Notable Recent Sightings

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

Thursday, March 01, 2018

Feeding frenzy as conditions worsen on the Wern

Numbers of birds visiting the garden to feed have been building steadily over the past few days, but  today's snow has brought out many more, including at least 45 fieldfares which have been feasting, and arguing, on windfall apples around an old tree. Blackbirds have joined in bossily, often ousting the fieldfares when nearer the house. A song thrush seemed to have scratched away a small patch of snow to reveal a hard surface of some kind on which it could bash a snail this morning - it managed perfectly well, despite the conditions. Both male and female brambling have appeared (the first time we've had two in the garden this year) along with a female reed bunting. Lots of siskins, goldfinches, chaffinches, dunnocks, house sparrows and tits, but not a single greenfinch, or a starling.



What a hard time all birds are having of it - hope the snow and cold don't last long - it must be especially hard for owls, and other raptors.
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6 comments:

  1. BRIAN POLLARD1 March 2018 at 21:47

    Nice selection Sue, especially the Reed Bunting. Keep feeding them I guess!

    ReplyDelete
  2. sue s2 March 2018 at 10:28

    Thanks Brian - photos taken through misty windows and snow flurries, but are a record - have noticed many of the birds 'mantling' their food this morning (Fri 2nd) to keep others off

    ReplyDelete
  3. Eryl Selly2 March 2018 at 11:54

    These are hard times Sue.Rita mantling over our last slice of Hovis as I type. It does bring the birds in though. So far no brambling but a fieldfare to add to our garden list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sue s2 March 2018 at 19:26

      You're going to have to get baking Eryl - glad you've had a fieldfare though. There were only half as many here today compared to yesterday - hope that's not a bad sign. Have put out most of our apples now, as they've eaten all the windfalls

      Delete
  4. Kev Joynes2 March 2018 at 12:41

    Well done you.

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