Cormorant & Egret near Llanbister
Taking a trip into town and having my camera with me I was delighted
to have spotted what I thought at first sight was a Heron.
Stopped to photograph and discovered it was a Cormorant, I then noticed some distance from it a Great Egret.
Managed a couple of photos.
Still there on return trip from town.
Margot’sCurlew!
Wow! Wot a garden tick! Margot Seymour had a Curlew in the garden this a.m. up Pentrosfa @ D olydd overlooking the mire. Wish I’d been there with camera!
Little Owl nr Llanbadarn Fynydd
(via Jane) one seen this morning at 7.30 (Grid reference SO069767).
Song Thrush singing
I’ve been listening out for the first one and this morning it paid off! Other birds already making themselves noticed round here are Mistle Thrush, Dunnock, Robin, Sparrow, Wren, Nuthatch, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, plus Ravens, Rooks, Jackdaws, Starling, Red Kites, Crows, Jays and of course Woodpeckers are adding to the mixed chorus. Anything else heard display calling or singing from where you are? I’ve heard Blackbirds sing in December and January but only in cities.
Big Garden Birdwatch | Join the fun – The RSPB
The dates are in! Join us for Big Garden Birdwatch 29 – 31 January 2021. Registration opens 9 December 2020! Find out more.
— Read on www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/
Garden Activity @ Llandod
Been a tremendous week on our garden feeders, making the most of our proximity to the railway line. Four different Bramblings, up to c.20 Goldfinches at a time, the odd Greenfinch, couple of Redpoll, Siskins, Long Tailed Tits, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper along with the Great Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Chaffinches, Dunnock and Robin.
Just in time for the
Lake& Cefnllys.
Wonder if other folk are having our experience, as following the snow , everything vanished save the usual few-even the Starlings “hopped” it! Then the drop in temp produced an influx today , but still low numbers : we saw 12 Starlings at our windfalls-unfair ; John Leafe has Redwings AND Fieldfares out at Xgates on their apples! The lake recovered its Goosanders after the ice-17 at one point plus a Cormorant and t’other day a Heron after an absence. Finally , a Pied Wagtail in town outside Kevin’s paper shop! What food there? Greggs ‘ droppings perhaps? No camera of course!The intruder is one of our lovely Bank Voles as per.
Lapwings @ Llandrindod Golf Course
Its been a long long time since i have seen Lapwings on or around our Golf Course.
Yesterday we had 7 flying over the course, they then landed on the field next to our
14th fairway. Glad i had my binoculars. Stunning birds.
Cefnllys
So the sun came through yesterday and lit up the remaining snow on the hills-beautiful at last-shame today was a grey waste! Finally got one of the Long tailed Tits-have to mention that Liz (Edwards) has a Short tailed Tit visiting her feeders-not a new variety , but a slight mishap! Ours have taken to visiting very late in the pm.Otherwise our local Song Thrush skulks under the hedge , scared of all (12 +) the Blackbirds; the Marsh Tit pops in at odd intervals and the Siskins are regular.
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Egret on river Ithon near Llanbister again.
Unsure if it was a Great or Little Egret to far away and I was driving passed.
Same place opposite Llanbister Road turning on far bend of river.
Drum roll
This morning I heard a Woodpecker drumming for the first time. Seems pretty early in the year.
Great Grey Shrike @ Pentrosfa Mire
(via ScottL) One seen at 1.35pm today. First sighted near the public footpath south of the reserve, before moving north to trees on the edge of the reserve itself.
As the snow melts.
Some of the guests at Cefnllys inc. Coal Tit and Swan -on -ice at the lake ,where I saw a Kingfisher this a.m. just before the lagoon,plus a glimpse of the Rail near the stump. A Mistle Thrush regular behind the cafe feeding with
Blackbirds.Oddly not much in the garden save Blackbirds and Starlings.
Great White Egret @ Crossgates
(via Bob D) Great white egret flew over Crossgates, heading east, about 14:40 today
Woodcock @ Llandod
One seen in flight around the lake today
Brambling @ Llandrindod
One fine male visited our feeders today.
Water Rail @ Llandod
One showing well around the lagoon area at the lake today. Two more were heard calling, one there and the other by lakeside avenue.
Woodcock @ Llandod
One seen flying over the main road at the north end of town.
And Down Came The Snow-Cefnllys.
A shock , but a pleasant one : it usually pulls in the visitors , but not this time! All the usual in good numbers-the Treecreeper is demonstrating how to keep your feet dry and not slip on the ice!!! Taken yest. morn before it started to melt.
Great Egret @ Crossgates
1 flew south past the bungalow at 15:15 today. In the garden, at least 2 buzzards have been fighting over some recent roadkill that was placed up there. Around 100 Redwings have been feeding in the fields surrounding the bungalow in the past few days, with a few other thrushes mixed in.
Winter Thrush @ Llandegley
(via SueL) What a bonus coming back from my walk at 1pm by lower Rhos common ,a winter Thrush with a wintery blue sky as a backdrop.
Confined to barracks!
Well we had ONE nice day! Up here the usual Siskins squabbling over the food-saturated of course and the same with Greenfinches. Imm Sprawk briefly, but I wasn’t quick enough ;
plus Gs Woody and Bullfinches. The odd Starling ,but thankfully the rest are costing someone else!
Cefnllys +Lake.
Delighted to see a Blackcap ( fem/imm) gobbling our sunflower hearts yesterday, tho no sign today.A
Starling showing off its gaudy colours-not appreciated until very close-not a fav at the feeders but sparkles in the right light. At the lake re 18 Goosanders and near the new”barn” on the corner just before Lakeside a Water Rail again, quite unconcerned ,paddling and pecking .
Lake & Cefnllys
Well, let’s keep the ball rolling as the powers that be have now decreed that we shall
have no Xmas-yup, I would prefer to be alive and walking than whispering carols in hospital , but WHY did they dangle carrots in front of us in the first place? SO…our Goosanders still-10 + and 3 Cormorants odd Reed Bunts and a saucy Water Rail parading on the bend to Lakeside ( possibly encouraged by Carol’s offerings), but no sound from a Cetti! Up here our Sprawk visits hopefully and so do the dozen Siskins and Greenfinches etc.
It’s XMAS!
It’s time to wish every soul that contributes to our blog, either by reporting ,or just looking, a GRAND XMAS and an even better NEW YEAR-you really are a lovely crowd and it’s an enormous pleasure to participate in such wonderful company! Keep looking and keep sending-you are all part of a privileged association , despite these grim times.
Mandarin @ Erwood
50+ on the Radnorshire side of the river today, on a flooded ‘pool’ at SO098435. Also 50+ Mallard, 1 Moorhen and 1 Little Grebe.
Woodcock @ Llandegley
(via SueL) Going for a walk across the side of Llandegley rocks where the bracken was a warm rustic colour a woodcock flew from the under growth . What a lovely coloured bird camouflaged well in the bracken.
Great Egret @ Llanbister
One feeding on the flooded banks of the river Ithon today, directly opposite the turning for Llanbister Road.
Cetti’s Warbler @ Llandod
The Cetti’s Warbler was relocated (I am assuming it is the same bird from yesterday) in the reed bed between the bird hide and Lakeside Avenue this morning. It can be very shy for long periods of time, but occasionally pops out in view for a second or two. Best way to locate it is to listen for it’s Wren-like ticking call.
