Reluctantly I have had to alter the settings to the blog due to a number of recent unwanted comments. There are still some people who choose to hide behind a computer screen and use the blog to voice their opinions with impunity. So in future, people who comment must declare their ID. Any unwanted comments will be deleted!
I would like to remind all users that the Monty Bird Blog is a forum for sharing sightings of birds, not somewhere to have a dig at any other user, or at the wildlife trust or any other body. If that's what you're here for, you're in the wrong place!
On another note, I'd like to politely remind you that the Monty Bird Blog is not a photographic blog. Indeed the proliferation of photos is having an impact on the way people use the blog (or not as the case may be). A number of people have commented to me that they do not look here any more because they are faced with a block of pictures (often 'repeat' photos) rather than a quick list of interesting sightings. And worse still, some have told me they have not reported a sighting because they didn't have a photo. Who knows what we are missing out on?! Photos are great to enhance a good sighting, and are ideal when trying to ID a bird, but please don't get carried away.
I welcome your comments about these issues - I am simply keen to strike a balance which will encourage good birding and bird reporting for Montgomeryshire.
Notable Recent Sightings
| 17/11 | Firecrest | 2, Castle Caereinion |
| 07/11 | Barnacle Goose | 1 among Canada Geese, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas |
| 07/11 | Hawfinch | a few, Lake Vyrnwy, also Bramblings |
| 01/11 | Short-eared Owl | 1, Cefn Coch Wind-farm |
| 01/11 | Great Grey Shrike | Gregynog |
| 28/10 | Great Grey Shrike | Lake Vyrnwy, also 1 on 30th at Eunant |
| 25/09 | Gannet | 1 juv grounded near Caersws |
| 07/09 | Nightjar | 1, photographed near Pontrobert |
| 17/07 | Quail | RSPB Lake Vyrnwy, also heard 20/06 and 08/07 |
| 24/04 | Long-eared Owl | 2, RSPB Lake Vyrnwy |
| 16/04 | Purple Heron | 1, Cors Dyfi |
| 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, September 10, 2013
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ReplyDeleteI realise I am a relative newby to the blog, but may I just say this:- I am an avid bird watcher who also has dabbled with photography. It is due to the images shared by Mark, Bryan, Phil, and others that I have been encouraged to enter the world of photographing birds. I have learned a lot from these members who are always willing to offer support and share knowledge. To this end ladies and gentlemen may I offer my sincere thanks, it was great whilst it lasted.
DeleteHappy birding everyone
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ReplyDeleteI personally stopped uploading my sightings due to the fact they had already been noted here but think if that if more birders were posting their sightings on here rather than keeping sightings in what seems to be a inner circle it would be more useful to everyone. It became more than apparent to me last year during the waxwing frenzy that some photographers don't care for the ringers and vice versa, I think this is quite sad I have in the past told Paul locations of nest sights and taken him there and sent Tony photos of ringed waxwings as I think that it's good to work together. I would say that both Tony and Paul see more birds in Montgomeryshire than most of us but post on this blog the least. My feelings on this matter are the same as Marks and soon as I have time will remove all my photos from this blog too. A sad day I feel
ReplyDeleteYes a sad day as it turns out I feel because I think people have over-reacted to Paul's original post. As I read it he was quite reasonably requesting that people lay-off using the site for bashing the Wildlife Trust (or at least standing up and being counted) and asking for moderation in the number of images uploaded. Whilst it is understandable to want to share good photos with like-minded folk not everyone shares the same enthusiasm for the finer detail of photography and these images probably are better posted on a dedicated blog. I'm sure he never intended for all photos to be removed or for no future photos to be posted, as he said "Don't get carried away"
ReplyDeletePhil, I'm afraid my lack of postings in recent times has not been the result of any "inner circle" just more a general disinterest with communal blogs after I was banned from posting on the Ceredigion Birds blog (having taken issue with a particularly insensitive post regarding the location of a rare bird's nest). That and the general disquiet between (some) photographers/birders and ringers you mentioned (I'd actually class myself as a ringer and a photographer anyway - I've never really been a birder). I have really appreciated you help with colour-ring sightings in the past and would hope that this continues. Even though I don't actually see much of interest in Montgomeryshire, in the interest of harmony, I will make a point of posting any interesting sightings in the future. If I can find my password I'll try and do so for the Radnor blog too.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCan there be a compromise? I'd like to continue to see many (perhaps not all!) of the photos especially of our more unusual visitors or where identification is in doubt. And that would include the odd grass snake, mink and so on.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time the exact location of Schedule 1 birds has to be kept off a public blog and just reported to our County Recorder.
So I would enjoy seeing more of your photos Mark and Brian.
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ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed coming on to this blog and looking at the beautiful photos that have inspired me in my photography interest. Identification of different birds has helped me know what I am looking at in the wild. Unfortunately now I shall look elsewhere for inspiration as it seems to be too political here.
ReplyDelete