The end of September saw the end of my ‘summer’ bird listing and the start of ‘winter’, which the cold mornings have certainly reminded us of what is to come. This has been my 4th ‘summer’ (April – September) at Lake Vyrnwy and in my previous 3 I had seen 107 species each time. However I have struggled this year and with a week to go I was only at 101 species.
Sun setting over Lake Vyrnwy by Gavin Chambers
The lake was my best chance of finding new species with ducks starting to arrive back in the country for the winter. A few evening drives around the lake paid off on the 27th when I found a red-breasted merganser off the Old Village car park, only my second over the last 3 years. Other birds seen on my drives included mallard, little grebe, great crested grebe, cormorant and a mandarin near the tower on the 30th. There was also a late osprey heading down the lake on the 30th which will no doubt now be on its way to Africa.
Perhaps the biggest surprise in the last week was stumbling across a rather soggy red-legged partridge in the middle of the moors. This is the first time I’ve seen one of these at Lake Vyrnwy but was my last new bird of the summer and therefore ending on 103 species. Will have to try harder next year!
Firecrest by Gavin Chambers
So now to the winter and the arrival of some Scandinavian migrants. Last year was my first winter (October – March) and I managed to record 82 species. The first couple of days have been reasonably productive with a couple of black-headed gulls over the lake on the 1st (a scarce bird at Vyrnwy) and a stunning firecrest caught while looking for willow tit on the 2nd in the forestry around Abertridwr. Up to the end of the 3rd I have recorded 49 species which has also included teal, goshawk, lesser redpoll, crossbill and chiffchaff.
Rowan awaiting winter flocks by Gavin Chambers
It won’t be long before redwing, fieldfare and hopefully some brambling will be arriving and feasting on what seems to be tonnes of rowan berries that are brightening up the valley slopes. My prediction for this winter remains the same as last winter, a great northern diver, but I plan to try a little harder this time.
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