Nightjar field trip: Resolven
2026-06-26 20:00 - 22:30 (Europe/London)
RESCHEDULED – following the poor weather on Friday
A walk into the forestry at Abergarwed, Resolven, to watch and listen for nightjar. Other species that have the potential to be present include goshawk, crossbill, lesser redpoll, siskin, grasshopper warbler and a range of more widespread species.
The event will be led by Eddie Hunter, and will be a couple of hours duration.
Please bring midge repellent, snacks / drink and ensure you wear appropriate footwear for the rough tracks that we will be walking on.
Park off B4242 south of Abergarwed at Ordnance Survey Grid Reference SN 81343 02218, What3Words ///ants.tortoises.director
Please register with Jeremy Douglas-Jones in case we need to refine arrangements.

Pennard Swift Walk
2026-06-30 20:30 - 22:00
Come and join us on a Swift survey of your area. No booking required

Penlan Swift Walk
2026-07-02 20:30 - 22:00

Oxwich Marsh Ringing Demonstration
2026-07-18 08:00 - 11:00
Join Gower Ringing Group at Oxwich Marsh. The timing of the field trip should ensure that fledgling willow, sedge, reed, Cetti’s and grasshopper warbler are likely, along with tits, finches, reed buntings and a variety of other species. Previous attendees have seen species such as kingfisher and hawfinch.
Owain Gabb will talk you through the features of the species captured, including how you identify and age them, and the biometric data the group takes on behalf of the BTO.
The meeting point is in the large field on the marsh road. You will be met and greeted, and we will then assemble at a discreet distance from the ringing area, allowing birds to be brought across to us once they have been processed by the team. Please bring appropriate clothing for the weather, food and drink and a fold out chair, as there will be time spent waiting for birds to be brought to us.
The event will be called off if there is significant rain or wind forecast.
The gate to the field in which we will meet is at:

Grid Reference SS 50282 87259
X (Easting) , Y (Northing) 250282 , 187259
Latitude , Longitude (degs, mins, secs) 51°33′51″N , 004°09′41″W
What3Words: firebird.liked.bucket
The address is given as: Penrice, Oxwich, Swansea, Wales, SA3 1LS, United Kingdom (but please don’t rely on the post code for your SatNav).

See below

GOS Pelagic Trip 1
2026-08-26 09:30 - 13:30
Our first GOS pelagic trip.
The purpose will be to travel a few miles out of Swansea off the south Gower coast in order to see if a bit of chumming (putting out some smelly fish-based oily bait) can result in some shearwaters and petrels that are not commonly seen in our recording area being attracted in. We have chartered a boat that is normally used for recreational fishing.
Please express an interest to Jeremy early, as the boat will be restricted to 10-12 passengers. The cost is likely to be around £45 ppn. This event is open to GOS members only, given the limited place availability.
If it proves successful and well subscribed we will seek to run it in future years.
Departure point is the fuelling pontoon at Swansea Marina ///sums.divide.hangs

GOS Pelagic Trip 2
2026-09-02 12:00 - 16:30
Our second GOS pelagic trip (and the last for 2026).
The purpose will be to travel a few miles out of Swansea off the south Gower coast in order to see if a bit of chumming (putting out some smelly fish-based oily bait) can result in some shearwaters and petrels that are not commonly seen in our recording area being attracted in. We have chartered a boat that is normally used for recreational fishing.
Please express an interest to Jeremy early, as the boat will be restricted to 10-12 passengers. The cost is likely to be around £45 ppn. This event is open to GOS members only, given the limited place availability.
If it proves successful and well subscribed we will seek to run it in future years.
Departure point is the fuelling pontoon at Swansea Marina ///sums.divide.hangs

Conservation of Birds that cross Continents and Cultures
2026-09-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Online
Professor Juliet Vickery, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the British Trust for Ornithology and former Head of International Conservation Science at RSPB will address us in an online talk.
The challenges facing migratory birds are considerable. Changing climatic conditions and land use on their wintering and breeding grounds and in staging areas may be the principal drivers or contributing factors to declines and pose real conservation challenges to address. The talk will explore these issues and challenges using examples of species which we are familiar with.

Rhossili Field Trip
2026-09-12 10:00 - 14:00
A gentle walk down the Vile to Kitchen Corner, then around to Mewslade (albeit the direction / order may depend on wind direction and speed and where the migrants are likely to be).
Rhossili is a good area for flocks of wintering farmland and coastal birds such as skylark, meadow pipit and linnet, and the network of fields and location result in a variety of migrants including whinchat, tree pipit and yellow wagtail being frequently recorded along with the occasional rarer species and a range of raptors. The Mewslade Valley is good for smaller warblers, that might include firecrest or maybe something scarcer among the commoner migrants. The open cliffs and sheep-grazed coastal slopes have choughs, ravens and wheatears, and the coastal gorse yellowhammer and Dartford warbler. Offshore there should be auks, scoter and potentially divers.
Your leader will be Eddie Hunter.
The meeting point will be outside the National Trust shop. Parking is available at either the church or the National Trust car park. There are toilets at the car park. A reasonable walk so bring refreshments, walking boots and clothing appropriate to the weather.
Image: kestrel (Peter Douglas-Jones)

Pine Martens in Wales
2026-09-18 19:15 - 21:00 | St Paul’s Church Hall, De la Beche Road, Sketty
Our non bird-related talk this winter will be on pine marten. Katherine McBride, Carnivore Conservation Officer at the Vincent Wildlife Trust, will talk to us about the recovery of the species in Wales. The pine marten population in Wales was once at a very low level, but following reinforcement and conservation it is becoming widespread in mid and north Wales, with animals also in the Forest of Dean and Carmarthenshire (e.g. at Brechfa Forest). It could soon colonise our recording area if it hasn’t already.
It will be interesting to understand whether there are any implications for our declining woodland birds from this conservation success story.
£1 on the door to cover room hire please.

Darwin Tree of Life project: Bird Genome Sequencing
2026-10-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Online
Dr Ava Jenkins will address us.
Ava is a Wildlife Veterinarian and Research Associate at the Institute of Zoology, and is working with the Darwin Tree of Life project. The project aims to sequence the genomes of 30,000 species in Britain and Ireland. It is a collaboration between biodiversity, genomics and analysis partners that is transforming the way we do biology, conservation and biotechnology.
In this role, Ava organises and collects blood and tissue samples from our native wildlife species by collaborating with the British Trust for Ornithology and their Ringing Scheme, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and wildlife hospitals across the UK. Ava spends a lot of time out in the field with bird ringers and wildlife experts.
Genomic data helps us understand the evolution of the diversity of life, explore the biology of organisms and ecosystems, aids conservation efforts and provides new tools for medicine and biotechnology. The Darwin Tree of Life Project is one of several initiatives across the globe working towards the ultimate goal of sequencing all complex life on Earth, in a venture known as the Earth BioGenome Project. The Tree of Life project is focussing on the organisms that live in and around Britain and Ireland because they constitute what is probably the best known and most deeply studied biota in the world, explored during centuries of observation and research.

Swifts in our Recording Area
2026-10-23 19:30 - 21:00 | St Paul’s Church Hall, De la Beche Road, Sketty
In the last five years we have found out a lot more about swifts in our recording area. This has been through the work of two groups, Swansea Swifts and Neath Port Talbot Swifts, who have set out to understand the distribution of the species locally. Both groups have been well supported by local authority ecologists, who have made funds available to install swift boxes and been strong advocates for swift conservation.
In this talk, which will be held in Sketty, Josh Greatorex-Davies who has been instrumental in everything Swansea Swifts has achieved to date, will provide us with an overview of the progress that has been made in understanding swift distribution and abundance, talk about aspects of the ecology of the species and outline local conservation progress.
£1 on the door to cover room hire please.

Port Eynon Field Trip
2026-10-24 08:30 - 12:00
Please meet at the Salthouse at 08:30. Location: Grid Reference SS 46914 84649 What3Words: headrest.imprinted.incurring
This is a short walk out towards the point via a roughly surfaced track, then a tarmac track (permissive path) along the
seaward side of the caravan park.
Parking is at the council car park. Grid Reference SS 46739 85145 What3Words: cherubs.entrusted.fault
This is Pay & Display. You should be able to pay with cash, card or using the MiPermit app. There are toilets at the car park and a pub and shops in the village that should be open around the time of the end of the walk.
The site is good for small waders (including turnstone, dunlin and ringed plover), gulls, terns and other seabirds. A variety of migrant passerines can be seen in the scrub and woodland on the leeward side of the point, rock pipit on the shore and chough are frequent on the sheep-grazed slopes
The leader will be Rob Taylor.
Image: Turnstones by Bob Brewer on Unsplash

Magical Merlins
2026-11-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Online
Raptor expert Keith Offord will talk to us about merlin, a species he has monitored in the Berwyn Special Protection Area, northern Powys, for many years.
Merlin are a non-breeding visitor to Gower, being seen between autumn and early spring over the north Gower marshes and occasionally on the inland commons where they typically hunt small birds such as meadow pipits and skylarks. While they do breed on the fringes of our recording area, they do so in very low numbers. They are more widespread in upland Powys, which supports important breeding populations. The south and mid-Wales nest in trees, often in commercial plantation, but further north, in the areas Keith monitors, they nest on the ground in heather moorland.
We are very pleased to welcome Keith back; he previously did a fascinating talk for us on hen harrier.

Photo credit: merlin by Proinsias Mac an Bheatha on Unsplash

GOS AGM and the Gower RAS on Jackdaw
2026-11-20 19:15 - 21:00 | St Paul’s Church Hall, De la Beche Road, Sketty
Our Annual General Meeting. We will reflect on the year and report back to members on activities, membership, financials and bird recording and will elect / re-elect committee members for the next 12 months.
After the AGM there will be a summary of the Recapture of Adults for Survival project on jackdaw, run by Richard Dann from his West Cliff garden in Southgate. Many members will be familiar with the colour ringing scheme Richard has been running for the past few years. It is now one of the largest, if not the largest study of the species in the UK, and is delivering fabulous data to the BTO. It is also revealing interesting data about the habits of GOS members, with many of the re-sightings originating from the 19th hole on Pennard Golf Course and from Kittle Bakery …..

Whiteford Field Trip
2026-11-21 09:00 - 14:00 | Cwm Ivy car park
Meet at Cwm Ivy car park just before 09:00 so that we can head off promptly. The car park now operates car registration recognition and there is a fee of c. £5. The ground is likely to be muddy and uneven in places, and the walking will take 3-4 hours. Please being a packed lunch. We will stop regularly to scan and chat.
Whiteford is good for a wide variety of species. These may include include raptors including hen and marsh harrier, peregrine, merlin, a wide range of waders, waterfowl including a variety of ducks (often including scaup), grebes (including slavonian) and divers. Anything is possible as a red-rumped swallow during a previous field trip, a party of snow buntings during another and not one but two male golden orioles there one spring has taught us.

Grid Reference (6 figure) SS439935
X (Easting) , Y (Northing) 243986 , 193506
Latitude , Longitude (degs, mins, secs) 51°37′07″N , 004°15′18″W
What3Words :rise.defected.awakes
The nearest address is: Frog Lane, Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton, Llanmadoc, Swansea, Wales, SA3 1DB (please do not rely on this post code for your Sat Nav)

See the map below. Cwm Ivy car park is marked with the yellow pin.
Your leader will be Rob Taylor

Cover photo Firecrest by Hans Veth on Unsplash

Results of the BTO Heathland Bird Survey (2025)
2027-01-15 19:30 - 21:00 | Online
Dr. Richard Francksen, Research Ecologist at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), will provide an overview of the BTO’s 2025 Heathland Birds Survey. The survey builds on previous national assessments to provide an updated picture of breeding nightjar, Dartford warbler, and woodlark across Britain – the last of which were surveyed nationally around 20 years ago.
This talk will outline survey coverage and present results including population estimates and changes in abundance and range since previous surveys. Richard will also draw out findings relevant to the Swansea, Gower, and Neath Port Talbot recording area.
Photo credit: nightjar and chick by John Bowers

Dryslwyn and Dynefwr Field Trip
2027-01-16 09:00 - 13:00
A venture over the border into Carmarthenshire with our leader Ed Hunter.
The aim will be to search the area around the River Tywi for flocks of mute and whooper swans and geese (greylag, white-fronted and bean geese have all occurred in the area in the past), egrets, green sandpiper, kingfisher and water pipits. The area is also good for otter.
Meet at: Dryslwyn Picnic Site, B4297, Dryslwyn, Llangathen, Cwrt-henri, Carmarthenshire, Wales, SA32 8RN, United Kingdom.

Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: SN 55250 20294
What3Words: ///indulgent.huddled.salt

We will also go to Dynefwr to look for lesser spotted woodpecker and winter passerines.
Image: whooper swan by Chris Stenger on Unsplash

GOS Annual Quiz
2027-01-22 19:15 - 21:00 | St Paul’s Church Hall, De la Beche Road, Sketty
Heather Coats, last year’s winner, will be your host for the annual Margaret Price Memorial quiz.
The cost will be £1 on the door.

Cudyll Cymru / Raptor Signs and Feather Identification
2027-02-19 19:30 - 21:00 | St Paul’s Church Hall, De la Beche Road, Sketty
Charlotte Griffiths, the BTO’s Welsh Raptor Monitoring Coordinator, will provide a two part talk. This first part will concern Cudyll Cymru, BTO’s Welsh Raptor Monitoring Project. Charlotte’s role for the last few years has been to develop and co-ordinate raptor population monitoring efforts and obtain greater understanding of the populations of some of our commoner species in particular. Her day-to-day work includes providing training and support to the project’s network of monitors and developing resources that enhance fieldwork efforts.
Charlotte is a passionate raptor enthusiast and an active member of the Shropshire Raptor Study Group, where she has gained extensive field experience and in-depth knowledge of raptor behaviour and ecology. This has also allowed her to develop expertise with regard to raptor field signs and feather identification, which the second part of her talk will focus on.
£1 on the door to cover room hire please.

Crofty Field Trip
2027-02-20 08:30 - 11:30
Leader: Barry Stewart 07730 502738
Meet at 08:00 at Crofty Industrial Estate SA4 3RS /// zaps.trophy.solve
This will be a high tide watch to see waterfowl (egrets, brent geese, pintail, shoveler, etc.) and waders (oystercatchers, knot, dunlin etc.) at Salthouse Point together with waterbirds that may have drifted up on the high tide (such as slavonian and great crested grebes). There should also be a selection of passerines in the scrub and on the saltmarsh, and a good chance of raptors such as peregrine and merlin.
Bring wellies or walking boots, warm clothing and any refreshments you need.
Photo: pintail by Proinsias Mac an Bheatha on Unsplash

RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas: its History, Birds & Monitoring Pied Flycatchers.
2027-03-19 19:30 - 21:00 | St Paul’s Church Hall, De la Beche Road, Sketty
Dan Jenkins-Jones of the Fledgemore Ringing and Nest Recording Group will talk to us about RSPB Gwenffrwd Dinas.
The site, located close to Llyn Brianne, has a large population of pied flycatcher as well as other classic Welsh woodland bird species. Since taking on the the Recapture of Adults for Survival project at the site the Fledgemore Group has spent considerable time each spring monitoring nest boxes, which involves a lot of scrambling up and down very steep slopes. They have been assisted by ringers from the Gower and Teifi Groups in what is a fairly arduous task, but one which produces excellent data.
Dan will also talk to us about the history of the site, which now supports re-established pine martens as well as a remnant red squirrel population, sits within a far larger area of protected land (the Elenydd-Mallaen Special Protection Area), and comprises a mix of Atlantic oak woodland, upland moorland and farmland.
£1 on the door to cover room hire.
Photo by Sasha Matic on Unsplash

Kidwelly Quay Field Trip
2027-03-20 09:00 - 12:30
We will meet at 09:00 at the carpark on Kidwelly Quay.
Location is OS Grid Reference SN 39796 06391
What3Words: ///thanks.unloading.dripped
Nearest postcode SA17 4UW
The location is excellent for waders, wildfowl, herons / egret and gulls. We may also see kingfisher and we will look for passerines in nearby trees and scrub.
Your leader will be Rob Taylor.
Please do get in touch to let us know you are coming, and if there is an opportunity to car share with you / you would like to travel with someone else do feel free to offer / we will see what we can do.
Photo: Mediterranean gull by Jeremy Douglas-Jones
