , Blackbird, Green Finch, Wood Pigeon.

Birds often seen in our garden:- Collared Dove, Common Partridge, Pheasant ,  Jackdaw, Sparrow Hawk, Pied Wagtail.

Birds seasonally seen in our garden:-  White Wagtail,  Redpoll,  Linnet, Siskin, Long Tailed Tit, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Tawny Owl.

Birds daily seen over our garden:- Rook, House Martin , Swallow,  Swift,  Jay, Magpie, Buzzard,  Raven, Lesser Black Backed Gull,  Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Crow.

Birds often seen over our garden:-  Canada Goose,  Lapwing, Mute Swan,  Heron.

 Kestrel , Curlew, Green Woodpecker , Mallard.

Birds seasonally seen over field to the rear of our garden:-,Red legged Partridge, Greater Black Backed Gull,  Bewick's Swan, Wheatear, Red Kite (March 2010), Fieldfare, Redwing .

 Birds seen over field to the rear of our garden:- Golden Eagle (on migration), Peregrine Falcon, Cormorant.

 Birds heard from our garden:-   Nightingale,  Little Owl.                                                                                                   

 Mammals seen in Alvington :-

Rat ,  Grey Squirrel ,  Fox & Cubs ,  Hedgehog & Young, Field Mice, Field Vole,  Rabbit,  Fallow deer, Badger, Weasel. Otter.

Amphibians seen in Alvington garden:-

Frog,  Toad, Common Newt

Urgent help is required for information about the following wildlife in Alvington (and indeed the whole county). On behalf of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, I am trying to collate a list of feared declining species in Gloucestershire for The Village of Alvington. If anyone has seen: Hedgehogs, Barn Owl's, Hares, Bat's, Lapwings, please let me know where and numbers. We all know of the threat to other species, but these are worryingly declining.

The winter of 2010/11 was extremely hard for birds, with extended weeks of freezing temperatures. Numbers of finches declined yet again.  As well as up to 12 Gold Finches in my garden all winter long ( following last spring/summers firsts regular visits to our feeding station) we have recently been hosts to a pair of Bullfinches, hopefully with young soon. as well as a small flock of Linnets {12-15}, feeding regularly on the Niger seed hanging from the tree in the garden. Also a Redpoll. There is a very healthy population of house sparrows (which bucks the national trend) certainly in and around Garlands road / Clanna road. Meanwhile please, please let me know if you can expand on the above listings, but only with confirmed identification. Thank you

Please contact Gary Collier on his 'e' mail

Updated 27th August 2011