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.

Thursday, 19 March 2015

Report

I have just heard a report of an immature White-tailed Eagle [escape?] flying up the Taff Valley at Taff's Well being mobbed by many birds. The sighting was at approx 14.15. Bird was seen for a couple of minutes. No further information.

Monday, 16 March 2015

GG Shrike at Bwlch-y-Lladron

Nice find by Colin Richards on 14th Mar - a GG Shrike at Bwlch-y-Lladron [SN944032[, exactly the same spot where he found one in 2011. This is at the south side of Hirwaun Common, walkable to from the Rhigos hairpins. A couple of record shots from his compact camera:

Friday, 13 March 2015

Garganey at Kenfig Saltmarsh

Drake Garganey at Kenfig Saltmarsh 12th March by D. Coombs. Two drakes were reported there today (13th) by N. Donaghy. It seems that this site, regularly watched, is turning up some great birds.

Monday, 9 March 2015

Little Gull : Cardiff Bay

Couple of photos of the adult winter plumage Little Gull on the River Taff taken approx 150m up river of the A4232 road bridge on Sat 7th March.....

Glaucous Gull : Porthcawl

Couple of photos of the Glaucous Gull with damaged left leg taken at Coney Beach, Porthcawl on Sat 7th March........

Sunday, 8 March 2015

Brent Geese at Breaksea Point

Here's a picture from a couple of weeks ago

Pale and Dark bellied Brent Geese

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Cardiff Bay - Evening

17.00 - 18.00

Little gull (ad) still present on River Taff approx. 100yds n/of roadbridge. 5 med gulls (2 1st win; 2nd win; 2 ads) with good sized black-head flock. Also 4th win / near ad yellow-legged gull dropped in for a while.

Glaucous Gull at Coney Beach 03032015 long stayer with broken left leg

Cardiff Bay

Lesser scaup with 102 tufted duck off the Ice Rink. The flock was joined by a drake gadwall, a bird that I haven't seen in Cardiff Bay for quite a while.

On River Taff 100yds north of the roadbridge - 1 adult little gull showing very well, 2nd winter med gull and 3 goosander (1 drake).

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Caspian Gull

The Caspian Gull that was found by Lol Middleton and photographed by Andrew Burns at Cosmeston Lakes CP 8th December 2014 has been accepted by WRP. This constitutes the 2nd Welsh Record and the first record for Glamorgan VC41. The VC41 list is now 333 & the East Glamorgan list now stands at 310 with the Little Bunting pending a 'rubber stamp' from WRP will make it 311.

2017 Records