BRECONSHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: Fresh Manx Shearwater remains were found at a Peregrine roost on a Brecon church-tower (3rd). A Great White Egret was at Llangorse Lake all month, with two (from 25th). Yellow-browed Warblers were trapped at Llangasty (8th & 22nd). There were 18 Ring Ouzels in the Claerwen Valley (10th). At Llanwrthwl, a Tree Sparrow came to garden feeders (13th), with six Bramblings nearby (15th). Hen Harriers hunted Gamrhiw, Epynt, Crai and Cantref Reservoir. Winter thrush migration peaked (30th) with 6,000 Fieldfares and 4,000 Redwings down the Wye Valley at Llanwrthwl.

LLANGORSE LAKE: Maxima included 161 Mute Swans, 540 Canada Geese, 212 Coots, 57 Wigeon, five Pintails and a Mandarin. The first Goldeneye returned (15th). There was a Redshank (8th), Dunlin (18th), 36 Snipe and a Jack Snipe. The gull roost (11th) held 750 Lesser Black-backed, 200 Black-headed and 13 Common Gulls. Ten Yellowhammers and six Red-legged Partridges fed near the village (21st). The Starling roost increased to 15,000.

OTHER SITES: Late broods of House Martins were in Llanfrynach, Penpont and Llanwrthwl. A Redwing was at Cwm Claisfer (4th), when 15 Crossbills were at Ystradfellte. A Short-eared Owl and Merlin were on Mynydds Llangatwg and Illtyd respectively (6th). Goshawks were in upland forestry at Talybont and Llanbedr. Fieldfare arrived with 15 over Llanwrthwl (14th), with many thousands crossing the county in the last week.

Sixty Redpolls were in Cwm Banw (24th). A Ring Ouzel was with Fieldfares at Neuadd Reservoir (25th). Fan Hir ridge (27th) held a Merlin, Kestrel, Crossbill and Greenland Wheatear. In the Tawe Valley, southerly Woodpigeon movements began. Andrew King and www.brecknockbirds.co.uk