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

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Wet summer not all bad

This year's wet summer has meant that 3 fields of corn on the Wern are still standing as the fields were too wet for the harvesting equipment to work on them. Consequently the birds are now reaping the benefits, and for the first time in many years we are seeing yellowhammers - 6 or so yesterday and 12+ today. There are also good numbers of reed buntings, and large mixed flocks of finches with several brambling amongst them. Interestingly, the crows, rooks and jackdaws seem to be taking ears of wheat up into the tall hedgerow oak and ash trees, and then dropping what they don't eat onto the road below. This means that the areas of lane beneath the trees are particularly good for brambling and large flocks of chaffinch.
A large flock of stock doves, 30+, was feeding along the edge of the arable field yesterday, along with 200+woodpigeons.
Another unexpected bird  for me this morning was a Green Sandpiper which got up beside me from a marshy patch by the canal (First time I've seen it on the Wern) - lovely contrast of white lower parts and very dark upper parts.

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for information Sue, worth a look when snow clears

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  2. yes indeed, we'll have to try and make it over

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  3. Nice one Sue - lovely to have the Yellowhammer close by

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  4. Yes it's certainly a treat! Coincidentally, an article in RSPB y Barcud magazine which has just arrived, talks of a trial to encourage and provide for yellowhammers in the winter by planting various crops which will set seed for the birds. Apparently there's a concern that cereal crop seed may run out mid-winter, whereas seeded ryegrass can last well into March, and may be an option in the Glastir scheme in future. Certainly the Wern yellowhammers are benefitting from the wheat, and we'll be keeping an eye on how long the seed seems to last.

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