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!

Merlin and Llyn Coed-y-Dinas sightings

 

Many thanks to John Formstone, for this Merlin portrait, taken yesterday at the Tan y Foel Quarry near Cefn Coch. 

In other news, a Cetti's Warbler has been singing its explosive song in front of the hide at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas. Thanks to Luke Reynolds for reporting this on 16 Sep; on 17 Sep we (in the MWT work party) heard it again as we trimmed willows and raked the bank in front of the hide. This morning I flushed a Snipe from its favourite bank, and briefly saw a Kingfisher. I found an old Reed Warbler's nest while removing willows from the reedbed.  

Swallows just fledged, and 2 reminders

Many thanks to John Anderton for this fine portrait of two Swallows that left the nest this morning in an outhouse near Meifod. 

And two points to note:

There will be disturbance in front of the hide at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas this Tuesday and Wednesday (September 17th and 18th), as we (a MWT work party) will be working in front of the hide, raking the bank where the Snipe winter, trimming willows and reducing reeds.

Also, our opening Bird Group meeting is at 7.30 this Wednesday in the Methodist Hall, High Street, Welshpool. All are welcome to hear Chris Townsend as he shows us around the Outer Hebrides. The full Bird Group programme can be found at the top of this page: just click the tab marked Bird Group.

 

 

Nightjar near Pontrobert

Many thanks to MWT staff member Dulcie Fairweather for this photo of a Nightjar, found by chance on southbound migration. I expect several pairs nest opportunistically in the county, mostly in the first years of conifer plantations, but they are rarely recorded.

Llyn Coed-y-Dinas photos, and Pwll Penarth news

 

Many thanks to Tony Coatsworth for these three images, taken yesterday: Water Rail, Green Sandpiper and Kingfisher. There was also a drake Pochard yesterday, an unusual bird in the county these days. Today I saw a Common Sandpiper there and two Great Egrets. Please note that the MWT work parties there on September 17th and 18th will be working in front of the hide, trimming willows and reducing reeds.

Thanks also to Tammy Stretton, for news of a Hen Harrier female or immature over Welshpool Golf Course yesterday. 

Meanwhile, I was at Pwll Penarth Reserve today with a MWT work party, preparing for major excavation operations this winter. Heavy equipment will be brought in to create new lagoons, reduce reeds and willow, and improve viewing. The soundscape was dominated all day by a trilling Little Grebe.

Stonechat in flight

It's not easy photographing passerines in flight! Thanks to Aneurin Lloyd for this male Stonechat, fence-hopping near Cefn Coch on 19 Aug.

Online Wader Workshops

Gethin Jenkins-Jones of BTO Cymru writes:

BTO Cymru are doing an online wader ecology and ID training course next month, for the first time with a Welsh angle to it. It would be great to have as many people as possible coming. I've added the link below:

https://www.bto.org/community/events/202409-bitesize-wader-id-wales-2-sessions-tuesdays-700pm

Short-eared Owl

 Many thanks to Dave Lister for this magnificent Short-eared Owl, near Llyn Tarw on 16 August.

Juvenile Cuckoo in Dolanog garden

 

Thanks to Colin Griffin for this image of a juvenile Cuckoo, taken through the kitchen window in the rain yesterday afternoon. I expect the foster parents (probably Meadow Pipits) are glad it has fledged and left!

MWT Bird Group - 2024-5 programme is now ready to read here!

The 2024-5 programme of illustrated talks is now ready. You can read it here, by clicking on the Bird Group tab at the top of the page. Our season begins with Birds of the Outer Hebrides by Chris Townsend on Wednesday, 18 September at Welshpool Methodist Hall at 7.30. Here is one of Chris's amazing Hebridean photos:

A Corncrake! Now sadly gone from Wales, Corncrakes numbered at least 20 calling males in Montgomeryshire as recently as 1947, according to the annual reports of the Montgomeryshire Field Society. The last county record was in 1980.

To be added to the Bird Group mailing list, send me an email to montbird@gmail.com or a text to 07708-328987.