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.

Monday, 1 December 2014

Common Rosefinch at Overton (Gower)

The same field favoured by the Wood Larks is also attracting a decent sized mixed finch flock with c50 Chaffinches and roughly similar numbers of Linnets. While scanning for the Wood Larks amongst the finches on the deck this Common Rosefinch popped into view. It appears to be moving with the Chaffinch flock and the best chance of seeing it seems to be when the flock periodically take up together and gather in the hedgerow that runs along the field's northern boundary.
The photos show fairly warm plumage tones and a well defined double wing-bar, which was clear to see in the field. Therefore I suggest this bird is a 1st winter.
On the way back home, a quick scan from Dalton's Point at HT found a roosting Spotted Redshank. Seems strange to think that in 2014 there will probably be fewer Spotted Redshank seen in Glamorgan than Wood Lark, though this location being one of the most reliable to connect with Spotted Redshank in the county.

5 comments:

Paul Parsons said...

Excellent find Mark, you are having a great year.

Barry Stewart said...

Bloody amazing year of self-finds - I take my hat off to you!

Neil Donaghy said...

Agree with above two posts - great work Mark!!

Paul tabor said...

well done mark great find yet AGAIN!

Mark Hipkin said...

Thanks lads for all the kind comments. It's been an amazing year for me and no doubt I'll pay for it in the near future with a prolonged barren period.