Redstart

Male Redstart in Powis Castle grounds this afternoon, near beginning of the car park. 3 Oystercatchers and 3 Shelduck at Coed y dinas. Quick look at the Flash but few birds due to a man sailing a dingy.

Surprise at The Flash

Having a few minutes to spare in Welshpool, I took a look at The Flash, a small lake behind The Flash Leisure Centre. Literally the first bird I saw was an fine adult Mediterranean Gull in full breeding plumage, calling its distinctive kow kow!, perched in the dead tree that dominates the lake. There is a small breeding colony of Black-headed Gulls there, as well as a few Tufted Ducks and a Reed Bunting. This may be the same individual that Chris saw at nearby Coed-y-Dinas 8 days ago. If it fails to find another of its continental type, it may well hybridise with a one of our native chocolate-headed "Black-headed", a name much more suitable for the Meds! The Flash is best viewed from a signed public footpath which meets Gungrog Hill by the secondary school tennis courts. 

Hawfinch

 Male and female Hawfinch this morning, Mochdre 

Dolydd Hafren

Sadly no sign of the Hobby today, but did get 5 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Little Ringed Plover instead. The 2 Great Egret are still on the reserve although not seen together (one of them has a small black tip to the beak, the other does not). Lots of Sand Martins in the front of the second hide checking out the river bank for potential nesting sites.

Swifts, Cuckoo and Lesser Whitethroat

24 April: Wynn and Brenda report 2 Swifts flying over Welshpool this evening.

25 April: Barry Long writes: "A Cuckoo calling this morning in Cwm Cledan, just below Carno Windfarm. A traditional site with a bird there every year."

And just now, a Lesser Whitethroat singing in our garden in Middletown. 

Dolydd Hafren

Spent the morning on the reserve, many of the female ducks are missing from last week, most likely sitting on eggs now. Still plenty to see though, the highlights being a pair of Hobby circling over the second hide for around 15 minutes. Other species included Kingfisher, Great Egret, Little Egret, Cormorant, Mandarin, Oystercatcher, Goosander, Curlew, Chiffchaff, Red Kite, Buzzard, Shelduck, Hare, and Otter.

 

Dipper Pontrobert

Single Dipper near bridge at Pontrobert.

Warblers: Garden and Grasshopper

Claire Backshall and I heard a Garden Warbler singing this morning by the River Vyrnwy between Llansantffraid and Llanymynech. We also saw one Mandarin and a pair of Common Sandpipers - there are plenty of gravel beds for them to raise young if the river doesn't flood....

At Dolydd Hafren, Will Ferguson reports a Grasshopper Warbler singing and a Little Ringed Plover on 19 April.

At Last!

Couple of very quick grab shots yesterday evening at 6pm through the lounge window - apologies not the best as still covered in Sahara dust (note to self ... wash 'em!). Seen neither bird this morning but eyes peeled - Tree Sparrow very intriguing, seeing it every couple of days now so am I being too optimistic in hoping they're breeding down here?

Pied Flycatcher, Pontrobert.

Brambling

The Bramblings have now disappeared from the garden, Last seen Sunday 18th. Pair of Grey Wagtail fighting Pied Wagtail under bridge at Pontrobert. Curlew heard calling near Pontribert.

No sign of Golden Plover, but a great consolation prize

 Unfortunately we weren't in luck when we went looking for golden plover today, but Heldre Hill was new to us and a wonderful place to be, surrounded as we were by singing skylarks, and a curlew calling in the distance. As we walked across the field, a bird suddenly took off inches away from my feet - on looking down, I realised I'd just avoided standing on a nest, which I think was a skylark's. I couldn't believe how open and unconcealed it was, but guess that if an adult were sitting it would be very hard to spot. I just hope the sheep avoid it. A quick photo and a hasty retreat - but an unforgettable experience.

                                

Golden Plover again.....

An evening visit to Llyn Coed-y-Dinas revealed a single Mediterranean Gull, in full adult plumage in amongst the 500 or so Black-Headed, about 100 of which were actively hawking insects. A single Great Egret is still present.
 

Golden Plover

 Some of the 51 Golden Plover, which look like the northern race, on Heldre Hill today. Found thanks to information from Ken Clarke. 

The male Orange Tip was much more difficult to photograph. They seem to rarely settle, and I was lucky that when the sun went in it rested with wings folded, and I marked the spot. It was obstructed by heather branches, but I had time to fetch a step ladder and perch on it. Twenty minutes later, the sun returned, it gradually spread its wings, and in 5 seconds it had flown!

Kestrel and Redpoll

Surprised when a really nice male Redpoll arrived on the sunflower hearts this afternoon. Kestrel seen Friday afternoon near the narrow gauge railway station in Welshpool. Couple of Brambling still on feeders.

Dolydd Hafren

Spent yesterday afternoon on the reserve and saw the following: 11 Goosander, 1 Great Egret, 2 Little Egret, 1 Cormorant, 1 Shelduck, 5 Curlew, 2 Heron, and numerous Chiffchaff, Mallard, and Buzzard. The Mandarin and Green Sandpiper are from 11/04.

Hares are showing well at the moment, but I had to include this one as I'd never seen one swim before, made my day!

 Flock of approximately 30 Fieldfare in the canopy of Gaer Fawr Guilfield this morning.

Swallows and Fieldfares overlap on the Wern.

 Yesterday 2 swallows were the first we'd seen on the Wern this year. As Steve was out on an early morning run today, he disturbed between 30 and 40 fieldfares in the same area, which flew off in a northerly direction.

Quail at Cyfronydd, Welshpool

Quail seen walking across the A458 at Cyfronydd, Welshpool at approx 6.30 this evening.Not sure if this is a captive bird for egg laying?

Long-eared Owl attacking Osprey

On 6th April, the Dyfi Osprey Project nest camera picked up several attacks by an owl on Telyn, the resident female Osprey, on the perch by the nest. Most comments following views of the footage assumed this was a Barn Owl - a regular visitor to the reserve. But close attention to the underwing (see https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874095486503045 - especially the attack in slow-mo, shown after the full speed one) shows a short black line on the underwing, but no black tip to the wing. This combination rules out both Tawny and Short-eared Owls, while Barn Owls have a pure white underwing. Further attacks came on 10th April. So, a brilliant record - though Telyn might not agree. Thanks to Emyr Evans for posting the video, and to Iolo Williams for identification input.

Return of the prodigals

Not seen these around the garden for 3 weeks or so now so I assumed they'd either been eaten or were doing other things (no idea what genders these are - is there a way to distinguish between the male and female?) Average pics as taken through the lounge window so bear that in mind!

Hide at LCYD

When Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust closed the hide at Llyn Coed y Dinas some 12 months ago, we had no idea how long it would be for, but I am sure that none of us imagined it would be for this long! We previously enjoyed good numbers of visitors to this facility, including many who like to spend long periods of time watching the birds and photographing them. Sadly, this is one of the very reasons which caused us to close the hide in the first place, not wanting to put people at risk. There were (and still are) significant concerns about cleaning, as well as the narrow access, with no facility to put in a one way system.

As you can imagine, the decision to close the hide was not taken lightly. We are a wildlife conservation organisation, who's mission is "To rebuild biodiversity and engage people with their environment by being an active and influential wildlife champion"; I have underlined the particularly relevant bit in this statement - the hide is there because we want people to enjoy the wildlife. In fact, the whole nature reserve has people engagement at it's heart. It would be easier for us to just leave the hide open and hope for the best, but imagine the potential ramifications should we cause a super-spreading event, for example! It is worth noting that RSPB's bird hides remain closed and that 'meeting indoors' is still not permitted by Welsh Government. 

Nothing about this pandemic is easy and we thank everyone for being so patient with us so far. I wish to reassure you all that we are constantly reviewing the situation and will open the hide as soon as we can. When we are able to re-open the hide, a notice will also be placed on this blog.

 

Tammy Stretton, Conservation Officer, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust

Redstarts return

 First singing male of the year heard and seen on Vaynor Parc,  Berriew, Sunday April 4th. Great to hear, real sound of things to come.

House Martin and probable rarity!

Thanks to Paul Irving for this: "Llandinam birds on 4th April included a pair of Little Egrets, our first male Pied Flycatcher back at our boxes, 2-3 Swallows, up to 20 Sand Martins, 1 House Martin, and adult female Peregrine. On 5th April, 3 Little Egrets (birds behaving as a pair plus 1)."

Paul's partner Gabi also reports a probable Crane, on 3rd April at 9 a.m, flying steadily north-east over the Severn Flood plain east of Caersws. She is sure it wasn't a Heron with its neck extended (typical of an alarmed Heron), but we won't make it an official record. Previous county records are of 1 near Pont Llogel on 3 May 1961, and 1 in flight over Pumlumon in June 1983 (Holt & Williams, The Birds of Monrgomeryshire, 2008).

Mochdre

A few from up Mochdre, loads of Siskin got the best that I could of one of the ringed ones, long tailed tit missing a tail, it’s growing back now though 

 

A few notes.....

 After weeks of having an abundance of Coal Tits on the feeders they have now absented themselves. Bramblings still visiting, and 8 ringed in the last 3 days. Green Woodpecker calling near Powis Castle this morning, but no sign or sound of Lesser Spots. Ceri Ridgeway was notable for the absence of Crossbills, but then I realised that the cone harvest seems to have totally failed. Best bird of the last few days was a very short-staying Male Garganey at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, flushed as well as the 2 Great Egrets by visitors trespassing over the fence!

VERY distant Garganey!

Swallows

Pair Swallows this morning Pentrebeirdd, near River Vyrnwy. Lake Vyrnwy bottom car park area at least 5 Nuthatch, dozens of Siskin, Tree Creeper. 2 Skylark Bala Road near Powys boundary.

From the garden

 Couple of shots from the garden yesterday - Siskins in particular very confiding.  Given up on the long-gone Brambling but complete lack of Redpoll a bit concerning

 5 Blackcaps singing in Gaer Fawr Wood, Guilsfield this morning.