Notable Recent Sightings

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

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Spring Trio on the Wern

A damp, grey, drizzly morning walk on the Wern this morning was brightened up by close views of a pair of yellowhammers. The male seemed oblivious to anything other than his mate, as he sang. Yellowhammers are one of the 3 bird species I always hope to see on a Wern walk at this time of year.  The second is the lapwing, and I wasn't disappointed, as a pair tumbled above a ploughed field where we've been seeing them recently. But the third took me completely by surprise, as I haven't seen or heard it here this year - but suddenly, out of nowhere it seemed, came the bubbling cry of a curlew. Last year a pair stayed for the breeding season, although weren't successful - here's hoping for better things in 2017.
To top off a very special walk , blackcaps were singing as I neared home - another first of the season for me.


3 comments:

  1. Well done -wish your trio hadn't disappeared completely from here! ( L'dod).

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  2. Thanks both. All 3 still around this morning - this time I saw a curlew but it wasn't calling - flapping its wings to gain height then gliding along and down for a while before flapping/lifting again - it repeated the whole thing several times before flying out of view. Hope it bodes well.

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