Elan in the rain.

Looks like “Storm Ali” as moved on, leaving a very calm Elan Valley this morning, so Alan Corbett and I decided to venture out for a few hours, in the pouring rain. We were well rewarded with a steady movement of birds passing through, birds seen were 40+ Starling, 20+ House Martin, a Tit flock of 20+ contained Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tit, 12+ Blackbird (looking like passage birds from the Continent), 4 Swallow, 3 Little Grebe and a single Great Crested Grebe, 3 Peregrine, 2 Sparrow Hawk, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Marsh Tit and a few Song and Mistle Thrush. Others included, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Siskin and Crossbill,

Glanllyn held 22 Mallard, single Heron and a Snipe, while overhead were a few Swallow and House Martin.

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Manx Shearwater @ Elan Valley.

Yesterday evening at 5-00pm, we found a Manx Shearwater in the carpark at Pont ar Elan. In absolutely appalling weather conditions, with storm Ali bringing very strong winds and heavy rain, we got the bird to Aberystwyth, where it was safely released out at sea from the end of the pier.

Those Corvids again …

I know I know, I’ll be breaking all the rules, sorry – but I just had to share this with you and bring a smile to your faces:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lancashire-45536348/magpie-and-whippet-s-unlikely-friendship

That Wood Sand…

A bit of time elapsed to allow you all to appreciate Paul’s fantastic find! He must be the best young birder in Powys! And having found this great rarity in the middle of nowhere , unlike some I could mention , his first thoughts were for the rest of us, whom he duly notified and allowed all to share-just as it should be!Note! Here the Woody is wrestling with some unknown invertebrate which was duly swallowed and posing considerately on a branch. WOW! I might mention that Paul also rescued a dumb sheep stuck up to its belly in the mud!!!

a walk in Warren Wood today.

Not a lot going on at the moment, decided to make my first visit to Warren wood and visit Water break-it’s-neck Waterfall. Then carried on and walked onto the moor.

At the Stream (?) from the waterfall I spotted the Grey Wagtail doing it’s thing moving from rock to rock.

Then once I got out of the trees onto the moor discovered a small pond on which were two ducks, only when I loaded them onto the computer did i discover that it was a pair of Teal. Also managed to see a couple of Roe Deer. Not the best photos but record shots.

Wood Sandpiper @ The Begwns

I was very pleased today when I found this stunning Wood Sandpiper on the small pool to the south of the common – SO164436 . It was a very confiding individual, and with patience showed very well. Other birds of note included 2 Whinchat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Kestrel and 4 Common Snipe.

Over on Ireland Moor there was another Kestrel hunting, 7 Red Grouse hiding in the heather and 40+ Meadow Pipit heading to roost.

Earlier in the day at Glasbury, there were 3 Little Egret feeding along the river,  along with 40+ Teal. In the stubble fields, a flock of 3-400 Linnet were feeding and a Willow Warbler was heard calling.

Wye Valley Report

(via Sean Wilcox) 10/9 seen along the Wye between Boughrood and Llanstephan: 23 species including Chiff Chaff, 2 Kingfishers, approx 120 House Martins over 2 fields beside Llyswen School and 70 (seventy)+ Mandarin Ducks, 2 Goosanders and 2 Little Egrets in flight.