Wonderful Wildfowl and other winter migrants will be the focus of four Winter Bird Walks in the Brecknock area.
Llangorse Lake, mentioned in ‘Your Wild Wales’ members magazine, is the largest natural lake in south Wales. It is a magnet for migrant birds during the winter due to the rich diversity of life in the water and varied the habitats around it. Pintail, Widgeon, Shoveller, Gadwall and Goldeneye are regular visitors. Occasionally a much rarer species may appear. Last winter Llangorse Lake was visited by single Ring Neck Duck, a Long-Tailed Duck and a Common Scoter. If you are lucky you will glimpse a Water Rail in the reeds below the hide or hear them squeal nearby. Goshawk and owls scout for prey.
This year our Brecknock team will be leading four winter walks. Three of these will be at Llangorse Lake from Llangasty church. The dates and times for these are
Wednesday 20th November, 3pm to 6pm, with Andrew King, Brecknock County Bird recorder. There is a chance we will also see a starling murmuration at this time if the conditions are suitable.
Saturday 14th December, 10am to 1pm, with Mark Spirito, expert volunteer.
Sunday 19th January, 10am to 1pm, with Mark Spirito.
The fourth walk is around Usk reservoir on Sunday 9th February, 10am to 2pm, with Andrew King.
Places are limited so it is essential to book your place either through the WTSWW website events page https://www.welshwildlife.org/events
or directly through the WTSWW-Brecknock Eventbrite page https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/wtsww-brecknock-34126089069?msockid=2870d46ef5ed6ef213a0c400f40d6f75
Llangorse Lake also attracts migrants in the summer. Various warblers are in the scrub and trees around the lake. Lots of wildfowl species nest in the different habitats. Osprey are now seen quite regularly from the new nest near Talybont-on-Usk. Several Hobbies are often seen hunting dragonflies. Llangorse Lake was the first Welsh Dragonfly Hotspot after all!