Siskin influx could be a record-breaker

Siskin (Tony Pope)

Several readers report Siskins in their gardens for the first time recently. Records of these compact black-and-yellow finches peak in March and October, but larger immigration has been evident in recent weeks. Numbers reported to the BTO Garden BirdWatch in Wales last month were the highest ever, beating the previous record in winter 2012/13. Users of recording app BirdTrack report occurrence at almost double the usual rate, and large numbers have been ringed in some areas. Belvide Ringers in South Staffordshire handled almost 2,500 Siskins last month, including individuals previously ringed in Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Czechia.

Many of these Siskins wintered in southwest Europe and are on their way back to forests in Russia and northeast Europe, having taken a longer arc through Britain rather than across central Europe. Siskins visiting Wales in winter usually originate in Scotland, Norway and Sweden, although one ringed in Llandygai, near Bangor, in February 2013 was found near St Petersburg the following summer.

Last week saw Ospreys return to their North Wales breeding sites: pairs to Cors Dyfi, Glaslyn and Hafren Forest. At Llyn Brenig, the male of last year’s returned, and as of Monday, the nest had been visited by two different females, including one released in Poole Harbour in 2021. Ospreys were also at RSPB Conwy, the Great Orme, Llyn Tegid and Llandderfel.

Other summer migrants to arrive before the end of March included Little Ringed Plover on the Clwyd estuary and House Martins at RSPB Cors Ddyga, Rhuddlan and Gresford Flash. A Ring Ouzel was on the Great Orme, a Cattle Egret on the Conwy estuary and a couple of Snow Buntings at Cemlyn last week. Black-necked Grebe and Slavonian Grebes remain in Beddmanarch Bay, Surf Scoters at Llanddulas, and eight Long-tailed Ducks and a Little Gull were off Criccieth on Friday.