Pink-footed Goose and Great Spotted Woodpecker portraits

 

Many thanks to Luke Reynolds for this photo of a Pink-foot and a Grey-lag, across the road from Llyn Coed-y-Dinas on 9 June. Pinkfeet are winter migrants and only occasionally recorded in Monts, so to find one in June is unusual. Carole and Colin Jones first reported one (probably the same bird) flying over Welshpool on 29 May. It should be in Iceland or Greenland!

Also, thanks to Dave Lister for this excellent image of Great Spotted Woodpecker male (on right) feeding its fledgling at Mochdre on 13 June. 
 

Swallow portrait

 Many thanks to Meurig Garbutt for this remarkable Swallow photo, taken near Llandyssil on 1 Jun. 

Direct plover comparison...

Thanks to Steve Edwards for these two very similar plover species, photo'd at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas two weeks apart. The Little Ringed is more often seen at LCyD and sometimes attempts to nest. The Ringed is a much less common visitor inland, mostly in spring and autumn, but much more common along the Welsh coast. 

Top: Ringed Plover (orange on bill, orange legs, and wing-bar in flight)

Below: Little Ringed Plover (no orange on bill, yellow eye-ring, dull leg colour, no wing-bar) 

Latest photos from the WhatsApp Group

 

Dipper with ring 12U: this female was ringed near Cemmaes in 2024, and has just raised 3 fledglings in a Cemmaes garden. Thanks to Tony Cross of the Mid Wales Ringing Group for the ringing details, and to Simon Layton for the photo and nesting story. 

Swift over Sarn, 12 May by Mark Wilson. Thanks Mark: a tricky bird to photograph!

Thanks also to Steve Edwards for this Little Ringed Plover at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas on 12 May.

 

Another colourful Dave Lister photo and latest May arrivals

Following Dave Lister's Jay photo in the last post but one, here is his Great Spotted Woodpecker male, also from Mochdre on 21 April. Thanks again Dave. 

Also thanks to Eryl Selly for this latest migrant news: 

7 May     Spotted Flycatcher      Nant Bradnant, nr Llanidloes     

Red-throated Diver on Lake Clywedog

 

Here's a record shot of a Red-throated Diver taking off from Llyn Clywedog on 1 May. All divers are great rarities in Montgomeryshire! Many thanks to local artist Terence Lambert for both record and photo, and to Chris Griffiths for passing on the message. Terence had noted the up-tilted bill typical of Red-throated Diver when the bird was swimming.

By contrast, here is Steve Edwards' in-focus family portrait of Great Crested Grebes on Llyn Coed-y-Dinas on 30 Apr. Thanks Steve, it's brilliant!

Swifts are back! April migrant news and latest photos

First, thanks to Dave Lister for this Jay portrait from Mochdre on 21 Apr. Next come two photos from Llyn Coed-y-Dinas by Steve Edwards: Sand Martin on 16 Apr and Reed Warbler with nesting.... 

....material on 24 Apr - thanks Steve!

 

Now, the latest April migrant list:

29 Apr   Hobby                    Lake Vyrnwy

26 Apr   Swift                      both Llanrhaeadr and Welshpool

26 Apr   Wood Warbler      near Llanfyllin

25 Apr   Grasshopper Warbler   near Adfa

21 Apr   Lesser Whitethroat   Carreghofa, nr Llanymynech

20 Apr   Whitethroat           Hem, near Forden

17 Apr   Garden Warbler   Frochas Common, Cloddiau, nr Welshpool

15 Apr   Whinchat          Lake Vyrnwy

13 Apr   Cuckoo            Llangurig

11 Apr   Common Sandpiper   Llyn Coed-y-Dinas

10 Apr   Tree Pipit             Middletown Hill

10 Apr   Yellow Wagtail     Newchapel, nr Llanidloes

7 Apr     Reed Warbler    Cors Dyfi

7 Apr     Sedge Warbler   Cors Dyfi

5 Apr     Redstart             Dyfnant Forest

5 Apr     Pied Flycatcher  Melin-y-Grug, nr Llanerfyl

1 Apr     Ring Ouzel        Eunant, Lake Vyrnwy

Many thanks to Kirsty Martuccio, Tony Coatsworth, Claire Backshall, Paul Leafe, Tammy Stretton, Sam Sharpe, Tony Ware, Clare Boyes, Dulcie Fairweather, Nick Burton, David Warlow, and Steven Caunt for these records. For March arrivals, see the post of 30 March.  

Wheatear

 Many thanks to Meurig Garbutt for this portrait of a Wheatear on Long Mountain on 12 April. 

Hen Harrier

Many thanks to John Anderton for this fine Hen Harrier portrait near Lake Vyrnwy on 5 Apr.

Updated migrant news

 Spring migrants reported in the county so far:

16 March    Osprey                Over Carno (and 'Idris' arrived at Cors Dyfi on 21 March)

17 March    Sand Martin        Dolydd Hafren

19 March    Willow Warbler  Newchapel, near Llanidloes

21 March    Wheatear            Dylife

23 March    Little Ringed Plover    Caersws

23 March    Swallow                Guilsfield 

29 March    House Martin       Mochdre   

Thanks to David Smith, Chris Hurrell, Kevin Gallagher, Tony Ware, Alan Corbett, Paul Leafe, Len Lewis and Chris Griffiths for these records. Keep 'em coming! 

Also, thanks to Paul Roughley for help restoring the hyperlink on the Bird Group tab above