Four ways to help birds
WOS will be at Birdfair again!
For the third year running, WOS will have a stand at Birdfair at Rutland Water from 17th to 19th August. Come and see us in Marquee 7, Stand 63, next to our friends from the Wildlife Trust for West and South Wales- there’ll be a warm welcome for all birders and their families, prize competitions (including a day’s birding with Iolo Williams, who’ll also be signing books) and WOS and Affiliate member publications for sale, together with information on the best Welsh birding sites. We look forward to seeing you!
TOPS - can you help with the important new BTO Tawny Owl survey?
Despite being widespread, we know surprisingly little about our Tawny Owl population. The BTO’s core monitoring schemes do suggest a recent decline but as they are daytime surveys, they can’t show us the full picture. We get better information on how Tawny Owl populations are doing by carrying out periodic targeted surveys with the BTO previously carrying out national structured surveys for Tawny Owls in Britain in the autumns of 1989 and 2005. By extending the survey to multiple seasons the BTO plan also to look at changes in their population over the course of the year and compare it to productivity/survival recorded in other BTO monitor projects like the Nest Record Scheme and Ringing Scheme. Through this, we hope to learn more about our noisy but often mysterious neighbours. To find out more, and to get involved, follow the link to the BTO survey page here.
Curlews in danger - summer records urgently required
It is estimated that since the 1990’s, Wales has lost up to 80% of its breeding Curlew population. It is widely considered that there may now be less than 400 breeding pairs in Wales. Curlews are rapidly edging towards extinction as a breeding species in our country and we urgently require information to locate breeding pairs and target conservation measures to protect them. The North Wales Curlew Action Group need you to report sightings of this highly endangered bird during the breeding season (April-July) in North Wales to assess their numbers and improve their conservation. For further details, please go to the COFNOD page here.
Northern Flyway - our human relationships with birds
This September, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama will welcome Northern Flyway, an ambitious audio-visual production seeking to explore the human relationship with birds, devised by Jenny Sturgeon and Inge Thompson. This immersive musical and visual performance will incorporate birdsong, vocals and instrumentals as well as a lush visual skyscape of flocks, skeins and murmurations. Inge Thomson and Jenny Sturgeon are joined by singer and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Hayes (Admiral Fallow) and vocal sculptor Jason Singh. Together they draw on the extensive field recordings of musician, composer and birdsong expert Magnus Robb, creating a multi-dimensional performance, combining vocal and instrumental composition with experimentation into the nature and rhythms of birdsong. To find out more and to book online visit their website at www.rwcmd.ac.uk or call the Box Office on 029 2039 1391.
Scarce sightings during June 2018
Bardseyβs spring run of rare warblers continued into early June, with new Greenish Warblers on 1st and 2nd, a Marsh Warbler ringed there on 1st and a new Blyth’s Reed Warbler ringed on 6th. There was also a Red-Backed Shrike seen there on 2nd. A visitor holiday making in Snowdonia had an unusual surprise, seeing and photographing a European Bee-Eater at Beddgelert (Caernarfon) on 2nd. Nine Rosy Starlings were found β details below. In the southern half of the country a Spotted Crake was at Kenfig NNR (Glamorgan) on 1st-3rd whilst a Corncrake was at Baglan Bay (Glamorgan) on 2nd and a Turtle Dove was on Skokholm on 9th. In the middle of the month Friday work hours were shortened for many on the 15th when a Snowy Owl was seen at Amlwch (Anglesey) and remained for the rest of the day allowing many birders to see it β the photographs suggest this was the same bird seen in south west Wales in March and April. The queen King Eider reappeared at Aberdysinni (Meirionnydd) on 19th and a pair of Long-tailed Ducks in summer plumage were unseasonal at Llyn Trawsfynydd on 24th.
Interactive Map
Click on each county to discover more about birds and birdwatching
Icons designed by Wissawa Khamsriwath from Flaticon
Events for birdwatchers in Wales
Saturday 21st July: Anglesey β 8.30 am. Leader: Neil Hughes (01978357113).
Belle Vue Garage, Wrexham LL13 7NU.
Full day meeting, Picnic required.
Morfa Berwig Nature Reserve Bynea 10:00 Lower car park WWT Penclacwydd Club member and Reserve Ranger Paul Aubrey will lead us to a reserve that some will not have heard of.
Meet at 10.00 in the lower car park at WWT Penclacwydd for car sharing as parking at the reserve is limited.
Events organiser Wendell Thomas β 07912 577626
Friday 3rd August: Gronant β 6.30 pm. Leader: Joy Thomas (01978350716).
Belle Vue Garage, Wrexham LL13 7NU.
Sunday 5th August – Rumney Great Wharf & Rhymney Est. Waders will be the focus. Early August often sees the first of them on their return passage. High tide:12:57.
Field Meetings – Contact John Wilson (info@glamorganbirds.org.uk) at least seven days before the due date. Bring packed lunch and suitable clothing/footwear. Participants may be expected to car share. The meeting place in Cardiff for many trips is St Margaret’s Road in Whitchurch, Cardiff – see the map opposite. We meet at the A4054 end.