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Guidelines for Reporting Rarities and Submission of Annual Records
Detailed records of nationally or locally rare species (guidance on these is
here) should be sent to the County Recorder Eddie Hunter (
goweros23@gmail.com) as soon as possible after the sighting. An appropriate description should be provided of the species, your previous experience of it (and similar species), the circumstances and weather conditions in which the sighting occurred and any other pertinent information (such as photos). He will then circulate to the local or national records committee as relevant.
Day to day observations, including of nest sites, flocks of birds and species of local interest, should be collated in the Annual Record Form and sent to Eddie as an email attachment following each calendar year. Receiving these by the end of January is ideal as an early start can then be made on compiling the annual report.
PLEASE NOTE
Please could we ask that detailed locational information that may lead to the disturbance of the nest sites of species listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) is omitted from any posts. This may otherwise lead to an offence being committed.
Schedule 1 species that regularly breed in the recording area are Dartford warbler, chough, honey buzzard, crossbill, goshawk, kingfisher, hobby, red kite, barn owl, peregrine, little ringed plover and Cetti’s warbler.
The female MH is still hunting over Llanrhidian Marsh now. On the Green beyond the reeds straight out from Llanrhidian there is 500+ Lapwing
Female Marsh Harrier today over the marsh between Crofty and Penclawdd
Chough flying over Mumbles Market, 9.30 yesterday
13th December:
Crofty: good numbers of Pintail and Shoveler with c200 of each, smaller numbers of Wigeon and Teal, c50 Curlew, at least 172 Brent Geese, and also 2 Green Sandpipers, c40 Linnets and 6 Reed Buntings.
Llanrhidian at dusk: 1 Pallid, 1 Marsh and 3 Hen Harriers (1 male, 2 ringtail), 1 Red Kite, 1 Kestrel. Was great to have a decent view of the Pallid and a ringtail Hen Harrier at the same time in the scope for comparison. Also 3 Snipe flying over after dark.
11th Dec two red kites over Britton ferry a.m.
Duffryn pond mid afternoon 14 long tailed tits great,blue, and coal tits,blackbirds ,song thrush,nuthatch,wood pigeon,grey wagtail,carrion crow and chaffinch.
Llanrhidian marsh this afternoon: Marsh and Pallid Harriers.
Great Northern Diver seen in Bracelet Bay this afternoon and then later from Knab Rock.
Scops Owl, Dunvant Park (Mon eve)
Map
Some photos of the beautiful Eurasian Scops Owl found that had been discovered in a suburban park in Killay last evening. A very unexpected species to have appeared here particularly in December! Pics by Megan Nicklin
As we approach Christmas, please do consider whether a friend or relation might welcome the gift of GOS membership. It remains £12 for a single and £15 for a joint membership, and in addition to Gower Birds you get regular email updates about the wide range of events we put on as well as the knowledge that you are supporting data collection in the interests of recording and conserving birds in the area. See: https://www.gowerbirds.org.uk/members/
A Mistle Thrush on the old Llanmorlais Railway Line this afternoon.
Very pleasing to see a small mixed flock of 4 greenfinches and 3 chaffinches in the garden at Ashleigh Road at midday today.