Late news - Lapland Buntings

Weobley Saltmarsh

1) probable 16/9/12 (CDB)
2) probable 16/9/12 (MB)
3) 2 with pipit flock 22/9/12 (EAH)

Mewslade Valley

1) probable over 16/9/12 (MB)

Wryneck in Caerphilly

Late News: Received a description from Sue Johnston of a Wryneck in her back garden on 9th Sept.

Wryneck in Central Cardiff

A rather distant camera phone record shot from David & Mary Webb of the Wryneck in Cathays Park earlier this month.

Late News

One of two male Bearded Tits trapped at a site in Glamorgan this spring. The species was seen in this area during April-July and breeding was suspected but unfortunately not proved. This species breeds in Gwent and is probably expanding its range, albeit very slowly. Lets hope they do re-establish themselves in Glamorgan, as they did have a small colony at Oxwich from 1972-1992.

Wryneck:Ogmore-by-Sea

Few distant "record" shots of Wryneck near Ogmore sewage works today.
Initially found by Peter Morgan at approx 3.45pm and then refound at approx 6.10pm by Peter and myself,both times in hedgerow of field south of entrance into sewage works.
Bird very flighty and mobile.

Wryneck at Ogmore Estuary

Important New Taxonomic Changes

The BOU have announced some taxonomic changes to the British List.

Those changes which directly effect us here in Glamorgan are:

Generic changes (note the new generic names)

Ruff is now Calidris pugnax

Buff-breasted Sandpiper is now Calidris subruficollis

This group also contained the species below, although not on the VC41 list, it has the potential to turn up here.

Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus

Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea to be treated as three species:

• Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis (Category A)

• Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea (Category A)
• Cape Verde Shearwater Calonectris edwardsii (extralimital)

Cory's Shearwater has occurred seven times in Glamorgan, four of which are in Eastern Glamorgan, the last being in August 2011. The species is a Welsh rarity and not adjudicated locally, so I don't know how this will effect us in Glamorgan as yet. Records committees could choose to approach this sympathetically and say all those records of Calonectris sp. seen previously will remain as such (the old Cory's Shearwater) and all new records now seen off our waters will now have to eliminate the other two before being considered to exact species, which I'm afraid may prove very difficult indeed, given the fact that all our records have been recorded by seawatching, usually during or just after bad weather, at distance and in indifferent light conditions.

For more information on this article please go to [copy & paste]:

http://www.bou.org.uk/british-list/recent-announcements/tsc8-announcement/

Great White

G.W. Egret elusive around Llanrhidian, but eventually caught up with it today (first seen by M. Piercey on the 9th).

Cardiff Wrynecks (11/9/12)

2 Wrynecks found in the Cardiff area, yesterday.

1) Heliport Bay in the morning. No further news.

2) Cathays Park. No sign of this bird during an early morning search, today.

Garganey at RGW

A Garganey was the highlight from RGW this morning. Also a notable passage of commoner migrants. (DRWG)

Wryneck at Kenfig Saltmarsh

Wryneck found this morning at Kenfig Saltmarsh at 10:00 by Colin Gittins
Flew from bank of the adjacent tip, below 2 JCB's, to bushes within the saltmarsh

Recent news

Wryneck in private garden in Bridgend, S. Lewis (3/9/12)

Great Skua past Tutt Head , M. Hunter (30/8/12)

(c) Sian Lewis Williams

Grey Phalarope along Aberavon beach per G. Lewis (30/8/12)