Detailed records of nationally or locally rare species (guidance on these is
here) should be sent to the County Recorder Rob Taylor (
gowerbirdrecorder@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 Rob 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.
Lockdown Bird Reporting We encourage all members to post details of local observations obtained during permitted daily exercise during the lockdown period. We do not endorse bird watching activity involving travel that contravenes current Welsh Government policy, and would ask that subscribers to the site do not post such observations. Reporting Schedule 1 Birds We are now in the breeding season. Please do not post information concerning nests or core territory locations which may lead to the disturbance of species listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to disturb these species (whether… Read more »
Afternoon walk Baglan Burrows 2pm in the heat of the day not the best time for birds in the current conditions. The highlight today was a Cuckoo calling from the scrubby alder wood, other birds included Skylark singing and one bird carrying food also a family of Stonechats, singing Whitethroat, Linnet and Goldfinch, 6 Lapwing flew from the Neath river and into the Energy Park. Common Blue was the most numerous butterfly today 20+ also Small Heath c6, Small Blue 4 also a few White butterflies but couldn’t get a good enough look to identify them ! likewise a large… Read more »
Probable Hobby seen heading eastwards along Pennard Cliffs this morning, Jackdaws ensured it didn’t linger too long.
4 Shelducks roosting on the shoreline towards Pobbles, whilst several Fulmars and Gannets were very close inshore.
Crossbills moving over Langland early morning. Two parties heard. Second 10+ (possibly a lot more). Siskin also heard (first for a while). 2 sparrowhawks.
Yesterday’s lockdown walk between Rotherslade and Caswell. Lots of fledged goldfinches on the cliffs. Further evidence of successful breeding in stonechat, and small blues on the wing. The cliff between Snaple and Whiteshell Points is now recovering (following extensive burning a couple of summers ago) and is very flower-rich.
During early morning walk around Upper Killay to Swansea Airport and back I was very surprised to see Stone Curlew at 7.30 in flight on airport grounds. Also saw a hare and cuckoo in same vicinity.
Plenty of stonechats (including young) and whitethroat about at the moment. Also more blackcaps and lesser whithroats than usual.
Wed 27th – 2 Garden Warblers singing at the same time “against each other” from oak trees at the edge of Clyne Common North & Clyne Valley Woods. I took a recording on my phone. Also my first Skylark singing & seen on the Common.
Took a pleasant stroll up Cwm Dyffryn from home.Encountered family parties of Blackcaps, willow warblers & Bullfinches. Found a fourth Dipper breeding site on the river Ffrydwyllt.On a more serious subject Ash tree disease is becoming more noticable year on year locally with young trees and saplings particularly prone. Well established,older trees seem to be faring better. It would be interesting to hear other members observations on ash trees in their localities though i fear they may well echo my findings Thursday 29th May.
About 20 swifts flying off Lewes Castle (Fall Bay) where they nested last year. 3/4 Yellow Hammers on the hedgerows of Great Pitton Farm. Cacophony of bird sounds generally with particularly large numbers of singing Song Thrushes.
On our pond large numbers of Common Blue Damselflies together with Blue-tailed and Large Red as well as Broad-bodied Chasers.
On my local walk this morning, the woods by the river were fairly quiet with Willow warbler
and Chiff chaff the only migrants singing. I went home on a path across some rough grassland and saw 5 House martins and 3 Swallows feeding and flying fairly low.
How big is a cuckoo territory? This spring I have heard cuckoo in three places between Upper Killay and Clyne Common. But it might be the same bird.