Yesterday 2 swallows were the first we'd seen on the Wern this year. As Steve was out on an early morning run today, he disturbed between 30 and 40 fieldfares in the same area, which flew off in a northerly direction.
MONTGOMERYSHIRE BIRDS
... bird news from Montgomeryshire, Wales ...
Notable Recent Sightings
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 |

Sunday, April 11, 2021
Quail at Cyfronydd, Welshpool
Long-eared Owl attacking Osprey
On 6th April, the Dyfi Osprey Project nest camera picked up several attacks by an owl on Telyn, the resident female Osprey, on the perch by the nest. Most comments following views of the footage assumed this was a Barn Owl - a regular visitor to the reserve. But close attention to the underwing (see https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874095486503045 - especially the attack in slow-mo, shown after the full speed one) shows a short black line on the underwing, but no black tip to the wing. This combination rules out both Tawny and Short-eared Owls, while Barn Owls have a pure white underwing. Further attacks came on 10th April. So, a brilliant record - though Telyn might not agree. Thanks to Emyr Evans for posting the video, and to Iolo Williams for identification input.
Return of the prodigals
Not seen these around the garden for 3 weeks or so now so I assumed they'd either been eaten or were doing other things (no idea what genders these are - is there a way to distinguish between the male and female?) Average pics as taken through the lounge window so bear that in mind!
Thursday, April 08, 2021
Hide at LCYD
When Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust closed the hide at Llyn Coed y Dinas some 12 months ago, we had no idea how long it would be for, but I am sure that none of us imagined it would be for this long! We previously enjoyed good numbers of visitors to this facility, including many who like to spend long periods of time watching the birds and photographing them. Sadly, this is one of the very reasons which caused us to close the hide in the first place, not wanting to put people at risk. There were (and still are) significant concerns about cleaning, as well as the narrow access, with no facility to put in a one way system.
As you can imagine, the decision to close the hide was not taken lightly. We are a wildlife conservation organisation, who's mission is "To rebuild biodiversity and engage people with their environment by being an active and influential wildlife champion"; I have underlined the particularly relevant bit in this statement - the hide is there because we want people to enjoy the wildlife. In fact, the whole nature reserve has people engagement at it's heart. It would be easier for us to just leave the hide open and hope for the best, but imagine the potential ramifications should we cause a super-spreading event, for example! It is worth noting that RSPB's bird hides remain closed and that 'meeting indoors' is still not permitted by Welsh Government.
Nothing about this pandemic is easy and we thank everyone for being so patient with us so far. I wish to reassure you all that we are constantly reviewing the situation and will open the hide as soon as we can. When we are able to re-open the hide, a notice will also be placed on this blog.
Tammy Stretton, Conservation Officer, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust
Tuesday, April 06, 2021
Redstarts return
First singing male of the year heard and seen on Vaynor Parc, Berriew, Sunday April 4th. Great to hear, real sound of things to come.
Monday, April 05, 2021
House Martin and probable rarity!
Thanks to Paul Irving for this: "Llandinam birds on 4th April included a pair of Little Egrets, our first male Pied Flycatcher back at our boxes, 2-3 Swallows, up to 20 Sand Martins, 1 House Martin, and adult female Peregrine. On 5th April, 3 Little Egrets (birds behaving as a pair plus 1)."
Paul's partner Gabi also reports a probable Crane, on 3rd April at 9 a.m, flying steadily north-east over the Severn Flood plain east of Caersws. She is sure it wasn't a Heron with its neck extended (typical of an alarmed Heron), but we won't make it an official record. Previous county records are of 1 near Pont Llogel on 3 May 1961, and 1 in flight over Pumlumon in June 1983 (Holt & Williams, The Birds of Monrgomeryshire, 2008).
Mochdre

Sunday, April 04, 2021
A few notes.....
After weeks of having an abundance of Coal Tits on the feeders they have now absented themselves. Bramblings still visiting, and 8 ringed in the last 3 days. Green Woodpecker calling near Powis Castle this morning, but no sign or sound of Lesser Spots. Ceri Ridgeway was notable for the absence of Crossbills, but then I realised that the cone harvest seems to have totally failed. Best bird of the last few days was a very short-staying Male Garganey at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, flushed as well as the 2 Great Egrets by visitors trespassing over the fence!
VERY distant Garganey!