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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.
A good day of raptors. Started with a chance Merlin in Upper Killay and ended with an Osprey at Usk Reservoir, which we also saw dive unsuccessfully for a fish, with plenty of Buzzards and Kites in between, and a female and male Sparrowhawk as well. And some Hares in the fields by the reservoir.
An early fledgling robin in my garden this morning, being fed by both parents.
This afternoon
Broughton Bay
Sandwich Tern flocks of 13 and 5 heading out of the Burry
Gannet 3
Common Scoter 31
Swallow 2
Rook, 39 occupied nests in rookery near Broughton Farm
Llangenith Moors and Rhossili Bay
Manx Shearwater 10 heading west
RT Diver 2 east across the bay
Arctic Skua 1 heading into the Burry
Whitethroat 1
Still lots of Black-tailed Godwits around, I guess waiting for the NW winds to ease, with 593 between Penclawdd and Loughor Bridge this evening. Also 584 Oysrercatcher, 36 Knot, 26 Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Barwit and a Curlew Sandpiper. The long staying Little Gull was still in the same area.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/csm1XRg7qgj7Sk8E9
A reminder to everyone that Sophie Lee-Williams will be talking to GOS tomorrow evening about white-tailed eagle reintroduction to Wales. Face-to-face event in Sketty.
More information here: https://www.gowerbirds.org.uk/event/reintroduction-of-the-white-tailed-eagle-to-wales/
Haven’t seen for myself but there has/are 2 male Golden Orioles in Cwm Ivy woods in the last couple od days. Iv’e seen the pics, very smart.
Grasshopper warbler reeling at Crymlyn Bog this morning. Also reed warbler, sedge warbler, whitethroat.
This afternoon
Oxwich Bay
Common Scoter 133 out towards Pwlldu
Curlew 9, four on the foreshore and 5 in off inland
Sanderling 11
GC Grebe 1
RT Diver 1 in bp
Salthouse Point on the run up
Very few waders
Oystercatcher 614
Grey Plover 4 in nbp
Dunlin 1 in bp
Whimbrel 3
Curlew 1
Pair of Pied Flycatcher calling and feeding near Sgwd Gladys, Pontneddfechan. Appeared to be nesting in tree hollow.
On a morning walk today in Crynant Forest, SN7903/04, I had my first Tree pipit of the year display flighting in some clear fell . Also noted were Willow warblers, Chiff chaffs and Blackcaps as well as Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, Chaffinch, Wrens , Blue and Great tits.
Just pulled in to Turpins Point and had a cracking view of the Whimbel, it was probing the mud right up to the road.
Where is Turpins Point please
Sorry I meant Daltons, brains going!
8th April – Willow Warbler singing, Tenant Canal Cadoxton, Neath.
12th April Cetti’s Warbler singing Tenant Canal behind Tesco’s Neath Abbey
14th April – Cuckoo calling near LNG terminal above Cilfrew Neath. Peregrine flying west
This morning 16th April – fleeting views of the Golden Oriole, Cwm Ivy
Good to see you there this morning, Daron.
Likewise Jamie.
I enjoyed good views earlier of one of the two male golden orioles currently at Whiteford. This morning the birds were showing intermittently near the Cwm Ivy bunkhouse and in the trees/scrub immediately to the north, also in the adjoining more open dune scrub.
Yesterday afternoon
Dalton’s Point
Whimbrel 4, Spoonbill 1, Black t Godwit 97
Llanrhidian
Spotted Redshank 1, Ruff 1, Black t Godwit 1442, GW Egret 1, Redshank 11, Willow Warbler 1
Castell du.
Common Sandpiper 1, Siskin 1 (also one on garden feeders in Gorseinon), Oystercatcher 2, Pied Wagtail 13, Canada Goose 9
Whiteford: golden oriole (male). Details on South Wales birding facebook page. Towards Burges Island end of the burrows
There’s a Ringtail out on Llanrhidian Marsh looking like she is going to roost at her favoured spot.
Oxwich Marsh: reed warbler, several sedge warbler singing, whitethroat, grasshopper warbler, jack snipe, common snipe (5+), 10 blackcap, willow warbler, group of 6 jays,small numbers of sand martin moving through
13th April: 1 Willow Warbler singing in Swansea Marina. Seemed to be passing through.
14th April: At Crymlyn Bog: 1 Cuckoo calling (and seen in flight), 7 Swallows, and a good selection of warblers with Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow, Reed, and Sedge Warbler all singing
Yesterday afternoon.
A movement of hirundines flying west down the estuary.
Dalton’s Point.
Black t Godwit 93, House Martin 1, Swallow 15.
Llanrhidian Marsh.
Spoonbill 2, GW Egret 1, Black t Godwit 506, Sand Martin 33, House Martin 2, Swallow 6, Shelduck 102.
c30 Brent Geese flying west over Bracelet Bay car park late this morning. With reference to the Scoter post below, I’m confident about the ID: these were not the Scoters!
Raft of 30 plus Scoters. Just offshore at Blackpill.
I stand corrected, Birdnet and Google identified as Scoter. Apologies 👍
This afternoon.
Dalton’sPoint
Whimbrel 4, Greenshank 1, Spoonbill 6 feeding in the channel on the Carms side
Wernffrwd
Spoonbill 3
Llanrhidian Marsh
Pallid Harrier 1rt mobbed at one point by rt Hen Harrier
GW Egret 1
This evening
South of Loughor Bridge
Wheatear 1
Oxwich Marsh: grasshopper warbler
Oxwich Bay: great northern diver – still in winter plumage
I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone for Submitting your records for inclusion to GOWER BIRDS in whatever form you have done so…they are much appreciated!
I would recommend Birdtrack to anybody who has not tried this method as it is very quick and easy to use and these records are taken for the report with the breeding status codes etc ( so please add them in ) https://app.bto.org/birdtrack
Also Ebird records , Sewbrec records, as well as ,submitted spreadsheets / documents and hand written cards are all included in the report.