MONTGOMERYSHIRE BIRDS
... bird news from Montgomeryshire, Wales ...
Notable Recent Sightings
02/12 | Waxwing | 21 Guilsfield, 12 Montgomery, 1 Welshpool, and 1 on 01/12 Llanfyllin |
16/11 | Dotterel | 3, just west of Dyfnant Forest on RSPB land |
16/11 | Great Grey Shrike | 1, on edge of Dyfnant Forest on RSPB land, last reported 25 Nov |
15/11 | Waxwing | 25 or 30, just west of Lake Vyrnwy along the Dinas Mawddwy road |
08/11 | Great Northern Diver | A juvenile was found near Anchor, rescued and released |
30/10 | Black Redstart | 1 in garden at Hendomen, near Montgomery |
06/10 | Hawfinch | 5 in treetops at Powis Castle, by main car-park |
04/10 | Cattle Egret | Dolydd Hafren, a flock of c.30 |
29/09 | Red-flanked Bluetail | Dyfnant Forest: a county first |
23/09 | Manx Shearwater | 1st year bird grounded in Llanfyllin; released at coast |
03/09 | Cattle Egret | 10 at Cors Dyfi, rising to 32 on 05/09 |
01/06 | Turnstone | 1 at Caersws with Little Ringed Plovers |
03/05 | Wood Sandpiper | 1 at Dolydd Hafren |
18/04 | BLACK-WINGED KITE | 1 video-ed at Glan Mule, near Kerry: a likely FIRST for UK |
07/04 | Black Redstart | Female on Carno roof |
07/04 | Little Ringed Plover | Llandinam Gravels |
25/03 | Osprey | Female 5F 'Seren' arrived back at Llyn Clywedog |
25/03 | Pied Flycatcher | An early migrant near Llanfechain |
22/03 | Hen Harrier | Female in flight near Berriew |
15/03 | Sand Martin | 5, Dolydd Hafren |
15/03 | Golden Plover | c.50, Heldre Hill, Long Mountain, nr Welshpool |
05/03 | Whooper Swan | 1, between Caerhowel (Montgomery) and The Gaer, with Mute Swans |
05/03 | Pink-footed Goose | 1, Caersws, with Canada Goose flock |
05/03 | Jack Snipe | 2, Caersws |
05/03 | Hawfinch | 24, Powis Castle, feeding behind orchard |
28/02 | Pink-footed Goose | c.25, flying north over Welshpool |
26/02 | Merlin | 1 male, chasing Meadow Pipit, Long Mountain near Welshpool |
26/02 | Pintail | 3, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, 1 since 14 Feb |
14/02 | Hawfinch | 1, Powis Castle car-park, very vocal |
23/01 | Jack Snipe | 1, Moel-y-Garth near Guilsfield |
17/01 | Brambling | 80, in beeches at Pen-y-Waen near Cefn Coch with Chaffinches |
07/01 | Hawfinch | 2, bathing in puddle, Cwm Lane, Castle Caereinion |
28/12 | Hawfinch | 6, Powis Castle gardens at 1028 |
21/12 | Brent Goose | 1 of pale-bellied subsp. at Dolydd Hafren |
20/12 | Hawfinch | 1 in Llyn Coed-y-Dinas car-park |
27/10 | Ring Ouzel | Llandinam, with Redwings & Fieldfares |
27/10 | Golden Plover | 200-300, Heldre Hill, Long Mountain, nr Welshpool |
19/10 | Swallow | Latest record: Dolydd Hafren |
28/09 | Brambling | 1, Bwlchyddar, nr Llanfyllin - very early record |
15/09 | Yellow Wagtail | 1, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas |
08/09 | Little Egret | 22, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas |
19/08 | Hobby | 1, Welshpool; and 1, Churchstoke on 18/08 |
05/08 | Pied Flycatcher | 1, by Gypsy Monument, Moel-y-Golfa nr Trewern: late record |
26/07 | Redshank | 1, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas |
15/07 | Little Ringed Plover | 1 juv at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, with Green & Common Sandpipers |
07/07 | Common Tern | 1, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas |
19/06 | Egyptian Goose | 2 ads and 3 juvs at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, a first breeding record for Monts |
25/05 | Yellow Wagtail | 3 prs, Bacheldre near Churchstoke |
23/05 | Gadwall | 1, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas |
20/05 | Common Tern | Llyn Mawr, nr Carno |
11/05 | Dunlin | 1, Dolydd Hafren. Also 1 Hobby there |
03/05 | Common Tern | 1, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas |
25/04 | Lesser Whitethroat | 1, Middletown |
10/04 | Ring Ouzel | 1, Belan, nr Welshpool |
07/04 | Swift | 1, Mochdre nr Newtown: very early |
28/03 | Osprey | 1st arrival both at Llyn Clywedog and Cors Dyfi |
28/03 | Swallow | 1st arrival at Derwen, Guilsfield |
20/03 | Little Ringed Plover | 1, Dolydd Hafren |
12/03 | Brambling | 100, incl. 1 leucistic variant, Mochdre |
05/03 | Kittiwake | Adult found dead in flood debris near Llandinam |
16/02 | Pintail | 4, Dolydd Hafren |
11/02 | Cetti's Warbler | 1, by canal, Refail, nr Berriew |
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 |
12/01 | Goldeneye | 2, Llyn Mawr nr. Carno, with 4 Goosander and Great Black-backed Gull |
09/01 | Pochard | 2, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas |
See Sightings Archive for older records |
Sunday, December 03, 2023
Dolydd Hafren - 02/12/2023
Highlights: 3 Egyptian Geese, 2 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 11 Snipe, 1 Curlew
Saturday, December 02, 2023
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!
Waxwing Red Bank area, Welshpool
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!
Friday, December 01, 2023
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!
Thursday, November 30, 2023
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.
Saturday, November 25, 2023
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!
Monday, November 20, 2023
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.