Ringing Report added to County Bird List 2023

The BTO have now released the ringing data for Montgomeryshire in 2023, which can be viewed by clicking on the tab County Reports at the top of this page, choosing the 2023 report and scrolling down to p.30. The species most ringed was Pied Flycatcher, with a total of 1,444 (mostly nestlings). Next came 997 Siskins (almost all adults). Also noteworthy were 579 Redwings (mostly juveniles) but only a single Fieldfare! After the Ringing Report comes a list of recovered birds that were ringed or found ringed in Montgomeryshire. Most eye-catching is a Woodcock, ringed at Abermule in December 2020, found shot dead in Ivanovo, Russia in April 2023, almost 3,000 km away. Many thanks to Mike Haigh and Clare Boyes for the data and uploading.

Happy Xmas to all

 Sad to see most Monty stuff now  elsewhere but Happy Xmas to those who still use the site and have a good birding year in 2025.

Jay at Castle Caereinion

Thanks to Aneurin Lloyd for this portrait of a Jay at Castle Caereinion yesterday.

Latest photos from the WhatsApp Group

Many thanks to Dave Lister for the Nuthatch (Mochdre, in snow, 19 Nov), and to John Anderton for the Snipe (Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, 17 Nov).

Sparrowhawk portrait

 Many thanks to Dave Lister for this artistic portrait of a male Sparrowhawk at Mochdre on 18 Nov.

Firecrest in Castle Caereinion

 

Many thanks to Aneurin Lloyd - the Firecrests returned to the ornamental pear in his garden when he DID have his camera! They remain a scarce bird in the county, but every Goldcrest needs checking for this striking face pattern.

Firecrest sighting

 A pair of firecrests seen from my front garden this morning here at castle caerenion.I never got the oppertunity to photograph them sorry.By the time i'd got the camera they had already gone.

Recent reports

 28 Oct    Great Grey Shrike, 1    Lake Vyrnwy, by RSPB Office

30 Oct     Great Grey Shrike, 1    Lake Vyrnwy, Eunant: perhaps the same bird. Also 1 Ring Ouzel

30 Oct     Mandarin Duck, 31      Lake Vyrnwy, west end

1 Nov      Great Grey Shrike, 1    Gregynog, Middle Cottage along drive

1 Nov      Short-eared Owl, 1       Cefn Coch Wind-farm      

4 Nov      Woodcock, 1                Lake Vyrnwy, first record received this season

7 Nov      Hawfinch, a few           Lake Vyrnwy, southwest side of lake in beeches; + Bramblings

7 Nov      Barnacle Goose, 1       Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, with Canada Geese, still there on 9th

9 Nov      Hen Harrier, 1              Cors Dyfi, + Water Rail and Otter

9 Nov      Pintail, 7                      Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, + 25 Wigeon and Water Rail

11 Nov    Golden Plover, 5          Cefn Coch Wind-farm

Many thanks to RSPB staff Gethin Elias and Sam Sharpe, Simon Spencer, Claire Labrum, Sam Tolhurst, Stephen Caunt, Mark Wilson, Dulcie Fairweather, Paul Davies and Tony Coatsworth for these reports. Extra thanks for the photos: Barnacle Goose by Mark Wilson and Pintail by Paul Davies.  

 

With so many good records recently from Lake Vyrnwy, all are invited to an illustrated talk by Sam Sharpe (RSPB Conservation Monitoring Officer), entitled Lake Vyrnwy and the RSPB, at Welshpool Methodist Hall, at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 20 November. The full programme of the MWT Bird Group can be found here, by clicking the tab marked Bird Group at the top of the page.

Clearing reeds at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas

 

 

This Water Rail wasted no time in exploring the newly cleared area, to the right of the hide at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas. Many thanks to Paul Davies for this photo from 13 October. Five days earlier, we cleared a large patch of reeds to improve viewing and create variety in the reed habitat for wildlife. 

 

Young Gannet at Caersws

This juvenile Gannet was found grounded at Caersws this morning. Thanks to Sue Lloyd-Jones for the photo, and to Iolo Williams for letting me know. We don't get many Gannets in the county!