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.
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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.

Saturday 2 March 2013

Ring-billed Gull Neath Abbey Saltmarsh

 I saw this gull with others gathered alongside the Neath River at Neath Abbey Saltmarsh, this morning at 09:40. My first thought was 1st W Ring-billed Gull and I quickly tried to get some record shots of it. Unfortunately the gulls were pretty restless in the area and after 10 mins it flew off with the others in the direction of the playing fields at Cwrt Herbert. Lots of sporting activities there and no sign of it with other gulls nearby.
 It flew off before I was completely satisfied of its ID. It never came closer than 300m but these cropped digiscoped shots do (I think) show enough features to confirm it as a Ring-billed Gull, close to 1st S plumage.
It was searched for again this evening but no luck relocating it. It may have roosted with the other gulls somewhere in Baglan Bay and hopefully it will show again tomorrow morning. The viewing points for the saltmarsh are from Neath Abbey roundabout (although parking here is very limited) and access to view the saltmarsh can be obtained from Milland Road Industrial Estate (however the gulls "spook" very easily from that side of the river)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome find i wiil be there in morning and not typical place where i would expect to find a such a rare gull in Neath/PortTalbot

Dave A said...

Definitely a Ringer Mark, well done.

Phil B said...

Has become much rarer in recent years, a very good find Mark.

DRWG said...

According to the Glamorgan database, this is the first record for this species in the Unitary Authority of NPT. Well done on your find Mark.

Mark Hipkin said...

Rob, Dave, Phil and Jake
Thanks for your comments. I hope it stays a while and returns to the area in future years.