Swifts and another Hobby.

 3 Swifts at midday heading south over Potter's Recycling, and a Hobby over Severn Street, Welshpool.

Hobby

 After seeing a Hobby overhead at Leominster this afternoon, another flew over in Churchstoke, definitely in Monts.

Great Egret

 4 at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas this afternoon + 2 Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron and 6 Cormorant. Not a good day to be a small fish!

Wheatear & Swifts.

 A new species for my garden list, -  if I'm honest it was over the fence in the field - a Wheatear was at the top of Red Bank, Welshpool, this morning. Juvenile Sparrowhawk took a Chaffinch at the feeder yesterday.

On Friday 29th July, a conservative estimate was 70 Swifts over the area of the Tourist I.C. at 9am, and Lottie recorded the same number the following day over High Street. 2 were over my house on the 7th August, but I have seen none since.

Snipe at Castle Caereinion

Reflections: thanks to Aneurin Lloyd for this Snipe portrait at a mini-reserve in Castle Caereinion. Last week it (or another Snipe) was on a lawn in the same village.

Thanks also to Ken Clarke, who reports an Osprey visiting Llyn Coed-y-Dinas on 7 August. It flew past a few times and disappeared, following the Severn downstream.

Flycatchers and Yellowhammers

A Pied Flycatcher yesterday (5 August) by the Gypsy Monument on top of Moel-y-Golfa - in the Breidden Hills near Middletown - was an unusually late record.  

I have received breeding records of Spotted Flycatcher recently from Dolforwyn Woods MWT Reserve (2 pairs) and from a garden in Sarn (2 pairs), as well as a presumed migrant at Dolydd Hafren on 5 August. Thanks to Tom Woodington, Paul Roughley, Rupert King and Will Ferguson for these reports.

The latest issue of the MWT magazine features a request for more information about the status of Yellowhammer in the county. As county recorder, I am trying to build up a clearer picture of areas in which Yellowhammers are flourishing, both as a breeding bird and overwintering. David Rowlands has let me know one area with 3-4 pairs throughout the summer: Welshpool Golf Course (on the appropriately named Y Golfa). Thanks David. Do send in more Yellowhammer hotspots to me, either on montbird@gmail.com or a text to 07708-328987. 

The Ospreys on Dyfi

Not long now before they're off, so we popped up for a final view-pity they didn't want to pose within range , but there we are. We also saw 3 @ Clywedog , but they were even more distant! As per we are ever grateful to Emyr and Janine as they continue their splendid work and of course all the volunteers, especially Alwyn!

Redshank at L Cyd

 

Meurig Garbutt took this fine Redshank portrait yesterday at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, where the water level is very low and attractive to visiting waders. Thanks Meurig - it's not a common bird in the county. .

Birds of prey at Dolydd Hafren

 In spite of the rain, it was a good morning for birds of prey at Dolydd Hafren today. As well as the Osprey that has been seen fairly regularly this summer, there were also appearances from a Hobby and a Goshawk. There was a fleeting glimpse of another raptor which was almost certainly a Sparrowhawk and of course there was at least one Common Buzzard present.

The Kingfishers are very busy at the moment as well, so there always seems to be something worth watching!

Two Grebes and Four Waders

 Many thanks to Meurig Garbutt for this fine set from Llyn Coed-y-Dinas on 15 July. In order they are Great Crested Grebe feeding young, adult and juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Common and Green Sandpiper. It is good to see that the plovers have bred locally - probably not on the reserve but nearby on gravel by the River Severn. Water levels at the lake are very low: good conditions for wader-watching. Lapwings and Oystercatcher are also regular.