Notable Recent Sightings

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
23/12 Waxwing Newtown College, first arrivals 04/12, 47 on 23/12, 67 on 01/01, 30 on 04/02
09/12 Cattle Egret 1 roosting with 8 Great Egrets and some Little Egrets, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas
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 19/01
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
   
See Sightings Archive for older records

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

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5 comments:

  1. BRIAN POLLARD9 April 2021 at 08:51

    Thank you Tammy for your update. I think we all appreciate the problems involved with the opening of the hide and look forward to access when safe to do so.
    I visited the reserve yesterday and was amazed by the amount of hard work put in by the volunteer group.The removal of shrub to the rear of the corner picnic area is particularly good and excellent views are available of the big island.

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  2. tarkamerl9 April 2021 at 20:50

    Thank you for your kind feedback, Brian. We always do our best.

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  3. Mark W11 April 2021 at 13:58

    Thanks Tammy - I fully understand the current position and why the decision was made to close the hide initially. However my question, I think Simon passed to you, was more about the criteria you've set within the Trust that you need satisfied before the hide is re-opened. Not to worry

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  4. Simon Boyes11 April 2021 at 16:15

    As I understand it, Mark, it's the Welsh gov't requirement to keep indoor attractions closed. That's the line the RSPB has taken with all their hides in Wales.

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    Replies
    1. Mark W12 April 2021 at 16:47

      And I have no problem with that Simon - eminently sensible. Assume that means therefore that as soon as the guidance changes (or the RSPB change their approach) the hide will reopen? As you know it's a big deal for me until I get my knee replacement op (should have been 2 March but damn this Covid impact on the NHS) as it's the only hide I can walk to, everywhere else is simply too far for a knackered old crock

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