Tufty time!
Yesterday on L’dod lake , Carlton found a Tufty with 7 ducklings-haven’t managed to get there yet, but strangely we found a fem .Tufty with 7 wee Tufties on Rhogo pond-but no sign of a single Dabchick.
Ring-necked parakeet
After a week of fleeting squawking, and a neighbour catching a glimpse of a green bird, today [Thurs 6th] a ring-necked parakeet has been flying round the gardens at the bowling club end of North Road in Builth, just south of the Wye. An unholy cacophony and an unwelcome visitor. I feed the local native wild birds – I DON’T intend feeding this alien.
Llyn Gwyn
No signs of a Hobby today, other birds seen between the showers included 30+ Swallows and 20+ House Martins over the water, there were 18 Canada Geese on the banks, 5 Crossbills feeding on the pines, and a distant Goshawk.
Hobby @ Nant Glas.
A female/juv type seen this morning flying towards Llyn Gwyn.
Heather’s blackbird.
Heather managed to get this despite isolation.
`lolo: The Last Wilderness of Wales`
A year ago myself and many others was asked to get involved with a BBC film about the wildlife in the Cambrian mountains, the first of four episodes is scheduled for 7-30pm this Thursday 6th August on BBC One Wales `lol: The Last Wilderness of Wales, enjoy.
L’dod Lake latest
After a short summer lasting one morning, a spot of news as one of the Terrapins pops up on the dragon and a Coot comes to investigate , but takes no further interest and then the Heron grabs a small fish, which will probably keep him going for another 5 mins!!! Amazing how the wildlife functions despite the HORDES of visitors and several caravanettes. One question….where is the fem GCgrebe and those youngsters???? A few hirundines around , but the Warbs feed in silence!
L’dod lake update
Reed Warbs by lakeside now a fully grown family and hardly a tweet to signal their presence ; no sign of any wee Grebes-what are they playing at? Gulls gone ; 2 Cormorants still; Moorhen young growing rapidly-did you ever see such ungainly birds ? ; otherwise the leucistic fem Blackbird now feeding fully grown young.Sad to hear no songs again-time flies!
Rhogo
Yesterday was Stonechat day with youngsters all over the gorse and walls, but also a family of Redstarts near the grid at the east end of the common; a solitary imm Wheatear and a hare at the other end. Just one dabchick seen on the pond-where have the 2 broods gone already? Male Stonechat not on bike and he was socially distancing.
Mr. B. paid us a visit
A splendid male bullfinch posed proudly in his natty jacket this morning. The robins eyed his attire jealously as they could not compete with such splendour!
Jays @ Llandrindod
After Barry’s post yesterday, I was pleased to see a family of 3 jays visit our feeders today!
Llandrindod Garden Report
(via BarryH) Woodlands, Cefnllys Lane. I had a fully laden cherry tree in my garden up to three days ago until a family of jays, two adults and two juveniles, blackbirds, a thrush, 2 magpies and blue tits decided to descend on the tree over the period and the cherry tree is now bare of fruit!!!!! A sight to see especially the small blue tits pecking at the fruit but the rest take them away whole.
Separately, two wrens visited today which was good to see. Blackbirds still feeding chicks too.
Cefnllys etc.
Catchup time as been off to see the long lost grandchilders, but meantime nobody has added owt! Soooo-Sprawk seen x2 up Golf, along with the Tawny ( Margot’s find );back here and some waterlogged Siskins and Redpolls plus local Buzzards; Heron on lake and young GS Woody.
LTT’s are back!
Five came to sample the buffet but I heard several more contact call rattling in the trees and bushes nearby.
Also… who has the scruffiest raggedy-taggedy blackbird in their garden so far? 😉 Enjoy before they disappear from view for a while.
Llandod golf course
A lovely reed bunting still singing his ‘crash…bang…wallop’ song near the 13th, also a stonechat and a lone whinchat around the 15th, plus the usual red kite characters having a look at us overhead. A few harebells were bravely blooming in the breeze.
Elan-Sat a.m.
Not a lot around now , but a family of Redstarts nr Dolymynach and singles at several other spots en route, plus odd Stonechats and Mippets.Finally a family of Whinchats above Craig goch trying to ignore the bikers etc. Pics of male, fem with caterpillar and youngster.Another 2 Whinchats further on but by then the road was awash with bikers/cars and finally skateboarders.
Let `em In.
So the goverment decided to open the gates, and let `em In and wow did they come. Hundreds and hundreds of visitors here today (Rhayader/Elan Valley) and the surroundings. We decided to head off to the hills of the Marteg Valley (10am – 1pm), highlight of the morning came with a stunning male/juv type Goshawk found by Lee “well done”. Other birds of note included numerous party`s of juvenile Spotted Flycatchers, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Goldcrests, Blackcaps, Stonechats, Whinchats, Long-tailed Tits, Bullfinches and Redstarts. Others seen were 2 Tree Pipits, single Dipper, Pied Flycatcher, Wheatear, Garden Warbler and Reed Bunting, a few hirundines were passing over the mountain tops.
OTTER HOLT
(Lunch Break) Not to far from the river Marteg/Wye junction, amazing views of a small Otter pup catching a fish almost as big as itself and taking it back to the holt.
NANTMEL
2pm – 4pm. A very quiet afternoon apart from a distant reeling Grasshopper Warbler, single Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler and a juvenile party of Redstarts.
Rock Park-Spotty.
3rd attempt!!! Good job I’m persistent! The Spotties have done well : 2 families within shouting distance of the cafe and environs plus one by Carol in the air vent of the bowling club!!! I witnessed a scuffle betwixt 2 males by the canopy after putting in 15 pus hours with the tripod etc! Phew! Yup-it’s worthwhile especially if you get some reasonable pics to share:
L’dod lake& environs.
Yesterday FOUR Cormorants ( watch out fisher guys!) & the Heron (watch out youngsters ) ; Reed Warbs feeding fully grown young, Hirundines plus a Swift overhead,Chiffchaff still shouting and a Song Thrush worming by lagoon. On Powys HQ pool , FIVE young Moorhens and the remaining cygnet ( out of 3 ); nearby on verge by Cefnllys School , a couple of leucistic Crows adding diversity to the fem .Blackbird @ the lagoon.
Osprey @ Abbey Cwm Hir
(via Wynne & Karyn Evans) 1st July 2:30pm, SN 022, 706 end of fenceline,
Rhayader to Abbeycwmhir road.
Having seen ospreys previously in the UK and Africa we are fairly confident it was an osprey. It was directly above the fenceline on the LHS of the road opposite the old quarry. by the Lan Goch plantation (now cleared)
It was hanging in the air – wind hovering!
But there are no fish at Lan Goch only brushwood and tree stumps.
ELAN part 2
So on up the valley to Hirnant and plenty of Swallows;thanks to too many bikers, we only saw 2 Whinchats, male & female and finally a single Wheatear. Probably more Whinchats etc on a quieter day.
ELAN…at last! part1
Wonderful to get back even if it’s the end of the breeding season.First we found a family of Redstarts near the VC, then Stonechats up by the dam , plus a Grey wagtail. 2 Peregrines were screeching high above.
Margot’s Owl.
Snapped on the phone, Margot Seymour saw this Tawny on the back road to Shaky Bridge this a.m. I popped up and managed to see it but it was mobbed and driven off before I could point the lens! Well spotted Margot.
Green Woodpecker @ Rhayader.
First heard this morning at 10am in Cwmdauddwr carpark, late afternoon seen and heard calling in the area.
Elan Valley Open.
From tomorrow 6th July, the Elan Valley will be open to all visitors, all carparks and toilets will be open, food will be availble in the visitor centre carpark from outside catering, the visitor centre building will remain closed.
Birds seen locally recently have included, Spotted Flycatchers breeding at the visitor centre for the second year, Redstarts nesting in Caban coch quarry carpark, probably due to it being so quiet recently, and a pair of Common Sandpipers on the banks of caban coch reservoir. At Dolymynach a Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtails, House Martins, Swallows and Sand Martins. Numerous Meadow Pipits, Stonechats and Wheatears down Claerwen, and at Ciloerwynt meadows, Linnets and Reed Buntings. Tree Pipits, Stonechats and a pair of Canada Geese between Penygarreg and Craig goch, and a Kestrel at Pont ar Elan.
Back to the Rhogo
Delighted to catch one of the first brood Little Grebes pus one of the second-I really thought the first lot had perished ( how many times do we get stuff wrong in the wild!!??). Plus first brood Wheatears and I think they are on the second now. Several pairs up there along with many Stonechats, some Redstarts and the odd Whinchat.Skylarks abundant too.A solitary Kestrel and 2 pairs of Linnets.
ROCK SPOTTIES
Update on one of our prize migrants : all seems well , tho I am a bit out of touch…why is male feeding female at this point when one would be expecting them to be feeding young? Prob not solved today when I spent 2/1/2 hours waiting with no sign of a bird-not helped by 2 young men swapping ultra loud vocal notes for 50 MINS at ultra voce 30 feet away-you would think folk might notice a guy with a tripod and 600mmm lens trying to do a job????
Nightjars @ Bwlch-y-Sarnau.
Yesterday evening in glorious sunshine and having to contend with thousands of midges, the Nightjars were performing with at least 3 churring birds, also 25 + Crossbills and a Goshawk.
Bwlch y Sanau
Very early this morning, my husband spotted a Merlin at Bwlch y Sarnau.
