Egrets @ LCyD

A nice selection of Egrets came into roost between 16:00 and 16:30 at the lake today. I managed to count 2 Cattle, 11 Little and 13 Great Egret before the light became too difficult to see.

Earlier in the day, Marc Hughes has a great selection of birds on the flooded fields between Belan and Buttington. Highlights were: 39 Pink-footed Geese, 19 Shelduck, 3 Goosander, 1000+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, 500+ Black-headed Gull, 3 Yellow -legged Gull, 9 Little Grebe, 350+ Lapwing and 2 Whooper Swan. Several of the Egrets that came into roost were also feeding in the flooded fields.

Now 47 Waxwings....

Clare and I finally had a few moments to watch the Waxwing flock at Newtown College: 47 in all, but frequently splitting up and disappearing. During the half hour we were there, no food was taken - they were just sitting in various treetops (often a conifer by the footbridge over the railway) but often taking flight. The Mid-Wales Ringing Group has been busy with offering extra food in suitably accessible trees and have so far ringed 24, if my informants are correct. Eryl reported the first ones (4) here on 4 Dec, so this is their 20th day.

 

40 Waxwings in Newtown

 

The Waxwing flock at Newtown College has increased to 40 birds, according to Mark Wilson and Alan Corbett, but there's not much food left for them there. Mark's photo (above) shows rings on both legs - recently added on site by the Mid-Wales Ringing Group: click on the image for more detail. 

 Paul Stratford also photographed the flock today, but says, 'birds were very shy and eventually got spooked by a Sparrowhawk.' These two images are Paul's: below is a fine Bullfinch portrait taken in Newtown on 11th Dec. Thanks guys for all the photos and reports.

Cattle Egret @ LCyD

(via Marc Hughes) 1 came into roost today along with 8 Great and 5 Little Egret (another 4 egrets came in too - they were either Cattle or Little)!! 28 Cormorant and 3 Grey Heron came in to roost too. 14 Snipe on edge and 42 Teal. 

Earlier, 10,000+ Woodpigeon over Newtown in 4 hrs. 22 Waxwing were at Theatre Hafren and  3 Hawfinch were at Powys Castle.

Newtown Waxwings.

A flock of 22 Waxwings at Newtown college have changed to a Hawthorn diet today. The windy conditions are making them very flighty.

This week.

 The Guilsfield Waxwings are now feeding on Hawthorn berries.

The 7 Pintail at Llyn Coed-y-Dinas on 3rd December, plus the Otter.

A David Lister Album, and shrike news

Three great photos from David Lister: this male Blackcap was at the College in Newtown, along with a female. A few remain in the county all winter: I have recent records also from Welshpool and Carreghofa, just west of Llanymynech. The Waxwing was one of a small flock at the back of the College car park. Many thanks for these Dave. 

The Sparrowhawk portrait is from Dave's mini-reserve at Mochdre:

In other news, the Great Grey Shrike is still with us - but now in Dyfnant Forest itself, but still 'a fair way off the beaten track.' Thanks Sam Sharpe.

A very mobile flock of 8 Waxwings seen in Guilsfield 4/12/2023

Waxwings Red Bank, Welshpool

The three Waxwing were back early this morning. Ive shown the leg rings enlarged but as the images are taken straight off my ipad they not great. Only one bird was ringed. If I get a chance i will try to get the number on the metal ring. The blue and red rings can be seen clearly.