MONTGOMERYSHIRE BIRDS

Latest Sightings

23/04	Osprey	Welshpool. 1 over this morning
22/04	Whinchat	Lake Vyrnwy. 2 today on the moors are Vyrnwy's first of 2014.
21/04	Bean Goose	Caersws. Presumed escape.
20/04	Swift	Dolydd Hafren. First record of year plus Sedge Warbler
20/04	Arctic Tern	Llyn Coed Y Dinas. 3 plus Sedge Warbler in reeds
19/04	Cuckoo	Hafren Forest. One calling in Cwm Biga area
18/04	Wood Warbler	Llanidloes. And 3 Tree Pipit on Gorn Hill
16/04	Osprey	Dolydd Hafren. Late afternoon and then flew north. Plus Yellow Wagtail
15/04	Marsh Harrier	Dolydd Hafren. Male this morning. Also Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler
15/04	House Martin	Sarn. A few overhead, the first reported this year
10/04	Osprey	Lake Vyrnwy. Over, heading NW towards Bala
09/04	Ring Ouzel	Lake Vyrnwy. Pair, plus Great Grey Shrike, but neither species readily accessible as mobile on moorland
08/04	Garden Warbler	Llanerfyl. First reported this year
07/04	Redstart	Mochdre. Male - first reported this year
06/04	Pintail	Pwll Penarth. A pair and large passage of Sand Martin/Swallow
03/04	Pied Flycatcher	Llanerfyl. Male - first reported this year
03/04	Common Sandpiper	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Also Blackcap and pair Gadwall still, 50+ Swallow, 30+ Sand Martin, 2 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher
03/04	Swallow	Pontrobert. 2 plus Blackcap
01/04	Gadwall	Llyn Coed y Dinas. A pair and 1000+ Black-headed Gulls
01/04	Grey Partridge	Cefn y Coed. 2 (near Abermule)
01/04	Willow Warbler	Cors Dyfi. First reported this year
26/03	Little Ringed Plover	River Severn. 2, the first reported of 2014.
26/03	Wheatear	Lake Vyrnwy. Female on moorland edge, also 100+ Fieldfare/Redwing and Goshawk.
25/03	Fieldfare	Llanfyllin. c.80 over with a few Redwing as winter thrushes move through county on return journey.
24/03	Whooper Swan	Dolydd Hafren. 2 flying down river (pm)
21/03	Merlin	Meifod. Male heading north
21/03	Mediterranean Gull?	Llyn Coed y Dinas. UNCONFIRMED report of adult on 18th, but there were 7 Oystercatcher & 5 Snipe today
20/03	Sand Martin	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 30+ this morning
20/03	White-fronted Goose	Dolydd Hafren. 2 European race (.albifrons) still present in front of 2nd hide (am)
19/03	Blackcap	Llandyssil. Singing male
19/03	Sand Martin	Caersws. Plus 6 Chiffchaff between Llanidloes and Caersws
18/03	Oystercatcher	Llyn Coed y Dinas. The usual pair plus another 3
16/03	White-fronted Goose	Dolydd Hafren. 2 of European race (.albifrons) with Greylags & Canadas
08/03	Chiffchaff	Pwll Penarth. Most likely an overwintering bird?
07/03	Osprey	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Over field opposite the reserve flying south.
03/03	Shoveler	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Drake plus Wigeon & Teal
23/02	Green Sandpiper	Dolydd Hafren. 3 wintering birds present (there has been up to 4). Also 3's of Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Peregrine & Red Kite. 63 Curlew, c.20 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 2 Water Rail
23/02	Bittern	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Again as per y'day
22/02	Bittern	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Again, in to roost late evening
21/02	Bittern	Llyn Coed y Dinas. One from 17:30 in bushes on left of island
13/02	Blackcap	Guilsfield. Male in garden this morning likely to have overwintered in the area
11/02	Pintail	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Drake this morning
08/02	Brambling	Llanerfyl. 5 in private garden
05/02	Lapwing	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 75 with 22 Wigeon, 8 Tufted Duck
04/02	Oystercatcher	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Plus Snipe, 8+ Teal, 10+ Wigeon, 4 Heron, 6 Cormorant
03/02	Stock Dove	Dolydd Hafren. Flock of 130 in the arable field, with 85 Linnet, 2 Little Egret
31/01	Merlin	Cwm Biga. Female
26/01	Short-eared Owl	Llyn Hir. Plus 5 Teal, 6 Lapwing, 10+ Woodcock, 10+ Snipe, 8 Jack Snipe
24/01	Little Egret	Dolydd Hafren. Also c.30 Curlew
24/01	Whooper Swan	Aberhafesp. 5
22/01	Redwing	Welshpool. 40+ in field opposite Brynfa Farm, Red Bank plus 25+ Linnet
16/01	Snipe	Guilsfield. 20 - 30 in flight over Granllyn, Guilsfield (Woodland Trust reserve), pm
12/01	Avocet	Llyn Coed y Dinas.
12/01	Blackcap	Guilsfield. Male in a garden
11/01	Shelduck	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Also male Goosander, 3 Bullfinch, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Cormorant, Mallard, Pied Wagtail
07/01	Snow Bunting	Pentre. A male at midday, south of Pentre (east of Llanidloes)
01/01	Merlin	Montgomery.
29/12	Green Sandpiper	Dolydd Hafren. 2 plus 2 Little Egret, 9 Snipe, Brambling, Goshawk
27/12	Whooper Swan	Aberhafesp. 8 with 4 Mute Swan in the Severn Valley this afternoon.
24/12	Great Grey Shrike	Hafren Forest. OS grid SN848872. See blog for directions.
22/12	Chiffchaff	Pwll Penarth. 2 present plus Blackcap (male), 20 Linnet, 3 Little Grebe, 20 Snipe, 2 Water Rail (heard)
15/12	Jack Snipe	Corndon Hill. Again, plus Common Snipe, 14 Golden Plover
14/12	Jack Snipe	Corndon Hill. 2+
13/12	Bittern	Cors Dyfi.
13/12	Shoveler	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 1st-winter drake, also 40+ Wigeon
08/12	Whooper Swan	Llyn Gwyddior. 4 present (grid ref SH9307)
07/12	Whooper Swan	Llyn Hir. 2 adults
04/12	Blackcap	Pwll Penarth. Male in apple trees on sewage ponds fenceline. Also 12 Linnet, 16 Bullfinch, 84 Redwing, 12 Fieldfare, 40+ Blackbird, 2 Snipe, Water Rail, 7 Teal, 18 L-T Tit
03/12	Chiffchaff	Pwll Penarth. Feeding in hedgerows by sewage works
30/11	Dunlin	Pwll Penarth. Possibly same bird as LyCD, plus 5 Water Rail, 20+ Teal, 6 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Green Woodpecker
30/11	Dunlin	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Early am, plus Mandarin, Peregrine, 2 Goosander, 20+ Wigeon
29/11	Mandarin	Llyn Coed y Dinas. (pm) Drake, still, perched in willow to right of hide
29/11	Blackcap	Dolydd Hafren. Male, plus Little Egret, 90+ Linnet, 5 Reed Bunting, 6 Bullfinch
28/11	Blackcap	Guilsfield. Male in a garden this morning
25/11	Blackcap	Dolydd Hafren. Pair still present plus Little Egret, 4 Snipe, 28 Curlew, 4 Water Rail, 500+ Canada Geese
25/11	Mandarin	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Drake, still until 9am. Also 7 Snipe, 7 Lapwing, Goosander
24/11	Mandarin	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 1 drake.
22/11	Goosander	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 2 males (am). Sightings increasing with colder weather e.g. 1 today at Llyn y Grinwydden (pm) + pair on the canal at Welshpool earlier in week
21/11	Woodcock	Llanerfyl. 10+ in nearby fields (evening)
18/11	Lapwing	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 41 present plus 12 Tufted Duck & female Sparrowhawk
17/11	Blackcap	Dolydd Hafren. 2 (male & female)
17/11	Wigeon	Lymore Pool. 30 present plus 5 Goosander
15/11	Bullfinch	Ceri Forest. Flock of 18, plus 4 Woodcock, several flocks of 4-12 Crossbill
14/11	Red Kite	Penegoes. 8 seen together just east of Penegoes over A489 (pm)
11/11	Common Sandpiper	Dolydd Hafren. Also 2 Green Sandpiper, 5 Snipe, 2 Water Rail (calling), 21 Lapwing, 80+ Linnet, 100+ Redwing, 34 Fieldfare, 423 Canada Geese & 1 Hare.
04/11	Brambling	Lake Vyrnwy. 12+ with Chaffinch flock under beech trees on northern edge of lake (near Ty Uchaf turn). Also Crossbill overhead, Siskin on alders.
03/11	Mandarin	Dolydd Hafren. Female on flooded river, plus 4+ Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 27 Curlew, 10 Goosander, Peregrine, Merlin, 2 Little Grebe
02/11	Curlew	Dolydd Hafren. 22 present
30/10	Red Kite	Pentre Llifior. 8 seen together (pm)
29/10	Brambling	Dolfor. 30-40 feeding on beech mast in Chaffinch flock on road leading up to P&L windfarm
24/10	Dotterel	Ceri Ridgeway. Juvenile trapped & ringed at night, plus 7 Jack Snipe, 20+ Snipe, 11 Golden Plover, Woodcock (1st of season)
24/10	Green Sandpiper	Dolydd Hafren. 5 present, plus 4 Little Grebe, 2 Water Rail (heard), Peregrine (female)
22/10	Water Rail	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Showing to left of hide, plus 3 Snipe, Wigeon
19/10	Great Grey Shrike	Hafren Forest. Grid SN864894, also Fieldfares
17/10	Peregrine	Newtown. Eating prey near Macdonalds (assume 'prey' was not a burger)
13/10	Shoveler	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 1 drake, plus 3 Snipe
11/10	Whooper Swan	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 2 present AM and from 4pm, also Common Sandpiper
11/10	Redwing	Across the county. First reports of the winter at various locations
09/10	Brambling	Lake Vyrnwy. First of the winter at feeders
06/10	Wigeon	Lymore Pools. Approx 20 present
06/10	Yellow Wagtail	Dolydd Hafren. Also Green Sandpiper, Water Rail and mix of departing summer migrants including reported late records of Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Tree Pipit
06/10	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still, plus Common Sandpiper
05/10	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 1 bird present but becoming more mobile, plus Dipper, Reed Bunting
04/10	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 1 bird present, plus Gadwall (male), Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 20 Tufted Duck, 7 Wigeon, Little Grebe
03/10	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 1 bird present, plus 2 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Gadwall, Little Grebe, 7 Lapwing
02/10	Great White Egret	Pwll Penarth. 1 bird over, at 14:00, flying south, high up.
02/10	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. 1 bird present, plus 6 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Gadwall (male)
01/10	Golden Plover	Carno. 10 flying South over the Rhyd, Carno (AM). 2 on field by Llyn Mawr and another at Garreg Hir (PM).
01/10	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still, 2 birds, also Snipe, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Little Grebe
30/09	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still, 2 birds, plus 4 Snipe, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff
29/09	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still, 2 birds
28/09	Hen Harrier	Glaslyn. South side of Lake, 5.45pm
28/09	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still, and a 2nd bird arrived late pm
27/09	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas.
26/09	Gannet	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Juvenile circling overhead (pm).
26/09	Great White Egret	Llyn Coed y Dinas. Also 5 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 3 Wigeon, Gadwall and 2 Chiffchaff
22/09	Little Grebe	Pwll Penarth. Pair on far side of pool. Also Water Rail, 3 Snipe, Reed Warbler
22/09	Goshawk	Kerry Ridgeway.
21/09	Black-tailed Godwit	Dolydd Hafren. Also Whimbrel, 50+ Curlew, 2 Hobby, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper
20/09	Hobby	Welshpool. Over Red Bank. Also 2 Wheatear.
20/09	Green Sandpiper	Lake Vyrnwy. At top end of lake.
15/09	Yellow Wagtail	Dolydd Hafren. Also Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Reed Warbler, Wheatear
15/09	Garganey	River Severn at Leighton. (Juvenile) Also 50+ Teal, Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper
14/09	Goshawk	Carno. Also Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Red Kite, 2 Crossbill
14/09	Merlin	Talerddig
12/09	Barnacle Goose	Fan
06/09	Yellow Wagtail	Llyn Coed y Dinas
29/08	Bittern	Lake Vyrnwy
28/08	Water Rail	Middletown

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Vandalism at Llyn Coed y Dinas

The glass on the welcome/display board at Llyn Coed Y Dinas has been smashed. The police are investigating and are appealing for witnesses.

If anyone can provide any information then please email Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust at info@montwt.co.uk or call the MWT office on 01938 555654.

More on Malta

And this is what the Malta fuss is about, selected pictures only as some of them are too disturbing - firstly a Swift blasted from the sky

Secondly a Little Bittern dropped by a hunters dog

More information and details of how we can raise awareness on Chris' website here. Also much more on Chris' Twitter feed @ChrisGPackham

New bird for Garden List!

Thanks to 2 Herring Gulls doing some noisy mobbing, my attention was drawn to an Osprey flying west at 9am over Welshpool. Are we on the Rutland-Dyfi flypath?

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Pink-footed Goose hybrid! Monday pm Llyn Coed-y-dinas

Poor shot of what appears to be a Pink-footed goose, maybe a hybrid.

Also 2 Common Sandpipers together and calling each other, pair Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, plus Chiffchaff

Malta Massacre on Migration

Love him or hate him, Chris Packham is raising awareness about the hunting of birds in Malta during the Spring migration. On the radio this morning he was saying that not just Turtle Doves and Quail were being shot, but also Swift, Little Bittern, Harriers, and who knows what else. Spring is an incredibly important time as it is the chance for these migratory species to breed and increase their numbers, but they are being denied this chance by these heinous practices.

For the last three years, Malta has derogated from the EU Birds Directive, to allow the hunting of migratory birds. Some of these species are on the edge, and stopping this hunt could give them the start they need to recover. See the links below for more information and how to help.

More info: www.chrispackham.co.uk
Video diary: www.youtube.com/user/ChrisGPackham

Monday, April 21, 2014

Kerry Ridgeway - Swallow etc

Great light this morning on the Ridgeway - plenty of Swallow around, click to expand. At one point one of the birds perched up on the end of the big lens - hardly dared to breathe!

Also Cuckoo calling pretty much all day but could I find it/get near it? A few Stonechat, Meadow & Tree Pipit, Linnet, Skylark, Blackcap and my first Whitethroat of the year. No sign of the Wheatear so guess they must have passed through

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Dolydd hafren

first sedge warbler back in this morning also first swift flew over

Early evening visit to Llyn Coed y Dinas (18/4/2014)

From Philip Low -

Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Chaffinch on the walk round past the pond.
3 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Sandpiper, pair of Great Crested Grebe (female staying close to the reeds in front of the hide), Tufted Duck, plenty of Black headed gulls and Canada Goose on nest on closest island.

Tern - lcyd

Pair tern LCYD - prob arctic but v distant - UPDATED, make that 3 Arctics

Sedge Warbler LCYD

One bird calling in reeds