Swifts in Leighton

Yesterday a group of us visited Great Hope Farm, Leighton at the kind invitation of John and Lesley Cookson. John has placed several home-made Swift boxes (and 3 Swift bricks) on their house, and they plan to put up more. At present they have 15 pairs nesting. John is convinced that there are enough insects for them all, but their decline is due to shortage of nesting space (plus potential hazards on migration). This year many one-year-old non-breeders have been prospecting his boxes in late June and early July. These birds are often called 'bangers' as they do tend to hurl themselves at the boxes. They are especially noisy and form the screaming parties that can sometimes be seen over their farmyard. 

Many thanks to John and Lesley for the inspiring guided tour plus tea and biscuits. Also thanks to Tammy and Lowri from MWT for the initial contact, and to Llanidloes Swift Group for sorting us into groups to visit. Perhaps next July John and Lesley can be persuaded to repeat the invitation! Finally, thanks to Mark Wilson, for this photo of a Swift over Sarn on 12 May. 

 

Swifts in Castle Caereinion

 

Great work by Aneurin Lloyd attracting Swifts to new boxes in Castle Caereinion. There are 5 birds, probably scouting out for next year. Many thanks Neu. Thanks also to Chris Townsend, who reports 50 Swifts flying high over Welshpool on the morning of 19 Jul.
  

Thanks Harry

 Following ridiculous confusion thanks to google , Harry has sorted me!

Montgomeryshire Bird Report 2024

The Montgomeryshire Bird Report 2024 is now published on this site! Just click on the tab marked 'County Reports' above. Many thanks to all contributors, to Mike Haigh for technical support with publication, and to Dave Lister for the cover photo of a wintry Nuthatch. 

The Ringing Report will be added later in the year when the BTO make their data available.  

Sparrowhawk male in flight

Many thanks to Dave Lister for this capture of a male Sparrowhawk, hunting at Mochdre on 24 June.
 

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