Dolydd Hafren: temporary closure

 Notice from Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust: 

Our Dolydd Hafren Nature Reserve will be closed to the public from Friday 30th January until Monday 2nd February while we carry out some essential maintenance. 

Goosanders on the canal

 

Many thanks to Richard Bullock for the portraits of this fine pair of Goosanders, by bridge no. 122 on the Montgomery Canal on 23 Jan. 

 

Latest White Stork portraits

The White Stork is still in the same field (see previous post) as when it was first spotted six days ago. Mark Wilson took the top photo on 13 Jan; below is yesterday's dawn portrait by Meurig Garbutt in brighter light. Many thanks to both photographers. 
 

White Stork near Llansantffraid - now with updated photos

Many thanks to Helen Stear, who was the first to alert me to this rare visitor, also helpfully giving its grid reference SJ213203. Helen also sent a short video, showing that the stork was finding plenty of food among the cattle. Two Little Egrets are also in the field. The stork first appeared on Saturday 10th Jan. and was still entertaining all visitors throughout Monday 12th, still in the same field! Thanks also to Tony Coatsworth for the top photo - Tony also points out that bill colour shows it to be a juvenile. Being unringed, it must be a genuine vagrant and not one that has been rehabilitated by The White Stork Project at Knepp, Sussex. The photo below is by Richard Bullock - thanks Richard.   
 

A Dave Lister Album

Many thanks Dave, you have been busy! Dave took these excellent images at his reserve at Mochdre after a long hike from Newtown in the snow before dawn.                                                                                                                                     Long-tailed Tit and Buzzard

 

Goldfinch and Nuthatch

Great Spotted Woodpecker and Siskin

 

 

 

Snipe and ringed Cormorant at LCyD

 

Many thanks to Mark Wilson for this beautifully clear Snipe portrait at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas this morning. Mark also reports 74 Wigeon, 5 Snipe and 1 Great Egret. He also photographed this juvenile Cormorant and received this news from the Cormorant Research Group: it was ringed on 26 June this year at the Hale Duck Decoy, Widnes, on the north bank of the Mersey. This is the first reported sighting away from that site. Any further sightings (especially if it is seen elsewhere) can be reported to the ringer at kieranfoster@yahoo.co.uk 

 

Xmas wishes

 All the best to those who still support this erstwhile great blog and may you have a grand birding year to come. Special thanks to all at the Osprey project for the brilliant job they do and naturally Emyr and Janine. I raise a glass to you all.

Buzzards fighting

 

2 Buzzards fighting, Mochdre (at Dave Lister's reserve), 13 Dec. Many thanks to Rob Jackson for the photo. Rob writes, "Never ever, ever, in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to get two Buzzards in the same photo, but today I did. The fact that they were fighting was absolutely mind blowing, what a moment to capture. Huge thanks to David Lister for having this amazing experience

A very pale Woodcock

 

This very pale Woodcock was recently ringed by one of our local ringers (under BTO licence). The great majority of our Woodcock are winter visitors, breeding mostly in Scandinavia or Russia. They are mostly nocturnal, feeding either in woods or out in open fields in the uplands, probing soft earth with their long bills.  

BTO Ringing report added to the county bird report 2024

 

The BTO have now released the ringing data for Montgomeryshire in 2024, which can be viewed by clicking on the tab County Reports at the top of this page, choosing the 2024 report and scrolling down to p.33. A grand total of 6,704 individuals of 64 species were ringed in the county. The species most ringed was Siskin, with an astonishing total of 2,217. Next came 784 Pied Flycatchers (almost all pulli, which are nestlings). After the Ringing Report comes a list of recovered birds that were ringed or found ringed in Montgomeryshire. Among the most interesting is a Golden Plover ringed near Kerry, whose leg (with ring) was found on the island of Surtsey, Iceland. There are also details of especially elderly Blue Tit, House Sparrow and Dunnock, all aged at least six years. Many thanks to Clare Boyes for help with uploading.