Another colourful Dave Lister photo and latest May arrivals

Following Dave Lister's Jay photo in the last post but one, here is his Great Spotted Woodpecker male, also from Mochdre on 21 April. Thanks again Dave. 

Also thanks to Eryl Selly for this latest migrant news: 

7 May     Spotted Flycatcher      Nant Bradnant, nr Llanidloes     

Red-throated Diver on Lake Clywedog

 

Here's a record shot of a Red-throated Diver taking off from Llyn Clywedog on 1 May. All divers are great rarities in Montgomeryshire! Many thanks to local artist Terence Lambert for both record and photo, and to Chris Griffiths for passing on the message. Terence had noted the up-tilted bill typical of Red-throated Diver when the bird was swimming.

By contrast, here is Steve Edwards' in-focus family portrait of Great Crested Grebes on Llyn Coed-y-Dinas on 30 Apr. Thanks Steve, it's brilliant!

Swifts are back! April migrant news and latest photos

First, thanks to Dave Lister for this Jay portrait from Mochdre on 21 Apr. Next come two photos from Llyn Coed-y-Dinas by Steve Edwards: Sand Martin on 16 Apr and Reed Warbler with nesting.... 

....material on 24 Apr - thanks Steve!

 

Now, the latest April migrant list:

29 Apr   Hobby                    Lake Vyrnwy

26 Apr   Swift                      both Llanrhaeadr and Welshpool

26 Apr   Wood Warbler      near Llanfyllin

25 Apr   Grasshopper Warbler   near Adfa

21 Apr   Lesser Whitethroat   Carreghofa, nr Llanymynech

20 Apr   Whitethroat           Hem, near Forden

17 Apr   Garden Warbler   Frochas Common, Cloddiau, nr Welshpool

15 Apr   Whinchat          Lake Vyrnwy

13 Apr   Cuckoo            Llangurig

11 Apr   Common Sandpiper   Llyn Coed-y-Dinas

10 Apr   Tree Pipit             Middletown Hill

10 Apr   Yellow Wagtail     Newchapel, nr Llanidloes

7 Apr     Reed Warbler    Cors Dyfi

7 Apr     Sedge Warbler   Cors Dyfi

5 Apr     Redstart             Dyfnant Forest

5 Apr     Pied Flycatcher  Melin-y-Grug, nr Llanerfyl

1 Apr     Ring Ouzel        Eunant, Lake Vyrnwy

Many thanks to Kirsty Martuccio, Tony Coatsworth, Claire Backshall, Paul Leafe, Tammy Stretton, Sam Sharpe, Tony Ware, Clare Boyes, Dulcie Fairweather, Nick Burton, David Warlow, and Steven Caunt for these records. For March arrivals, see the post of 30 March.  

Wheatear

 Many thanks to Meurig Garbutt for this portrait of a Wheatear on Long Mountain on 12 April. 

Hen Harrier

Many thanks to John Anderton for this fine Hen Harrier portrait near Lake Vyrnwy on 5 Apr.

Updated migrant news

 Spring migrants reported in the county so far:

16 March    Osprey                Over Carno (and 'Idris' arrived at Cors Dyfi on 21 March)

17 March    Sand Martin        Dolydd Hafren

19 March    Willow Warbler  Newchapel, near Llanidloes

21 March    Wheatear            Dylife

23 March    Little Ringed Plover    Caersws

23 March    Swallow                Guilsfield 

29 March    House Martin       Mochdre   

Thanks to David Smith, Chris Hurrell, Kevin Gallagher, Tony Ware, Alan Corbett, Paul Leafe, Len Lewis and Chris Griffiths for these records. Keep 'em coming! 

Also, thanks to Paul Roughley for help restoring the hyperlink on the Bird Group tab above

Mandarins in Middletown

Since 9 March, our remote cameras have been picking up this pair of Mandarins, both on the stream and one of our ponds. The female can be seen, well camouflaged on the tree roots above the male. We have 4 nestboxes for them to choose from.... Last year there were 2 broods on the stream (with 2 and 9 ducklings) but we don't know where they nested. The timing should read 0813 a.m. not p.m.

In this photo, Montgomeryshire is on the right bank, Shropshire on the left. 

Brambling at last!

 A female visited my feeder today, and spent a long time fuelling up on sunflower. The only one all winter!

Also, still seeing Redwing daily, often associating with the remaining small flocks of Starling. Peacock, Red Admiral and Brimstone in the sun too. The frogs increased their volume as the temperature rose!

Bird Group Summer Outings and a Meurig Album

 

Here is the programme for the Bird Group summer outings in 2025:

Thursday 10 April, RSPB Burton Mere

Wednesday, 18 June, RSPB Ynys Hir

Monday 15 September, RSPB Conwy

All the above events will be by car share, meeting at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas at 0830. Passengers pay driver £10 on the day. Members please bring RSPB membership cards; non-members £5-£7 depending on which reserve. To book a place, email Simon Boyes at montbird@gmail.com or text or whatsapp message him at 07708-328987. Numbers will be limited to 12.

In addition, (unless the forecast is very bad) Simon will lead a Nearly Dawn Chorus walk on Breidden Hill (to Rodney's Pillar) at 0600 on Sunday 4 May with an emphasis on learning bird-song. Meeting place in small car park on minor road by Middletown Hill at SJ297130.  

 

This programme SHOULD be accessible by clicking the tab 'Bird Group' on the toolbar above - but at present (for reasons I don't understand) the link isn't working. If anyone understands html, any ideas welcome! 

Many thanks to Meurig Garbutt for these photos taken yesterday at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas: male Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, and Water Rail (with a small perch). 

 

Barn Owl near Meifod

Many thanks to John Anderton for this magnificent Barn Owl portrait, taken early yesterday morning near Meifod. We have a high density of Barn Owls in the county, thanks to the tireless work of the two Barn Owl groups, the Montgomeryshire Barn Owl Group and the Species Habitat Protection Group. Between them they monitored over 130 nests in 2024: in which 506 chicks reached the ringing stage.