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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.
Heard a first whitethroat of the year early on Friday, but I didn’t see one until this morning.
Clyne Common this morning, several male Stonechats displaying, Sky Larks singing, two species of Woodpecker heard and two male Wheatear showing well. This afternoon at Rhossili, 4 Buzzards, 2 Red Kite and a Kestrel and two Swallows fresh in from their migration. On the cliffs, two pairs of Fulmar. At Pitton, five Buzzards wheeling above.
Rhian Evans and I heard our first Tree pipit of the year last Thursday 15th in the Neath Valley. It was display flighting and singing.
Lower to Upper Lliw Reservoirs. 45+ species seen. Highlights included Cuckoo, G C Grebe (unusual for this site), Goosander, Stock Dove, Wheatear, Redstart, Green & G S Woodpecker, Tree Pipit, Lesser Redpoll, Dipper, Nuthatch, Swallow and lots of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.
The G C Grebe was there on the 13 too.I had initially taken it as a Herring or L B B gull,I’m glad I got my binoculars on to it.As you say not many records for the site.Wonder how long it will hang around now that the crowds are back.
My first Wheatears (6) at Weobley this morning, where there were also 420 Golden Plover and a few Dunlin, most now in dapper summer plumage. Other bits and bobs around Llanrhidian Marsh included singles of Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Reed Warbler, 14 Teal and my second brood of Mallards (first brood about 10 days ago).
Two Common Sandpiper at Upper Lake, Penllergare this morning and a Mallard with just one chick.
Distant photo of first Cuckoo of the year. Lliw Valley between lower and upper reservoirs
Had a visit from a peregrine falcon in Bryncoch this morning.. not good for the starling it had taken down but still beautiful to see.
Hi Pete. That is a sparrowhawk you have there. All the best, Owain
Thanks Owain! I was confused as to which it was…
That’s a Sparrow hawk. 🙂
Cwm Clydach RSPB reserve Craigcefnparc.Cuckoo calling this morning.Heard twice. Plenty of Blackcap and Chiffchaff in the valley now.
Secluded valley outside Swansea. When nature comes to you moment. As i was enjoying a lunch break this Goosander “parachuted” from a forty foot tree into a pool in a fast flowing stream. After a few minutes preening it flew up and disappeared into a presumed nesting hole.It will be an experience for the youngsters to drop from such a height !
Felindre and Lower Lliw Reservoir(no access to road vehicles at the moment)Species included Chiffchaff,Blackcap,Willow Warbler,Great Spotted Woodpecker,Green Woodpecker,Nuthatch,Red Kite,Buzzard,Peregrine,Dipper,Pheasant.On the reservoir Goosander,Great Crested Grebe,Cormorant,Herring Gull,Lesser Black Back Gull,Common Sandpiper.
Another bite of the cherry…the female reed bunting’s ring ends in 128, hopefully you now have all the number? Photographed today in the same place but will be a delay before I can process and post photographs.
Hello Ian. I think we have a winner. It was ringed as an adult female at 09:00 on 24/10/2018 at Oxwich Marsh. It had a typical wing length of 74 mm and a weight of 16.6 g at the time.
If you could also report via the normal BTO channels that would be great as that will ensure your sighting and the movement of this bird is documented centrally.
Will do Owen.