Notable Recent Sightings

05/03 Firecrest 1, Lake Vyrnwy
05/03 Short-eared Owl 1, Lake Vyrnwy
14/01 Pink-footed Goose 1, Dolydd Hafren
03/01 Waxwing 20, Meifod; also 5 Welshpool by canal on 01/01. Last: 6 Bwlch-y-Garreg 17/03
23/12 Waxwing Newtown College, first arrivals 04/12, 47 on 23/12, 67 on 01/01, 30 on 04/02
09/12 Cattle Egret 1 roosting with 8 Great Egrets and some Little Egrets, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas
02/12 Waxwing 21 Guilsfield, 12 Montgomery, 1 Welshpool, and 1 on 01/12 Llanfyllin
16/11 Dotterel 3, just west of Dyfnant Forest on RSPB land
16/11 Great Grey Shrike 1, on edge of Dyfnant Forest on RSPB land, last reported 19/01
15/11 Waxwing 25 or 30, just west of Lake Vyrnwy along the Dinas Mawddwy road
08/11 Great Northern Diver A juvenile was found near Anchor, rescued and released
30/10 Black Redstart 1 in garden at Hendomen, near Montgomery
06/10 Hawfinch 5 in treetops at Powis Castle, by main car-park
04/10 Cattle Egret Dolydd Hafren, a flock of c.30
29/09 Red-flanked Bluetail Dyfnant Forest: a county first
23/09 Manx Shearwater 1st year bird grounded in Llanfyllin; released at coast
03/09 Cattle Egret 10 at Cors Dyfi, rising to 32 on 05/09
01/06 Turnstone 1 at Caersws with Little Ringed Plovers
03/05 Wood Sandpiper 1 at Dolydd Hafren
18/04 BLACK-WINGED KITE 1 video-ed at Glan Mule, near Kerry: a likely FIRST for UK
07/04 Black Redstart Female on Carno roof
07/04 Little Ringed Plover Llandinam Gravels
25/03 Osprey Female 5F 'Seren' arrived back at Llyn Clywedog
25/03 Pied Flycatcher An early migrant near Llanfechain
22/03 Hen Harrier Female in flight near Berriew
15/03 Sand Martin 5, Dolydd Hafren
15/03 Golden Plover c.50, Heldre Hill, Long Mountain, nr Welshpool
05/03 Whooper Swan 1, between Caerhowel (Montgomery) and The Gaer, with Mute Swans
05/03 Pink-footed Goose 1, Caersws, with Canada Goose flock
05/03 Jack Snipe 2, Caersws
05/03 Hawfinch 24, Powis Castle, feeding behind orchard
28/02 Pink-footed Goose c.25, flying north over Welshpool
26/02 Merlin 1 male, chasing Meadow Pipit, Long Mountain near Welshpool
26/02 Pintail 3, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, 1 since 14 Feb
14/02 Hawfinch 1, Powis Castle car-park, very vocal
23/01 Jack Snipe 1, Moel-y-Garth near Guilsfield
17/01 Brambling 80, in beeches at Pen-y-Waen near Cefn Coch with Chaffinches
07/01 Hawfinch 2, bathing in puddle, Cwm Lane, Castle Caereinion
   
See Sightings Archive for older records

Friday, January 11, 2013

Reeves' Pheasant

Walking a bridleway just west of Castle Caereinion yesterday we came across a Reeves' pheasant (  I was able to get a reasonable photo but for some reason can't upload it from my memory card - has this new blog post format changed the means of uploading pics? - my computer skills are sadly lacking, but I'd appreciate any help). I guess the bird has been captive bred but it is wandering as if wild - and somehow managed to escape being shot when the guns were out recently, despite being pretty noticeable and striking. It's the first we've seen, and we had to look it up to identify it!

Late this afternoon we enjoyed good views of a barn owl quite close to home - we watched it for a good 5 minutes or more, initially settled in a tree and then hunting. Always a treat.

5 comments:

  1. Hi Sue,
    Could i please ask you to also report your Barn Owl sighting to wwwmbog.co.uk date , time, grid ref etc.
    Regarding the Reeves, we recently had a call from a commercial shoot near Tregynon telling us that a tree with one of our boxes on had blown over (obviously not all bad guys) he had dozens of Reeves, he said they rarely get shot as if a gun "accidently" shot a Reeves, that gun would have to pay a bounty of £50. This may explain your wonderer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sue - if you send your pic to me at maltwiz@aol.com would be happy to upload it for you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mark. Will do. Not a photo in your league but fine for id purposes.

      Delete
  3. Chris - I have reported the barn owl sighting as you requested. Will keep an eye on developments! Thanks for your info re Reeves' pheasant

    ReplyDelete
  4. i see a Reeves most days when i travel to Castle Caereinion Primary school just after where the railway track crosses the road before the T junction. He is a beautiful bird and is usually seen with a female! We also have many Tawny owls outside our house, i think we have an owl box in one of our barns.

    ReplyDelete