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     

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!