One heard calling and located at mid day, in the young Silver Birch plantation adjacent to the Penygarreg carpark. Upon Gwaelod of note were 30 + Goldfinch and 20 + Crossbill flying over.
Please note the Elan Valley is closed until Monday 9th November.
One seen today at one of it`s hunting territories. Other birds of note were 1,000 + Fieldfare, 500 + Redwing, 75 + Golden Plover and 50 + Meadow Pipit.
Elan Valley: 11 Ring Ouzels recorded today, the main concentration being between the v c carpark and the quarry at Caban coch, due to the disturbance from visitors, best viewing times would be early morning or late afternoon. Two local legends from Anglesey, Stephen Cully and Lewi Burgess thanks for your input today. Bazz (Long time no see) also reports a few Bramblings and Mike Nuttall had a male Ring Ouzel (See image below) at Claerwen and two Goldeneye on Dolymynach. The annaul meeting of Kestrels along the Aber mountain road stands at 12, also flocks of Fieldfares 1,000 +, Meadow Pipits 50 +, Chaffinches 50 + and Skylarks 30 + passing through. And for those interested, the Salmon on the Marteg at Gifach, are now showing well, which is why there have been sightings on the Wye lately of Otters.
(Via David James) One flushed from a stream on the mountain tops above Penygarreg.
And more Ring Ouzels, 2 ad winter males present in the quarry carpark at Caban coch, and at 4-30 pm, a 1st winter female was located on the berries in the v c carpark. Other birds (via Alan) 300 + Fieldfare, 100 + Reed Bunting and a single Woodcock were at Claerwen this am.
2 male Ring Ouzels present today in the Elan Valley, Caban coch quarry carpark.
1,000 + Thrushes flew high over Caban coch quarry carpark this morning, also Peregrine and a female Goshawk. 100 + Fieldfare and a male Ring Ouzel (seen briefly) present, at the road side quarry and waterfalls, just south of Ciloerwynt farm, but very active and proving difficult to see due to many visitors today. A Kingfisher and Heron were on Dolymynach late afternoon.
Good numbers of birds on the move late afternoon/evening, at least 800 + Fieldfares, 20 % Redwings at Claerwen, difficult to calculate as moving through so fast. 75 + Blackbirds and 30 + Mistle Thrushes. At the Sawmill 30 + Chaffinches and at least 2 Bramblings present, a Little Grebe and Sparrowhawk at Dolymynach, and 1,000 + Starlings were roosting at Hirnant.
Late news: Sunday 4th October, 50 + Fieldfares flew over the v c, and a Short-eared Owl was over the border at Pen rhos.
This am, Redpoll 40 +, Siskin 20 +, Goldfinch 20 +, a few Reed Bunting, Bullfinch, Fieldfare and a single Stock Dove.
Water breaks its neck. Warren Wood Radnor Forest.
27 species recorded this morning all in small numbers, of note was a ringed Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs, Fieldfares, Redwings and Crossbills.
Llyn Heilyn: 10 Coots, 5 juv with 2 ad Mute Swans, 5 Little Grebes and 2 Tufted Ducks.
4 Go Birding: A few hours spent at the lake, and the surroundings this morning produced 60+ Goldfinch, 19 Coot, 12 Tufted, 10 Mallard, 5 juv and 2 ad Mute Swan, 4 Little Grebe, an eclipse female type Gadwall and a Teal. Single Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, excellent views of a male Merlin, a few Stonechat, M.Pipit, Reed Bunting, Swallow, House Martin, Redpoll, and as Lee would say, a handful of Linnets.
Llanwrthwl and the surroundings, today of note were 10 Golden Plover and 5 Kestrel. Above were 20+ Swallow, 10 House Martin and a single Swift.
The last few days of note were: 150 + Swallows, 100 + House Martins, 65 LB-b Gulls, 25 B-h Gulls, 50 + Crossbills, 20 + Goldfinches, 15 + Stonechats, 10 + Reed Buntings, 3 ad Curlews with one juv, 2 Wheatears, 2 Kestrels and a single Hen Harrier. No signs of the Little Owl since the 3rd.
(Not the one pictured) Great find Helen, thanks for the message Alan. After serching all afternoon and two evenings, it was finally located perched on a farm gate at 7pm this evening, north of the village.
Llanwrthwl: Upon the moors at Pen rhos, of note were 15 Golden Plover, a pair of hunting Kestrels, female Hen Harrier and a Green Woodpecker.
At least two juvs present this afternoon hunting the dragonflies.
Storm Dennis came through, bringing heavy rain, floods and power cuts for most of the evening, with gusts of up to 70mph, the Aber mountain road was completely blocked by a tree across the road at Glanllyn.
The storms and strong winds also saw a passage of birds flying through, of note were 200+ Meadow Pipits, 100+ Swallows, 80+ LBB Gulls, 50+ Herring Gulls, 15 Cormorants, 2 Common Terns and 2 Little Grebes.
10-30am this morning, one seen briefly over Dolymynach reservoir. A Green Woodpecker was showing well in Elan Village.
Sad to report the death of Wales only Golden Eagle.
Here’s the BBC Wales News report:
Swallow 100+, Goldfinch 100+, Meadow Pipit 75+, Linnet 50+, House Martin 20+, Stonechat 15+, Pied Wagtail 15+, Skylark 7, Wheatear 5, single Kestrel, Whinchat and Wood Warbler. Also 10 Mallard, Little Grebe and a juv Tufted Duck.
River Ithon: 20+ Siskin and a Mute Swan with a single Sygnet.
Sad to report the passing of David Reading Thomas (Red) you will be missed our dear friend RIP.
News from Thursday 6th: On Foel a passage of 100+ Meadow Pipits, 70+ Linnets and 40+ Skylarks, other birds seen were 5 Red Grouse and a single Merlin. A passage of birds through Rhiwnant included 100+ Swallows, 40+ Linnets and small numbers of Red Grouse.
Today a very cold and misty morning with much discussion over a stunning bird found at Claewen, which turned out to be an albinism type Pipit. Other birds passing through Claewen today were small flocks of Mistle Thrush, Grey and Pied Wagtails, Goldfinch, Linnet and Meadow Pipit, Flying over Dolymynach were 5 Herring Gulls, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Herons were hunting along the shore. At the visitor centre 30+ House Martins are still feeding young and 20+ Chiffchaffs passed through, single Peregrine and Sparrowhawk were also seen.
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.
A female/juv type seen this morning flying towards Llyn Gwyn.
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.
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.
First heard this morning at 10am in Cwmdauddwr carpark, late afternoon seen and heard calling in the area.
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.
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.
One seen at 16-30 this afternoon. A female/juv type was quartering the hill tops just west of Pont ar Elan, along the Aber mountain road, flying south.
One heard this evening, also at least 3 churring Grasshopper Warblers. Other birds included Sedge and Reed Warblers, Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Stonechat, Bullfinch, Siskin, Redpoll and Reed Bunting.
Radnor Bird Blog 