Glamorgan Rarities Committee

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.

All visitors are welcome. You must first register by sending an email to GlamRC@gmail.com before you can contribute. An invite will be sent to your email address. Blog content will be strictly moderated. Access to pages and downloads are available to everyone. All photographs on this blog remain the property of the originator. If you would like to use photos, please arrange permission beforehand.

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.

Sunday, 13 March 2011

Bonaparte's Gull in Cardiff

A Bonaparte's Gull (adult winter) was found in Cardiff Bay this morning [per GNS]. Possibly the returning bird to the area.

Saturday, 12 March 2011

Great grey shrike, Mynydd Penhydd.

Found by Nigel Patten - grid ref SS 825 935. Note that there is no public access here on weekdays as tree felling is in progress.

Firecrest, Newton dunes.

GGS still at Bwlch-y-Lladron

The Great Grey Shrike was still present today at Bwlch-y-Lladron. In rather gloomy conditions today the bird was far less active choosing to survey the grounds from a high perch

Wednesday, 9 March 2011

Great Grey Shrike at Mynydd Margam

Record shot of the Great Grey Shrike that Phil Hardwick found yesterday. This bird seems to work a far bigger area than the bird I saw yesterday at Bwlch-y-Lladron. It showed very well from the crossroads near the lone pine (SS814887) until it was disturbed by a small group of scramblers!

Lesser Scaup

The long-staying Drake Lesser Scaup present Cosmeston W lake this morning.

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

Great Grey Shrike at Bwlch-y-Llandron

I was extremely happy to spend this afternoon in the presence of a Great Grey Shrike. The "Great" is well deserved in its name. It was particularly successful while I was there, catching many beetles, a bee or two and a shrew. It seemed to stash the shrew for later on a branch that was out of view, from my position.

Well done to Colin Richards for finding this bird and also to Rob & Linda Nottage for reporting their sighting yesterday. I've only ever seen one other GGS in the UK and it was miles off. This bird has really made my year so far.

Recent reports

A Great Grey Shrike was at Bwlch-y-Lladron [SN947032] 6th & 7th March & another was seen today [8th] at Mynydd Margam [SS815887] by the Lone Pine area.
The Slavonian Grebe is still present today [8th] in Cardiff Bay [Prospect Pl. nr. ice rink].