Notable Recent Sightings

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
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

Saturday, February 19, 2022

Local Variations in Garden Birds.

 In relation to the recent posts from Sue and Brian, I find it fascinating how different species are in the majority a few hundred yards apart. I envy Sue and Brian their Goldfinches (I've had 2 in the last month), their Redpolls, (0 here), Siskins, (0), but I regularly have all the 12 ports on the feeder crammed with Greenfinch, and 6-12 Brambling and Chaffinch on the ground under the feeders, with 2 Bullfinch also regular attendees. Since 1st January I've ringed 72 Brambling - a preponderance of males, but no "foreigners". For those who don't know, my house and Brian's are about 300yards apart. 

I am lucky enough to have mature Rhodedendrons just yards from the house, and a Sparrowhawk has been sufficiently interested to make a nuisance of itself the last 2 evenings as small flocks/singles of Redwing speed in to roost. I estimated the number this evening to be 50-60. Unusually this winter 20-30 Meadow Pipit have been regular on the grass field just higher up the hill. I presume they have lingered because of the relatively mild weather, and the availability of grass and other seed.

Posted by at

4 comments:

  1. Kev Joynes20 February 2022 at 11:26

    Couldn't agree more with first paragraph-so weird-same thing happens down here.

    ReplyDelete
  2. sue s20 February 2022 at 11:58

    Yes, I find it fascinating too Chris. I'm pleased to hear you have so many greenfinch, as we rarely see one, and to have so many brambling must be wonderful. (I'm happy to direct a few redpolls your way, if you could send even one brambling in this direction)
    We have friends only 100 yards away who haven't seen a redpoll in their garden this winter, despite having a similar feeding set-up. Perhaps it is the alders growing just outside our garden which help, and yet it's strange that they don't seem to be attracting as many siskins this year. So many unanswered questions........

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mark W21 February 2022 at 09:21

    Yep it's intriguing - don't have a problem with Goldfinch, normally 25-30 around the feeders, half a dozen Greenfinch as well and what at times feels like the complete Monts population of House Sparrow. Finally over past couple of days have a single Siskin making sporadic appearances but as for Redpoll or Brambling ... nope

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mark W21 February 2022 at 09:22

    Also plenty Red Kite - currently looking at 4 having fun in the wind, 2 of which I guess will re-use the local nest. Keep u posted

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