Gower Ornithological Society

To Antarctica and back with Arctic Terns
2026-03-11 19:15 - 21:00 (Europe/London)
Dr Chris Redfern will talk to us about Arctic terns.
Arctic terns are renowned for the global scale of their migration. The routes taken by individuals can be determined using small electronic ‘geolocators’ attached to a leg ring. These devices have been fitted to Arctic terns breeding on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, and need to be recaptured the following year to download data. A particular characteristic of the Farne Islands population has led to a high return rate of data which have given amazing insights into the annual migration of Farne Islands Arctic terns and how this differs from Arctic terns breeding further north in the North Atlantic. After breeding, most birds from North Atlantic populations migrate directly south through the Atlantic to the Weddell Sea of Antarctica. In contrast, birds from the Farne Islands turned east at the tip of South Africa and crossed the Southern Indian Ocean before dropping south to East Antarctica. This may be a migration strategy retained since the last ice age. In coastal Antarctica, krill associated with fragmenting sea ice is an important resource sustaining their lifestyle and annual moult. Reductions in sea ice as a result of climate change threats the long-term future of Arctic terns. Northward spring migration through the Atlantic is rapid and likely timed to utilise foraging resources in the Antarctic and along the way to ensure arrival at the colony at the appropriate time and condition for breeding.
Log in details are as follows:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84292407132?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 842 9240 7132
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash

Birds of the Pembrokeshire Islands
2026-03-13 19:15 - 21:00 | St Paul’s Church Hall, De la Beche Road, Sketty
Dave Astins will talk to us about the birds of the Pembrokeshire Islands.
The Pembrokeshire Islands and the waters around them are important for a wide range of seabirds. Internationally important populations of gannet, storm-petrel, Manx shearwater, puffin and lesser black-backed gull occur. The islands are also of international importance for their populations of breeding short-eared owl and chough. The supporting cast includes colonial cliff-nesting species – guillemot, razorbill and kittiwake.
In addition to their importance to breeding birds, they are also migration hotspots, with regular falls of migrant passerines and a list of rare birds that is the envy of the rest of Wales.
Dave runs West Coast Birding, which offers guided trips to many of the best sites in Pembrokeshire for seeing birds, and is a veteran of numerous trips to Skomer in particular.
£1 on the door to cover room hire.
Photo by Phil Botha on Unsplash

Kenfig NNR and Sker Point Field Trip
2026-03-14 08:00 - 12:00
Join us for a walk around Kenfig and Sker. High tide is around 07:30, so please arrive and be ready to head off by 08:00. Bring warm clothing, a thermos and whatever food you will need. We will be out for the morning.
Our target species will be waders, wildfowl, seabirds and early-arriving warblers, as well as lingering wintering raptors and resident passerines.
Your leader will be Ed Hunter.
Parking is at Kenfig Nature Reserve car park. The cost is £4.00 for the day.

OS Grid Reference SS 793817
What3Words: ///gears.caskets.iteration
The post code is CF33 4PS

Cudyll Cymru - a new dawn for monitoring raptors in Wales
2026-04-15 19:30 - 21:00
Charlotte Griffiths will talk to us about raptor monitoring in Wales. Online joining instructions are below.
Charlotte is the BTO’s Welsh Raptor Monitoring Coordinator, and a passionate raptor enthusiast. She 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.
Charlotte will talk to us about Cudyll Cymru, BTO’s Welsh Raptor Monitoring Project. Her role for the last couple of 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 provising training and support to the project’s network of monitors and developing resources that enhance fieldwork efforts.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85219105421?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 852 1910 5421
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Pant y Sais Fen Field Trip
2026-04-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Heil yr Ysgol, Jersey Marine
Join us at Pant y Sais Fen, Jersey Marine, for an evening walk focussed on reed bed species including reed, sedge, Cetti’s and grasshopper warblers, cuckoo and common waterfowl. We also expect species such as willow warbler and whitethroat around the fringes of the reedbed.
Bob Tallack will lead. The meeting point will be on Heil yr Yrsgol, Jersey Marine, Ordnance Survey Grid Reference SS71172 93893
What3Words: FUND.CARPENTER.CRUSHER

Brecon and Llangorse Field Trip
2026-05-24 09:00
A trip up to Storey Arms, near Brecon to look for curlew, snipe, wheatear and ring ouzel before moving on to Llangorse Lake for species including osprey and goshawk. Other species are likely to include redstart and tree pipit. The location and scenery should be fantastic.
Our first meeting point will be at Craig y Fro on the A470 between Merthyr and Brecon. Ordnance Survey Grid Reference SN 97138 20859 (just over 1 km beyond the Storey Arms Centre – in the direction of Brecon).
Location: https://gridreferencefinder.com/#gr=OF8898819980|Point_s_A|1,SN9713820859|SN_s_97138_s_20859|1
(drag the map across so you are looking at Wales and zoom in on the red place marker near Brecon)
Please make sure to register your intention to attend with Jeremy. He will try and suggest some car sharing options for anyone going.
Your leader will be Eddie Hunter.

Nightjar field trip: Resolven
2026-06-19 20:00 - 22:30
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.

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
