We are so lucky in Wales to have so many contrasting habitats with an abundance of fascinating wildlife. I love the rolling hills and woodlands of my native mid-Wales but equally I also love our coastline and particularly the Pembrokeshire islands. Last Thursday my wife and I visited Skomer Island which is a national nature reserve managed by the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust. This is about the best time to visit this magical island with its vibrant seabird colonies consisting of razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars, and of course everyone's favorite the comical puffins looking resplendent in their summer plumage and looking all the World like porcelain figurines. We were treated to some good raptors and owls too such as peregrine, little owl and short-eared owl but we missed the hen harrier that another visitor spotted. Grassholm island lay tantalizingly close to the west but yet so far with its immense colony of gannets (39,000 pairs at the last count). There were noisy grey seals on Skomer too hauled up on the beach fasting between feeds and harbour porpoise offshore. Of course Skomer comes alive at night with the eerie calls of the manx shearwaters as they return to their burrows to their breeding partners. You wont see them in the day but as you wander along the paths around the island you may hear the odd one calling from its burrow. The bluebells, for which Skomer is famed, were just bursting through and give it another couple of weeks and these will be a carpet of blue. It is an absolute joy to walk on the path from the old farm to the Garland stone through a mass of colourful bluebells.
So take yourself off to Skomer in the next month or two and experience the island in all its glory.
The 'Dale Princess' departs Martins Haven near Marloes daily ('except Mondays' -but does so on bank holidays) at 10am, 11am and 12 noon returning from 3pm.
For more information visit the following link:-
http://www.pembrokeshire-islands.co.uk/
Notable Recent Sightings
| 17/06 | Great Black-backed Gull | Lake Vyrnwy. Pair am, plus a few each of LBB and BH Gull & Goshawk |
| 03/06 | Snow Goose | Llyn Coed y Dinas. One escapee plus adult Mediterranean Gull |
| 02/06 | Mediterranean Gull | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Single distant on island |
| 23/05 | Hobby | Cors Dyfi. Single today |
| 10/05 | Lesser Whitethroat | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Singing male present |
| 04/05 | Hobby | Lake Vyrnwy. Adult over today |
| 29/04 | Whimbrel | Llyn Coed y Dinas. One over plus Arctic Tern |
| 25/04 | Whimbrel | Dolydd Hafren. One in front of 2nd hide this morning |
| 24/04 | Garden Warbler | Guilsfield. Two today |
| 23/04 | Swift | Welshpool. One over drifting west |
| 19/04 | Cuckoo | Lake Vyrnwy. Also Grasshopper Warbler |
| 18/04 | Arctic Tern | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Single through |
| 16/04 | Snow Goose | Montgomery. Single at Lymore Pools (presumed feral escape?) |
| 16/04 | Whooper Swan | Lake Vyrnwy. 3 on lake (am) & Short-eared Owl on moorland |
| 14/04 | Common Sandpiper | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Single plus Blackcap |
| 11/04 | Hen Harrier | Cors Dyfi. Male present |
| 08/04 | Pied Flycatcher | Foel. A male has arrived, also one at Pwll Penarth |
| 05/04 | Wheatear | Lake Vyrnwy. One along Gadfa road |
| 05/04 | Tree Sparrow | Wern. 3 at garden feeders |
| 04/04 | Whooper Swan | Lake Vyrnwy. 5 from Lakeside Hide |
| 04/04 | Swallow | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 3 today |
| 03/04 | Black Redstart | Guilsfield. One in private garden from 2nd but no sign on 4th |
| 30/03 | Egyptian Goose | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Single & Mediterranean Gull (this also 29th), Sand Martin |
| 27/03 | Mediterranean Gull | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 2 adults displaying |
| 22/03 | Osprey | Cors Dyfi. First returning bird of 2018 today |
| 21/03 | Snow Goose | Caersws. Presumed escape associating with Canada Geese by river early this morning. First seen yesterday evening, bird doesn't appear to have leg rings |
| 17/03 | Hawfinch | Guilsfield. 2 in private garden today & Brambling |
| 16/03 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. 7 in the gardens |
| 16/03 | Mediterranean Gull | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Adult present mid pm |
| 13/03 | Chiffchaff | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Singing bird 10.30am |
| 07/03 | Hawfinch | Lake Vyrnwy. Single in Hirnant Valley late pm |
| 06/03 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Pair plus 4 Mandarin Duck (3M, 1F), 14 Goosander, Water Rail |
| 04/03 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Pair plus Shelduck, Water Rail |
| 02/03 | Jack Snipe | Montgomery. One in private garden |
| 22/02 | Hen Harrier | Cors Dyfi. A male today |
| 17/02 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. 2 plus Green Woodpecker |
| 11/02 | Lesser Sp. Woodpecker | Powis Castle. Plus 4 Hawfinch |
| 04/02 | Pink-Footed Goose | Lake Vyrnwy. 30+ heading north at 11am. Also Goshawk, Willow Tit |
| 31/01 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Female & Shoveler(m), 13 Snipe, pr Oystercatcher, Shelduck |
| 31/01 | Merlin | Welshpool. Male, top of Red Bank/Laundry Lane & 4 Redwing |
| 26/01 | Great White Egret | Llangurig. Bird mid afternoon in field west of town |
| 21/01 | Blackcap | Llanymynech. Female at garden feeders |
| 19/01 | Whooper Swan | Aberhafesp. 14 (4 juv) just below village on left of the second rise going through from the Newtown direction. |
| 18/01 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Single fem. still & 5 Goosander (3m, 2f), 14 Snipe, Shelduck |
| 18/01 | Whooper Swan | Aberhafesp. c12 presumed Whoopers at west end of Aberhafesp pm |
| 16/01 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. A single female |
| 14/01 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. A singleton |
| 13/01 | Barnacle Geese | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 6 long staying birds still & 8 Goosander, Water Rail |
| 10/01 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. 2+ plus Sparrowhawk, Goosander, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, 50 Fieldfare & 30 Blackbird |
| 07/01 | Whooper Swan | Caersws. 2 adult north along river Severn, seemed to drop near Aberhafesp |
| 07/01 | Pink-Footed Goose | Lake Vyrnwy. 140+ (91, 24, c25) & 17 Whooper Swan over heading west am |
| 06/01 | Pink-Footed Goose | Lake Vyrnwy. 39 over heading N to NW, afternoon |
| 06/01 | Whooper Swan | Aberhafesp. 6 present |
| 29/12 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Female plus 6 Barnacle Geese |
| 28/12 | Hawfinch | Bwlchyddar. 1 again on Back Road at 1pm and later it or another on feeders just north of Llanfyllin |
| 27/12 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Pair plus drake Shoveler, Barnacle Geese |
| 22/12 | Goldeneye | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Plus 6 Barnacle Geese |
| 22/12 | Hawfinch | Bwlchyddar. 1 on Back Road, 2pm, in Hawthorn hedgerow |
| 20/12 | Goldeneye | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Female & drake Pintail, 2 pair Goosander, 15+ Snipe, 6 Barnacle Geese |
| 17/12 | Great White Egret | Llangynog. On River Tanat this morning |
| 12/12 | Goldeneye | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Female plus 2 drake Pintail, 2 female Goosander |
| 11/12 | Long-eared Owl | near Mochdre. One plucking prey on fence post |
| 11/12 | Goldeneye | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 2F & 100 Teal, 60 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 7 Lapwing, 6 Snipe |
| 10/12 | Hawfinch | Welshpool. One briefly in private garden. |
| 10/12 | Chiffchaff | Pwll Penarth. Single. |
| 08/12 | Goldeneye | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Female still, plus 6 Barnacle Geese, Shelduck. |
| 08/12 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. Feeding on hawthorn by castle gardens |
| 03/12 | Blackcap | Montgomery. Female visiting private garden |
| 02/12 | Goldeneye | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Female present |
| 01/12 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. At least 12 this morning |
| 30/11 | Short-eared Owl | Lake Vyrnwy. 2 on moors in the Gadfa area |
| 29/11 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. Present around car park |
| 29/11 | Pintail | Llyn Coed y Dinas. At least 17 this morning plus Shelduck |
| 28/11 | Pintail | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 23 this afternoon (8m, 15f) |
| 26/11 | Whooper Swan | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Single this morning |
| 25/11 | Brent Goose | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 2 from 11am. Barnacle Geese still present & the Black Swan |
| 23/11 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Drake plus 6 Barnacle and c1000 Canada Geese |
| 23/11 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. Present around car park but elusive |
| 21/11 | Hawfinch | Newtown. 6 in churchyard by Elephant & Castle 15.45-16.15. |
| 21/11 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. 8+ around car park 8.30 - 10.30. 1 nearby at LCYD briefly 11am |
| 19/11 | Mandarin Duck | Meifod. 41 flying up river |
| 16/11 | Hawfinch | Newtown. 1 over Elephant & Castle 12.15pm |
| 12/11 | Blackcap | Welshpool. Male at the High School |
| 12/11 | Starling | Dolydd Hafren. c10,000 to roost & 53+ Magpie, Brambling this evening |
| 10/11 | Great Grey Shrike | Dyfnant Forest. First report of the winter at private site. |
| 10/11 | Barnacle Goose | Llyn Coed y Dinas. At least 2 plus 2 Water Rail. |
| 09/11 | Barnacle Goose | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 6 apparently there since 5th. Likely feral origin. |
| 08/11 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. 4 around car park trees this morning |
| 06/11 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. 9 in car park trees lunch time |
| 06/11 | Hawfinch | Llanfyllin. One in trees this afternoon north of town |
| 05/11 | Dunlin | Lake Vyrnwy. 1 over heading west at Gadfa, 170+ Chaffinch, Brambling, Merlin, c40 Fieldfare |
| 03/11 | Brambling | Welshpool. Male on garden feeders plus Marsh Tit |
| 02/11 | Whooper Swan | Lake Vyrnwy. 4 over at Gadfa |
| 02/11 | Goldeneye | Llyn Grinwydden. Male + 2 Wheatear & Reed Bunting on Mynydd Waen Fawr |
| 30/10 | Red-breasted Merganser | Upper Dyfi Estuary. Female this morning plus 8 Snipe, Dipper |
| 28/10 | Hawfinch | Powis Castle. 4+ and 1500 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 1500 Woodpigeon (all heading west), 40 Greenfinch & 30 Chaffinch |
| 28/10 | Brambling | Ceri Ridgeway. 10 feeding on beech mast with 30 Chaffinch |
| 28/10 | Shoveler | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Drake present |
| 27/10 | Ring-necked Parakeet | Wern. One still around, north of Guilsfield |
| 26/10 | Great White Egret | Fan Pool. One into roost this evening. |
| 23/10 | Ring Ouzel | Lyn Mawr. Plus 2 Kestrel, 10 Golden Plover, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Heron, Mallard, Coot |
| 21/10 | Ruff | near Llanerfyl. One trapped & ringed at night at private site |
| 20/10 | Ring-necked Parakeet | Wern. One north of Guilsfield and still present 23rd Oct |
| 19/10 | Brambling | Lake Vyrnwy. 2 males today plus c60 Crossbill, 30+ Redwing, Peregrine |
| 10/10 | Brambling | Lake Vyrnwy. Female near shop. A few Redwing. |
| 07/10 | Yellow-browed Warbler | near Llanfyllin. One moving through hedgerows near Cwm Nant y Meichiad |
| 05/10 | Hobby | Cors Dyfi. Good views of a hawking bird today |
| 14/08 | Ringed Plover | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Juvenile still present |
| 14/08 | Water Rail | Llandinam Gravels. One present today |
| 13/08 | Ringed Plover | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Juvenile plus Common & Green Sandpipers |
| 04/08 | Osprey | Welshpool. Juvenile over Leighton Weir this morning |
| 29/07 | Hobby | Newtown. 2 birds on pylon just outside town |
| 12/07 | Cattle Egret | Cors Dyfi. Single present |
| 06/07 | Hobby | Llwynderw. Single hunting for 30 mins |
| 20/06 | Tree Sparrow | Sarn. One on garden feeder |
| 12/06 | Gannet | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Adult at 10am, mobbed by BH Gulls, then found on the bypass and taken into care |
| 05/06 | Hawfinch | Dolanog. 1 in private garden feeding on Wych Elm seed |
| 03/06 | Hawfinch | Dyfnant Forest. Single bird present today |
| 31/05 | Common Scoter | Lake Vyrnwy. Single off Old Village CP |
| 25/05 | Crag Martin | Lake Vyrnwy. Single over dam at 12.30pm but not seen since (by 13.30) |
| 16/05 | Greenshank | Lake Vyrnwy. 1 passage bird on Gadfa Road |
| 13/05 | Common Gull | Lake Vyrnwy. Flock of 7 over lake late morning |
| 01/05 | Black Tern | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Present 7.30 until 10.30am and Dunlin |
| 19/04 | Great Grey Shrike | Lake Vyrnwy. 1 still around & Cuckoos have arrived |
| 13/04 | Grasshopper Warbler | Frochas Common. 1 heard |
| 12/04 | Pochard | Llyn Ebyr. 3 present & c25 Sand Martins, 2 Swallow, Great-crested Grebe |
| 11/04 | Osprey | Lake Vyrnwy. Sightings over dam/hotel heading up lake at c11am & c1.30pm |
| 09/04 | Great White Egret | Dolydd Hafren. One plus Common & Green Sandpipers |
| 09/04 | Marsh Harrier | Lake Vyrnwy. One over noon, Great Grey Shrike still on Bala Road & male Ring Ouzel at Gadfa |
| 05/04 | Osprey | Lake Vyrnwy. One over 1pm & Great Grey Shrike on Bala Road in afternoon |
| 04/04 | Brent goose | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Single with Canadas - probably same bird as at Dolydd Hafren 14/3 |
| 03/04 | Brambling | Welshpool. Single male in private garden |
| 02/04 | Redstart | Welshpool. Male present pm |
| 02/04 | Swallow | Forden. 3 on the Fron. Obviously a few around now. |
| 02/04 | Swallow | Lake Vyrnwy. Single |
| 02/04 | Swallow | Felindre. Single, a few Sand Martin & Blackcap singing Llanidloes |
| 01/04 | Ring Ouzel | Lake Vyrnwy. 4 (3m, 1f) at Gadfa near first ruined building. Singing Willow Warbler, 3 Redwing, a few Fieldfare, 2 Great Black-backed Gull on lake off Tower. |
| 31/03 | Willow Warbler | Llanidloes. Singing bird and 10+ Sand Martin, 90 Black-headed Gull (30th) |
| 27/03 | Ring Ouzel | Lake Vyrnwy. Male at Gadfa loosely associating with Fieldfare (evening). Wheatear and Sand Martin also around. |
| 27/03 | Tree Pipit | Frochas Common. 1 displaying |
| 26/03 | Great White Egret | Caersws. 1 over west to east |
| 24/03 | Little Ringed Plover | Caersws. 5 along the Severn plus 6 Oystercatcher, 11 Snipe, 50 Curlew, 15 Teal, 1 GBB Gull, 8 LBB Gull, 400 B-H Gull, 1 Sand Martin |
| 24/03 | Whooper Swan | Caersws. 8 nearby opposite Red House |
| 23/03 | Great Grey Shrike | Lake Vyrnwy. 1 hunting top end of lake on Bala Road at 7:50am |
| 16/03 | Hen Harrier | Cors Dyfi. Male present |
| 16/03 | Great White Egret | Machynlleth. One near station at 12.30pm |
| 15/03 | Sand Martin | Machynlleth. 2 along river west of Dyfi bridge |
| 14/03 | Brent Goose | Dolydd Hafren. Single bird this evening |
| 12/03 | Great Grey Shrike | Machynlleth. In field between railway line and River Dyfi OS ref SH73972 01135 |
| 12/03 | Merlin | Lake Vyrnwy. 1 seen to predate Reed Bunting plus Goshawk, Red Kite, 17 Stock Dove |
| 12/03 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 4 still present |
| 25/02 | Pintail | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 1 pm |
| 24/02 | Tree Sparrow | Guilsfield. Wern area - pair in private garden |
| 22/02 | Whooper Swan | Aberhafesp. 12, at least one young bird, most easily seen from back road out of Aberhafesp to Caersws |
| 21/02 | Pochard | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still 4 present plus 7 Shoveler, 26 Tufted, 14 Wigeon, 15 Lapwing, 16 Snipe |
| 20/02 | Hen Harrier | Carno. Male flew across road between Carno-Talerddig by roadworks at 2.35pm |
| 19/02 | Chiffchaff | Pwll Penarth. A few overwintering birds present with at least 1 showing Siberian Tristis characteristics. Also on 18th |
| 15/02 | Bearded Tit | Dolydd Hafren. Male 4:30pm, on ponds to left of pine tree hide nearest to osprey pole - on fronds of common rush near the water |
| 15/02 | Waxwing | Guilsfield. Wern area - single in private garden & 200+ Lapwing between the Breiddens & Wern |
| 08/02 | Bittern | Dolydd Hafren. in front of 1st hide 10.30am for 5 mins then flew towards 2nd hide. Also at dusk near 2nd hide in field near bench & dead tree |
| 31/01 | Bearded Tit | Dolydd Hafren. A male mixing with Reed Bunting calling and visible on top of the small island of reeds between the first hide & the river between 2-4pm. |
| 30/01 | Waxwing | Guilsfield. 9 in private garden (Wern area). 5-10 have been present for past week |
| 30/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 24 in smaller car park at 'back' of College |
| 29/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 12+ at the college |
| 29/01 | Bittern | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still present |
| 27/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. c.50 today on Vaynor Estate next to the college |
| 27/01 | Bittern | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still plus 3+ Pochard, Water Rail, Kingfisher |
| 26/01 | Blackcap | Welshpool. Male in private garden & pair Brambling |
| 26/01 | Bittern | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still present |
| 26/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. c.40 on Vaynor Estate a couple of which ringed in Scotland |
| 25/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 20+ around Heol-y-nant and flying across railway towards college |
| 24/01 | Bittern | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Still plus Pochard, Water Rail, Snipe, Kingfisher |
| 23/01 | Bittern | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Present since 21st, in front of main hide plus 4 Pochard |
| 23/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 20+ in trees on Heol Vaynor today |
| 22/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 35+ on the estate behind college late morning |
| 21/01 | Waxwing | Kingswood. 4 on Offa's Dyke path south of village |
| 18/01 | Waxwing | Abermule. 3 at 1:30pm |
| 18/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. c.8 on Vaynor estate |
| 17/01 | Waxwing | Guilsfield. 20 in private garden and 4 north of this |
| 17/01 | Waxwing | Churchstoke. 14 in trees, upper car park Tuffins supermarket 8:40am |
| 16/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. c.8 on Vaynor estate |
| 16/01 | Marsh Harrier | Dolydd Hafren. A probable male reported - quartered for 15 mins am |
| 16/01 | Whooper Swan | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Single still present |
| 15/01 | Little Egret | Llanidloes. Present today near main bridge |
| 15/01 | Whooper Swan | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 1 on water 1pm |
| 15/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 20+ at College 1:45pm |
| 14/01 | Waxwing | Montgomery. 1 in private garden plus female Blackcap |
| 14/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 12+ today |
| 13/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. Some present - flighty. |
| 12/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 15+ mobile - at college and the Vaynor Estate |
| 11/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 22 at college |
| 10/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 12+ in hawthorn alongside railway at college |
| 09/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 11 today in hawthorn bordering railway line at college |
| 08/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 9 in hawthorn bordering railway line at college 1.15pm |
| 07/01 | Short-eared Owl | Llyn Mawr. Hunting in field south of lake at 4.45pm |
| 07/01 | Great White Egret | Machynlleth. In fields to west of town at 2pm |
| 07/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 8 in college grounds in Hawthorn bordering railway line 3pm |
| 06/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. 6 in tall tree in College grounds c.9am. Flew towards Vaynor estate. |
| 06/01 | Waxwing | Machynlleth. 30+ still |
| 06/01 | Blackcap | Welshpool. Female in private garden plus Brambling |
| 05/01 | Waxwing | Guilsfield. Wern area - 30+ in private garden (the first since those on 2nd Jan) |
| 05/01 | Waxwing | Machynlleth. 16 still including a bird ringed in Aberdeen on 27th Nov that was also seen Llandudno 30th Dec |
| 05/01 | Hen Harrier | Cors Dyfi. Female this afternoon |
| 04/01 | Waxwing | Machynlleth. 15+ in trees around library. Also present on 3rd. |
| 02/01 | Waxwing | Guilsfield. Wern area - 20+ in private garden |
| 02/01 | Waxwing | Newtown. One opp. golf course in a tall tree. Flew off over golf course c.10am |
See Sightings Archive for older records |
Saturday, May 01, 2010
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