Waxwings in garden , Red Bank Welshpool

Three Waxwings visited the garden today, very foggy and image through double glazing.

Dolydd Hafren - 02/12/2023

Highlights: 3 Egyptian Geese, 2 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 11 Snipe, 1 Curlew

Merlin - Belan Locks

Seen around 10:30 in the fields above the canal.

Waxwings invading!

 

Tony Coatsworth took these two photos in Celyn Lane, Guilsfield this afternoon. I visited later and counted 21. So, in addition to Iolo's sighting in Llanfyllin and Brian's on Red Bank, Welshpool, and these 21, David Lister also had 12 in Montgomery this morning. Quite a sudden invasion!

Thanks Tony and everyone else who has reported these special irruptive visitors.

Waxwing Red Bank area, Welshpool

Single Waxwing on young Sorbus in the garden today, 12.45pm.First Waxwing to visit the garden.

Waxwing in Llanfyllin

 

Iolo Williams photographed this Waxwing in Llanfyllin yesterday. And just now I received a report of 20 Waxwings in Celyn Lane, Guilsfield. Thanks Iolo!

Merlin close to Hafren Forest

 

Many thanks to John Williams for this fine Merlin portrait taken yesterday, near Hafren Forest. 

Meanwhile, in nearby Shrewsbury, 3 Waxwings have just been reported. Keep a look out!

Whooper Swan at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas

Thanks to Tony Coatsworth for this image of a Whooper with two Mute Swans at L CyD this morning. It flew north at 1050: Tony adds, 'the local Mute Swans weren't interested in him so he flew off.'

I have updated the post about the Great Northern Diver with all that I now know of this unusual incident. 

Sam Sharpe has written in the Whats App Group that the Great Grey Shrike was still in the same spot on the edge of Dyfnant Forest on 25 Nov.

Great Northern Diver rescued, rehabilitated and released

 

This juvenile Great Northern Diver crash-landed in a garden near Anchor in recent stormy weather. It was taken to a local vet, who checked it over, found it uninjured, and brought it for further rehab to Cuan House Wildlife Rescue, in Much Wenlock. There it was cared for, ringed and later released in a suitable location (believed to be a West Midlands reservoir). 

I now know the date was 8 Nov. Congratulations to Newtown vet Ian Saxon, and to Cuan House for their care and the successful outcome. The photo comes from the Shropshire Star, who called it a 'diver duck' and wrote that it was 'ringed to ensure he doesn't get into any more trouble.....!' 

This portrait comes from the Chelmarsh Ringing Group, whom Cuan House called in to ring it. Thanks to them, especially to James the ringer. 

One mystery remains: is it a good record for Montgomeryshire, or for Shropshire or even Radnorshire? It arrived 'near Anchor' - which is a group of houses on the border of these three counties!

Water Rail and Great Grey Shrike photos

 

This Water Rail was one of three at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas on 18 Nov. A great capture by Tony Coatsworth. There were 2 Pintail there also. 

And here is the Great Grey Shrike, still in the same (inaccessible!) spot on the edge of Dyfnant Forest on 19 Nov. I thought about cropping or editing the photo, but when Sam Sharpe described the weather (when it was taken) as 'absolutely appalling,' I decided to leave it in its atmospheric splendour. Click on the photo for more detail. Also there were 2 Woodcock and 8 Waxwing.

Many thanks Tony and Sam.