GRC Blog


Welcome to the GRC Recorders pages. This blog provides details on all the relevant news of Glamorgan’s scarcer birds, plus all BBRC & WRP decisions that affect us locally. It will also be used to document the status and occurrence of these scarcer species and we welcome contributions from anyone with photographs, artwork or documentation of rarities past, present and future. The GRC also welcomes all seawatching news from around Glamorgan and news of passage migrants in spring & autumn, uncommon birds in our area and unusual behaviour.


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The Glamorgan Rarities Committee, in conjunction with the Glamorgan Bird Club & Gower Wildlife , have agreed to co-operate with the Welsh Ornithological Society in the sharing of bird records & photographs in the interest of keeping accurate records and to promote birdwatching in North, Mid & South Wales.

2014 records



GLAMORGAN RARITIES COMMITTEE
In association with:~
GOWER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY & GLAMORGAN BIRD CLUB
All records of description species during 2014


Italics   No description or photographs submitted
A           Record Accepted by GRC unless stated (NB ‘w’ = waivered site)
P           Record Pended
NP        Record Not Proven
?           Record considered to be of unknown origin
*            Welsh Description Species [WRP]
**           British Birds Description Species [BBRC]
[H]        Heard only
[WG]     West Glamorgan
[EG]      East Glamorgan
(Note: re: 'waived' = "w - the need for a description for this species has been waived only in these specific instances - e.g. species has increased to 5+ records per year, due to a large influx as in the case of Waxwing occasionally, or the regularity of the species at some sites e.g. Slavonian Grebe at Whiteford or Water Pipit at various estuarine localities".)
BOU Order:

2014 Systematic List

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
A  [EG] 12 Oct [2] Kenfig Pool - [JDW, WM]
A  [EG] 29 Oct [2] Kenfig Pool - [DGC]

Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)
A [EG] 09 Apr [1] Watermill Flood, Ogmore - [NPR] & 12 Apr Llanilid [per GRC]
© N.P. Roberts
[WG] 09 Apr [1] Loughor - [BS] {possibly same bird as above}

*Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans)
 [WG] 05 & 06 Jan and 02 Mar [1] North Gower - Landimore/Weobley - [BS & JNE]

*Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis)
A [EG & WG] 25 Mar - 08 Apr [male] Kenfig Saltmarsh - [DCo et al]
© D. Coombs

Garganey (Anas querquedula)
A [EG & WG] 02-08 Apr [male] Kenfig Saltmarsh - [DGC]
A [EG] 16 Apr [7] Ogmore River - [NPR et al]
© N.P. Roberts
[WG] 16 Apr [pair] Llanrhidian - [MP, JNE & BS]
    [EG] 23 Apr [1] Ogmore River - [DCB]
A [EG] 27 Apr [pair] Kenfig Saltmarsh - [K. Luxford]
A [EG] 28 & 30 Apr [male] Kenfig Saltmarsh - [DCo]
A [EG] 02 May [pair] Cosmeston CP - [JDW]
A [WG] 03-18 Aug [1, with 2 present on 5th] Llanrhidian - [BS]
© B. Stewart
A [WG] 18 Aug [2] Kenfig Rivermouth (Margam) - [BS]
A [WG] 14 Nov [1] Llanrhidian - [BS]

**Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
 [EG] Jan & Feb [male] Cardiff Bay, CBWR  & Cosmeston CP (last date 15.02 CJ) - [multi obs]
(Returning male from 2013)
© GRC
 [EG] 03 Sep. to 21 Dec CBWR - [AGS, GP et al]
(Returning male from spring 2014)

Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
w [WG] 02 Jan [2] Rhossili Bay - [OJL]
w [WG] 19 Jan [3] Rhossili Bay - [MHi, CDB, JB]
A [EG] 03 Nov [1] Porthcawl - [SR]

Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus)
w [EG] 21 Sep [3] North Glamorgan site A - [MB]

Black-throated Diver (Gavia arctica)

A [EG] 07-08 Feb [1], with [2] there 13-15 Feb. Barry Docks - [DRWG & MCP]
© H. Lack

A [EG] 07-23 Mar [1] Cosmeston CP [LM]
                                                             
© A. Burns

 [WG] 19 Oct [1] Mumbles - [OG]

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
 [WG] 18 Feb [1] Whiteford - [MHu]
 [WG] 26 Dec [1] Wernffwrd - [DC & MHi]

Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
w [WG] 02 Jan [3] Whiteford 
w [WG] 06 Jan [2] Llanrhidian 
w [WG] 17 Feb [3] Wernffwrd - [BS]
w [WG] 01 Mar [2] Salthouse Point - []
w [WG] 21 Mar [3] Llanrhidian - [ND]
w [WG] 05 Apr [1] Wernffwrd - [BS]
w [WG] Dec [2+] Whiteford - [Multi obs]

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
A [EG] 02 Jan to 04 Feb [1] Cardiff Bay - [C. Hawes et al]
© P. Howlett
A [WG] 17 Feb [1] Wernffwrd - [BS]
A [EG] 29 Mar [1] CBWR - [James Burton & Andrew Bevan]
A [EG] 16 Aug [1] Lisvane Res. - [PB]
A [EG] 26 Aug [2, regular bird & SP moult] Lisvane Res. - [Alan Cripps]
A [EG] 30 Aug [2, regular bird & juvenile] Lisvane Res. - [PB]
A [EG] 31 Aug - 10 Sep [1 juvenile] Lisvane & Llanishen Res. [PB, RJT et al]
A [EG] 27 Sept [1] Cardiff Bay - [M. Waldron]
A [WG] 29 Sept [2] undisclosed site - [per GRC]
A [EG] 05 Oct. [2] Lisvane Res. - [PB]
A [EG] 27 Nov [1] Cardiff Bay - [PD & GP]

 Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
w [WG] 03 May [1] Oxwich - [C. Brewer]
© C. Brewer
w [EG] 23 to 26 Jul [imm] Kenfig Saltmarsh - [D. Coombes]
w [WG] 25 & 26 Jul [2 imms] Llanrhidian Marsh - [B. Stewart & N. Edwards]
w [EG] 08 Aug [1] Cardiff Bay Wetlands Res. - [P. Howlett]
w [EG] 17 Aug [1] Cardiff Heliport - [R. Mitchell]
w [EG] 25 Aug [1] Rhaslas Pond - [MTH]
w [WG] 07 & 14 Sept [1] Llanrhidian Marsh (tagged in Norfolk) - [BS]
w [EG] 15 Sept [1, fem/imm] f/o Roath, Cardiff - [DRWG]
w [WG] 16 Nov [fem] Llanrhidian Marsh [Matt Hunter]

*Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
A [EG] 12th to 15th Jun [1] Cosmeston CP - [P. Howlett et al]

                                                                   © P. Howlett

*Great White Egret (Egretta alba)
A [WG] Jan, Feb & Mar [2] Llanrhidian Marsh - Multi Obs
A [EG/WG] 15th May [1] Kenfig Saltmarsh - [MHi, DCo, DGC]
© M. Hipkin
A [EG] 30 Jun to 8th Jul [1] Kenfig Pool & Saltmarsh [DGC]
A [EG] 23 Jul [1] Cardiff Bay Wetlands Res. - [B. Salter]
A [EG] 04 Oct [1] KNNR - [DGC]
A [EG] 07 Oct [1] Llwyn-On Res. [Tim Griffiths & MTH]
A [EG] 13 Oct [1] Lavernock Point - [PB]
A [EG] 13 Oct [1] Talygarn Lake, Vale - [Mark Hebden]
© Mark Hebden

 [WG] 16-17 Nov [2] Llanrhidian Marsh [SM & PM et al]
A [WG] 29 Nov [1] Neath River, Briton Ferry [GR, DS et al]
 [WG] Dec [2] Llanrhidian Marsh - [Multi obs]

*Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
A [EG] 30 Apr [1] Kenfig Saltmarsh - [N. Donaghy]
© M. Hipkin


*White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
A [EG] 21 Apr [1] f/o Lisvane - [PB]

Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
A [EG] 29 Apr [1] f/o Flat Holm - [J. Bamkin]

*Common Crane (Grus grus)
 [EG] 10 Apr [6] St. Athan/Llancadle - [R. Francis]
A [EG] 11 Apr [5] City Centre, Cardiff - [P. Howlett]
© P. Howlett
 [EG] 03 May [4] Lisvane, Cardiff - [PB]
 [EG] 13 May [3] Cosmeston CP - [LM, ABn]
 [EG] 14 May [1] Flat Holm - [Stewart Grey]
 [EG] 18 May [3] Leckwith, Cardiff - [SH]
                                                                  © S. Howcroft
 [EG] 12 Jun [4] Flat Holm - [Luke Leatherbee]
 [EG] 14 Jun [2] Flemingston Moor - [GNS]
 [EG] 16 Jun [2] Llantrithyd - [per SS]
(Presumably all relating to the Great Crane Project)

Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
A [EG] 01 Apr [1] River Ogmore - [NPR]
© N.P. Roberts
*Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
[WG] 18-20 Oct [1] Crymlyn Burrows - [MHi et al]
© M. Hipkin

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
 [EG] 03 Aug [1] Llanilid - {no notes forthcoming}

Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)
A [EG] 11 Oct. [1] RGW - [RM]

Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus)
A [WG] 11 May [4] Tutt Head [SLM]
A  [WG] 11 Oct [1 Ad] Bracelet Bay [DCo, MHi]
© M. Hipkin

A [WG] 18 Oct [1st cy] Port Eynon - [M. Bell]
 [WG] 24 Dec [1] Rhossili - [BS]

Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus)
A  [WG] 12 May [1] Port Talbot [MHi]
© M. Hipkin

Little Auk (Alle alle)
A [WG] 18 Feb [1 dead] Margam Sands - [D. Coombs]
© D. Coombs


Puffin (Fratercula arctica) 
A [EG] 23 Feb [1 dead] Gileston [per GRC]
w [EG]  Feb [3 dead] Kenfig Sands [PP]
w [WG] 22 Jun [4] Worm's Head, Gower - [DCB]
w [WG] 25 Jun [3] Worm's Head, Gower - [MHi, DCo]

**Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

 [EG] 12 Jan, 09, 11, 20 & 24 Feb [ad W] - Cardiff Heliport - per GRC & 25 Jan Cosmeston CP [ABs & LM] & Cardiff Bay 8 Mar to 1 Apr [PB, ND]
 [EG] Two adults present on 30 Mar, [regular bird last date 1st April]  [PB, GNS et al]
(Returning adult to area)
© A. Burns [25th Jan.]
                                                                   © Gary Light [8th Mar.]

**Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea)
   [WG] 08-15 Feb [1st W] Afan Rivermouth - [MHi et al]
© M. Hipkin

*Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
IC  [WG] 01 Mar till 27 Mar [ad W] Blackpill - [SM et al]
© J. Garside
 [WG] 07 & 08 Mar [2 x ad W] Blackpill - [BS]
1 of 2 © B. Stewart
 [WG] 09 Mar [2cy] Broughton Bay - [PL]
 [WG] 11 Mar [ad  W] Loughor Bridge area - [PL & BS]
NP [WG] 04 Oct. [1st W] Blackpill - [Martin Bell]

**Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan)
 [WG] 18 & 27 Apr [2cy] Crofty/Wernffwrd - [BS]

© B. Stewart

© B. Stewart
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
A [EG] 8 Dec [1st W] Cosmeston CP - [ABs & LM] (2nd Welsh Record)

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)
A [EG] 11 Jan [ad W] Dowlais Top, Merthyr - [T. Chinnick & M. Hogan]
 [WG] 12 Jan [ad W] Burry Holms - [PM & SM]
 [WG] 29 to 30 Jan [1 2cy] -Blackpill - [MHi, JG]
 [WG] 23 & 25 Feb [1 2cy - pale] Burry Holms - [CB]
 [WG] 23 Feb [1 2cy - with pale Kumlien's] Rhossili Beach - [BS]
 [WG] 01 Mar [1 2cy] Burry Holms - []
 [WG] 01 Mar [2 x imm] Broughton Bay (possibly Burry Holms bird + another) - []
 [WG] 15 Apr [1 2cy] Rhossili - [PL]
 [WG] 17 Apr [1 2cy] Broughton Bay [GNS]

Iceland/Kumlien's Gull (L. glaucoides agg.)
IC [EG] 02 Mar [1 2cy] Cardiff Barrage - [PMH] 
 [WG] 22-25 [1 2cy] Fendrod 

*Kumlien's Gull (Larus glaucoides kumlieni)
(Formal identity not yet established)
 [WG] 10 & 11 Jan [1 2cy] Burry Holms - [EAH]
 [WG] 02 Feb [1 2cy] Blackpill - [BS]
 [WG] 16 Feb [1 2cy] Burry Holms - [EAH]
 [WG] 16 Feb [1 ad] Aberavon - [GJ]
 [WG] 23 Feb [1 2cy - pale] Rhossili Beach - [BS]
 [WG[ 23, 24 & 25 Feb [1 2cy - dark] Broughton Bay - [BS, CB]
IC [EG] 11 Mar & 17 Mar [1 ad W] Ogmore Est. - [NPR]
 [WG] 17 Mar [1 2cy] [TT, KP], then another type [1 2cy] 22-25 Mar [PM, SM] Fendrod Lake
 [WG] 27 Mar [2 cy] Crymlyn Burrows - [MHi] (possibly from Fendrod Lake)

**Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri)
(Formal identity not yet established)
 [WG] 04 to 19 Jan [1 2cy] Burry Holms - [BS et al]
© M. Hipkin
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
 [WG] 10 Jan [1 juv] Burry Holms - [EAH]
 [WG] 27 Jan [1 ad] Blackpill - [PL, DL]
 [WG] 17 & 25 Feb [1 ad] Wernffwrd - [EAH]
 [WG] 23 Feb & 19 Apr [imm] Burry Holms/Broughton Bay - [CB & MSC]
A [EG] 21 Feb - 17 Apr [1] Mynydd Ty-Talwyn - [DCo, PT, PP et al]
 [WG] 14 Jun [1 juv] Burry Holms - [Obs Unk.] Possibly the Jan/Feb bird still in the area

Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
A [EG] 2 & 3 Apr [1] Bridgend - [A. Murch]
{Presumed escape - blue plastic ring on leg}
IC [WG] 14 June [1] Ilston/Pengwern Common - [R. Hanson]
 [EG] 29 Sept [1] Lavernock Point - [LM]
A [EG] 02 Oct. [1] Cosmeston CP - [C. Jones]

Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
 [WG] 10 Apr [1] Landimore - [R. Probert]
A [WG] 29 Apr [1] Langland - [P. Thorpe]
© P. Thorpe

Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
A [EG] 04 Feb [1] Garwnant - [MTH]
 {From 2013}
© M. Hogan
A [WG] 14 & 16 Mar [1] Mynydd Marchywel - [RJ, MHi]
© M.Hipkin

A [EG] 31 Oct - 01 Nov [1] Garwnant - [AD] {returning bird to area}
 [WG] 23 Nov [1] Dyffryn Cellwen - [EAH]
 [WG] 15 & 20 Dec [1] Afon Argoed - [EJo & PT]
 [WG] 19 & 21 Dec [1] Pelenna & Nant-y-bar - [NE] {possibly the Afon Argoed bird}
 [EG] 26 Dec [1] Coed Taf Fawr [nr. Llwyn-on Res.] - [CJ] {possibly the Garwnant bird?}

*Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)
A  [EG] 28 & 29 Apr [1] Gileston - [R. Francis]
© R.G. Smith

Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
A [EG] 30 Apr [1] Sker - [Dean Bolt]
© G. Roblin

Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus)
A [EG] 06 & 08 Jan [2 poss 3] CBWR - [P. Howlett & N. Donaghy]
A [EG] 04, 18 & 27 Feb, 01 Mar [2] [1, ringed bird from Dec.] CBWR - [G. Stamp]
A [EG] 31 Mar [pair] Undisclosed site East Glam. - [JPH]
A [EG] 03 Oct [2] CBWR - [J. Vafidis]
(Note: East Glamorgan is now a post breeding & wintering dispersal area for this species and will be treated as a GRC local species and not a WRP species. Records from West Glamorgan however will have to be sent to WRP for acceptance.)

Wood Lark (Lullula arborea)
A [EG] 12 Oct. [1] Lavernock Point - [GNS, PB]
A [EG] 15 Oct [2] Lavernock Point - [PB, MM]
    [EG] 15 Nov [1] f/o Sker Point - [DCB]
A [WG] 22 Nov to 3 Dec [5 max] Overton - [CDB]
A [WG] 19 Dec [3] Overton - [OG]
© M. Hipkin

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

w [EG] 09 Jan [1] Ogmore Est. - [NPR]
w [WG] 28 Jan [1] Neath Salt Marsh - [MHi]
w [WG] 28 Jan [1] Llandarcy Salt Marsh - [MHi, RSh]
© M. Hipkin
w [EG] Feb [16] Rumney Great Wharf - [CE]
w [EG] 24 Feb [1] Sully Beach - [LM, ABs]
w [WG] 02 Mar [1] Dalton's Marsh - [BS]
w [EG] 15 Mar [1] Ogmore Est. - [NPR]
w [EG] 09-19 Nov [1] Ogmore Est. - [NPR et al]
w [EG] 27 Dec [1] Ogmore Est. - [NPR] {same as above?}

Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
A   [WG] 05 Oct. [1] Mewslade Valley - [P. Croft]
A   [EG] 17 Oct [1] Dunraven - [NPR]
A   [WG] 18 Oct [1] Kenfig Ind. Est. - [DCo]
© D. Coombs
A  [EG] 19 Oct [1] Waterton Ind. Est. - [DGC]
A  [EG] 23-26 Oct [1] Pant Norton - [DCB]
A  [EG] 24 Oct [1] Maesteg - [PT]
A  [EG] 27 Oct [1] Kenfig NNR [ND & DGC]

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
w [WG] 19 Mar [1] Swansea Vale LNR - [AWF]
w [EG] 29 May [1] Marcross [AH]
(Note: All records away from West Gower & the western Vale, may be asked for a description or photograph for acceptance, as there are now fewer than 5 records in VC41 per year.)

*Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
 [WG] 01 Dec [1] Overton - [MHi]
© M. Hipkin

Lapland Bunting (Calcarius lapponicus)
  [EG] 23 Oct [1] Kenfig Rivermouth - [O. Leyshon]

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
w [WG] 02 Feb [6] Whiteford Point - [MHi et al]
© M. Hipkin
w [EG] 16-19 Nov [1] Southerndown - [NPR]

*Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana)
 [EG] 04 Oct [1] Newton Dunes, Porthcawl - [via BirdGuides]

*Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)
A [EG] 08 Sep [1] Lavernock Point - [LM & AB]


Extra

*Siberian Chiffchaff (P.c. tristis)
A [EG] 13 Feb to 18 Mar [1] Kenfig NNR - [N. Donaghy et al]
A [EG] 18 Nov [2] Kenfig NNR - [ND]

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