Whiteford Field Trip
2026-11-21 09:00 - 14:00 (Europe/London) | 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
