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 30 October 2016

Black Redstarts : Broughton Bay Caravan Park, Llangennith

Couple of pics from a visit today with Richard Smith after spending time at Middleton first......





Putative Hume's Leaf Warbler : Middleton, Gower

Few 'record' images of the bird from a visit today with Richard Smith, heard calling several times and call good for Hume's, responded several times to 'tape', general consensus of the birders present is that it looks good for a 1st winter Hume's, not an easy one......







Record shots of the Hume's leaf warbler at Middleton, Gower today. Found yesterday by Eddie Hunter.




                                    Overall duller than the Yellow browed warbler also present
                                    in the same spot. Both birds were heard and this bird made
                                    the distinctive call of a Hume's.

Pallas warbler, Rhossili today. PP, PT.




                               At 11:45 this morning at Vine lane leading down from
                               Middleton at approx SS414 877, Paul Tabor and I found
                               this Pallas warbler. It was working it's way north along the
                               hedge and we lost it near a green metal barn. It was very
                               mobile but I managed this short burst of shots before we
                               lost sight of it.

Tuesday 11 October 2016

Dotterel record shots from Nash a nice find for me!



dotterel in ploughed field near cwm nash


YBW Penarth

3 p.m. this afternoon I was out in the garden, when alerted by a high pitched strident call, heard only Sunday on the GBC Portland trip. Ran inside to get my bins and was soon on to a Yellow-browed Warbler feeding with Chiffchaff in the trees that overhang the old railway line which is now a public path. Didn't appear to stay long - I lost it in the canopy fairly quickly although the Chiffie was still around 30 mins later. Went searching with my camera but no luck. Will get something down on paper.

Monday 10 October 2016

YBW Cardiff

Had a phone call at around 6 p.m. - a GBC member had a YBW in his garden in Cyncoed this afternoon.

Sunday 9 October 2016

yellow browed warbler this morning at kenfig NNR north dunes


Yellow-Browed Warbler : KNNR

Few pics of one of two birds at the location posted below by Paul, big thanks to Neil for the "heads up" on the location.....



Kenfig pool this morning.


                                 One of three Yellow browed warblers seen. One was in the "odin ride",
                                 an open patch in the west pool bushes, about halfway along the path
                                 between the hides. Two were together in a spot about 200M north of
                                 the north pool inlet. Thanks to Neil for showing us the exact spot.

Thursday 6 October 2016

Barred Warbler near Mewslade Valley

A Barred Warbler was seen near the crossroads at Pitton by Ed Hunter, this afternoon. The bird was feeding in the Hawthorn bushes alongside the main road to Rhossili (B4247), between the large barn and the road that leads NE (Bunker's Hill) (SS42798775). Parking is very restricted around here but is available at top end of Mewslade Valley (£3/day).
Map showing rough location of crossroads at Pitton.
Unfortunately for me the Barred Warbler flew out of sight minutes before I could get to the location. It was looked for by at least 3 observers between 14:15 to 17:30 but with no further sign. Perhaps there had been a bit of a clear out of birds during the afternoon as there was no sign either of any of the 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, also noted in the area earlier by Ed.

This record of a Barred Warbler will be the first for West Glamorgan.

Wednesday 5 October 2016

Nash point and Cwm nash this morning. PP+CG.

                       Plenty of vismig in the strong easterlies with 200+ chaffinch and
                       lesser numbers of Meadow pipit, Skylark, Goldfinch, Siskin, Sand
                       martin, Swallow, Pied wagtail, Chiffchaff and Wheatear. Lots
                       of Red admirals were flying in off the sea and this smart Ring
                       ouzel was in Cwm nash valley.