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, June 10, 2014

Photographing Schedule 1 Birds

As we've had a few posts recently on Peregrines, it's worth reminding everyone that there are laws relating to photography of specially protected (schedule 1) birds at the nest site. If you're not sure what the law is then it is covered on many websites e.g. here

I'm not suggesting for one minute that any of our excellent county photographers have disturbed birds or broken any laws, but please be aware and careful.

Thanks

2 comments:

  1. Thats a bit harsh Mike - the laws do not just relate to photographers as you well know and to point the finger like this again is frankly ridiculous. As to the Peregrine pictures that generated this (funny how Kingfisher pictures never raise comment yet they are also sched 1), mine were taken standing in a gate next to the public road from Montgomery to Caerhowel where anyone can stand so how does that constitute disturbance?

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  2. All current and aspiring photographers should be aware and stick to these rules, but I have to echo what Mark has said. It is easy to single out photographers as the major source of human disturbance, as the pictures are the evidence that we have been there, but what about others who are intentionally there to see these birds and others who are not (farmers, walkers, climbers, etc). I'm not defending every photographer, there are those who go too far; there are stories or people climbing trees to get shots of a nest, Eric Hosking lost an eye to a Tawny Owl, etc. This is why we use long telephoto lenses, so we can get close to the action without getting physically too close.

    Regarding the Peregrines (also applies to those Kingifishers), it is a bit of a grey area, as they nest very close to a public place. As mentioned, those particular Peregrines are right next to the road, where hundreds of vehicles drive past each day, as well as runners and dog walkers, and they are perfectly at home with all the activity around them. In situations like these, it is up to us individuals to take the moral responsibility of knowing when to back off if the birds/animals become distressed due to our presence.

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