MONTGOMERYSHIRE BIRDS
... bird news from Montgomeryshire, Wales ...
Notable Recent Sightings
19/06 | Egyptian Goose | 2 ads and 3 juvs at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, a first breeding record for Monts |
05/03 | Kittiwake | Adult found dead in flood debris near Llandinam |
02/02 | Cattle Egret | 1, with 18 Little Egrets at Dolydd Hafren |
15/01 | Brent Goose | 1 imm at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, stayed to 27 Jan |
20/11 | Hawfinch | 7 at Castle Caereinion Church, feeding on yew berries |
07/11 | Snow Bunting | Hafren Forest. Also 1 on 3 Nov at Llyn Gwyddior, WSW of Llangadfan |
03/11 | Velvet Scoter | Lake Vyrnwy, with Common Scoter |
15/10 | Cattle Egret | Dolydd Hafren. Also 1 there on 14 Aug |
04/10 | Whooper Swan | Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, 1 juv. Also 3 ads, Llyn Hir, 13 Oct; 2 Dolydd Hafren, 1 Nov |
30/09 | Jack Snipe | Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, bouncing as it fed |
31/07 | Rose-coloured Starling | Llandyssil, in private garden. A county first! |
21/07 | Marsh Harrier | Cors Dyfi |
25/06 | Quail | Singing male, Glaslyn; also 1 at Old Hall on 17 June |
15/06 | Hawfinch | One male flew into a Guilsfield window and recovered |
09/06 | Long-eared Owl | Fledgling photographed at Cors Dyfi - confirmed breeding. 3 juvs seen |
06/06 | Great Egret | Dolydd Hafren, 2. 1 in breeding condition with black bill. |
12/05 | Whimbrel | Dolydd Hafren. Also a Hobby. |
06/04 | Long-eared Owl | Cors Dyfi: attacking Osprey at nest repeatedly, also 10 April |
06/03 | White Stork | Llanidloes. From Sussex re-introduction project, ring no. GB35 |
05/03 | Osprey | Flying west to east over Welshpool |
01/03 | Hawfinch | 1, seen well but briefly, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, Welshpool |
28/02 | Ring Ouzel | Old Churchstoke |
22/02 | Merlin | Carno Windfarm |
21/02 | Great Egret | 6 together on Caersws floods |
14/02 | Hawfinch | 10 at Ceinws, nr. Machynlleth |
13/02 | Firecrest | Crew Green, in private garden |
19/12 | Short-eared Owl | Llyn Mawr. Up to 10 in early Dec. |
22/10 | Cetti's Warbler | 1 singing, Pwll Penarth. Still there, 9 Nov |
18/10 | Great Egret | 2, Llandinam Gravels, also on 25 Oct |
15/10 | Brambling | Llanfyllin |
13/10 | Merlin | Between Dolanog and Pont Llogel |
12/10 | Merlin | female chasing 150 Redwings, Llandinam |
08/10 | Common Scoter | 1 female type, Lake Vyrnwy |
04/10 | Merlin | Short Cross, Long Mountain, nr. Welshpool |
12/09 | Cetti's Warbler | Pwll Penarth, singing. |
03/06 | Hawfinch | Machynlleth. Female feeding in private garden. |
01/06 | Nightingale | at Dyfi Osprey Project, near Machynlleth |
17/05 | Hoopoe | Caersws/Carno area. Same bird as on 15th? |
15/05 | Hoopoe | near Clywedog |
24/04 | Marsh Harrier | South of Llanfyllin. Over again at 8:13pm. Heading NW. |
05/04 | Marsh Harrier | South of Llanfyllin. Female type, circled over garden 1pm, then headed NW-ish |
29/03 | Firecrest | Ceinws, nr Machynlleth, photo'd in garden |
22/01 | Hawfinch | Llyn Coed y Dinas. On the verge across the road from the car park at lunch time |
21/01 | Whooper Swan | Nr Penybontfawr. 6 calling low over at 0845 heading upstream |
31/12 | Tree Sparrow | Sarn. A least 2 in garden - one also present on 1st |
29/12 | Pintail | Llyn Coed y Dinas. 3 (2M/1F),Water Rail, 10 Goosander (5M,5F), 32 Cormorant |
29/12 | Great White Egret | Newtown. Present am, bottom of bypass (Welshpool side) in field near road |
28/12 | Blackcap | Welshpool. Male feeding in private garden |
28/12 | Whooper Swan | Llyn Coed y Dinas. Single this afternoon |
10/12 | Great Northern Diver | Lake Vyrnwy. Off dam early morning, before circling high and disappearing |
See Sightings Archive for older records |
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Great Egrets coming into breeding plumage
Thanks to Meurig Garbutt for a potentially very significant photo: a Great Egret (one of a pair) showing two signs of coming into breeding condition at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas today: black tip of bill and plumes. In the Somerset Levels, Great Egrets are nesting on the ground in reedbeds like a Bittern, rather than in heronries. We are still waiting for a first breeding record for Wales. The delicate plumes, appearing in the photo to be on the wings, in fact originate on the shoulders.
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Swift talk by Sarah Gibson at Y Dolydd/Llanfyllin Workhouse on Friday 1st July 7:30pm
Join MWT for a launch into Swift Awareness Week for an evening celebrating swifts. Sarah will give a talk about these birds and her book*, then we will walk around the grounds of the Workhouse to experience the swifts first hand. The swifts return to this site each year to nest, and it is a wildlife spectacular not to be missed!
*Swifts & Us: The Life of the Bird that Sleeps in the Sky by Sarah Gibson
(William Collins)
BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Email lottie@montwt.co.uk to book. For more info visit https://www.montwt.co.uk/events/2022-07-01-swift-talk-sarah-gibson
Swifts in Montgomeryshire
I've been doing several swift talks/walks around Montgomeryshire as part of my role with MWT. We've had good numbers of the public attending. We have a swift group set up in Llanidloes (join Llanidloes Swifts on Facebook if you are on there). We had a great evening in Montgomery yesterday, with nearly 30 people attending, hopefully we will set up a group there soon too.
Keep an eye out on our website event page for future swift walks and events, I'll be doing some more soon!
Also, please record any nesting swifts, as well as screaming parties. Please record this on the LERC Wales app, send the info the BIS, or email me (lottie@montwt.co.uk).
If you're interested in finding out more about the swift work we are doing, feel free to give me an email!
Sunday, June 19, 2022
Egyptian Geese - a new breeding record for Wales
Thanks to Paul Davies for this photo from Llyn Coed-y-Dinas today. The two adult Egyptian Geese have three goslings, the first known breeding in Montgomeryshire, and (we believe) in Wales. Julian Hughes, editor of the Welsh Bird Report, tells me none has been reported before. Egyptian Geese are native to Sub-Saharan Africa, with a spike northwards along the Nile. They were first introduced to Britain in the 17th century, but have only recently spread westwards to Wales. Interestingly, they sometimes nest in trees, (even up to 60m above ground in South Africa), but also on the ground among vegetation - which seems most likely here.
Paul has also sent in this image of a breeding plumage Little Ringed Plover, also from L Cyd today.
Sunday, June 12, 2022
Osprey
About 1.20 today, an Osprey flew over Welshpool bypass, near the Grammar School, and was descending towards River Severn when lost to sight.
Thursday, June 02, 2022
Redstarts.
A pair of Redstart are being kept very busy feeding their brood near Llandyssil. Although getting an image of one carrying food is nigh on impossible.
Grebe family at LYCD
The Great Crested Grebes are busily looking after and feeding three Humbugs at LYCD this afternoon. Lets hope they manage to rear all three.
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Reed Buntings at LCyd
Thanks to Mark Wilson for these portraits of Reed Buntings male and female, at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas on 28 May.
Saturday, May 28, 2022
ID Challenge
I'd appreciate help identifying this bird, its either a Marsh or Willow Tit. I'm leaning towards Marsh Tit because of the smaller neat bib. Sadly I didn't hear it call so can't identify it that way.
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Apologies
Sorry guys , but something amiss with my mac Google acc. and it won't let me comment anymore-if it lets me post I shall be very surprised ! I shall be looking at your blogs ,but in silence!
Cheers kevj.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Yellow Wagtail
Thanks to Andy Knight for this photo of a Yellow Wagtail at Bacheldre near Churchstoke. He has found three pairs in the area.