Notable Recent Sightings

10/01 White Stork 1, photo'd near Llansantffraid, still present 22 Jan
01/10 Glossy Ibis 1, photo'd by Osprey camera at Cors Dyfi
17/09 Grey Phalarope 1 juv, Red Ridge Centre, Cefn Coch, photo'd
29/05 Pink-footed Goose 1, over Welshpool, photo'd on 09/06
01/05 Red-throated Diver 1, Llyn Clywedog
07/02 Whooper Swan 44, Lake Vyrnwy
31/01 Whooper Swan 51, Haimwood, Llandrinio
17/11 Firecrest 2, Castle Caereinion
07/11 Barnacle Goose 1 among Canada Geese, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas
07/11 Hawfinch a few, Lake Vyrnwy, also Bramblings
01/11 Short-eared Owl 1, Cefn Coch Wind-farm
01/11 Great Grey Shrike Gregynog
28/10 Great Grey Shrike Lake Vyrnwy, also 1 on 30th at Eunant
25/09 Gannet 1 juv grounded near Caersws
07/09 Nightjar 1, photographed near Pontrobert
17/07 Quail RSPB Lake Vyrnwy, also heard 20/06 and 08/07
24/04 Long-eared Owl 2, RSPB Lake Vyrnwy
16/04 Purple Heron 1, Cors Dyfi
05/03 Firecrest 1, Lake Vyrnwy
05/03 Short-eared Owl 1, Lake Vyrnwy
14/01 Pink-footed Goose 1, Dolydd Hafren
03/01 Waxwing 20, Meifod; also 5 Welshpool by canal on 01/01. Last: 6 Bwlch-y-Garreg 17/03
   
See Sightings Archive for older records

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Swallow to South Africa

Whilst we endure torrential rain and gales it's reassuring to know that some of our birds are enjoying warmer climes. Just 10 days ago, a Swallow ringed as a chick at Llanfechain in June 2015 was recaptured, alive and well, at a roost on the Umzumbe River in South Africa. The Indian Ocean must look quite nice at this time of year...

Most British Swallows do winter in South Africa but it's rare for a British bird to be confirmed there - just 1 or 2 each year from approx 50,000 Swallows ringed annually in Britain.

Our Swallow has travelled at least 9,830 km (6,111 miles) - impressive for a bird weighing just 17g. We even have a holiday snap of him (or her) in South Africa (note the sub-adult plumage with blue just starting to show on the rump).
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4 comments:

  1. Tony Cross9 December 2015 at 09:07

    Congratulations Mike, brilliant recovery. Although things have changed dramatically in recent years (with the development of satellite tags and geolocators) I'm not sure most people realise just how many small birds have to be ringed in order to get these few recoveries that help us to understand exactly where, when and why they move.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tony Ware9 December 2015 at 09:12

    Amazing - Great work, Well done
    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kev Joynes9 December 2015 at 09:31

    Lovely to see.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Daniel Whitelegg9 December 2015 at 22:13

    Fantastic recovery.

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