Robin Sandham writes:

It’s time to hand over the baton after several years of writing the monthly reviews for the WOS website in which time some amazing rarities have been seen in Wales. I continue as a panel member on the WBRC and hope to see you in the field in the future. It would be unfitting to leave without one last look at a selection of last year’s highlights.

The KUMLIEN’S GULL on the Ogmore Esturary (Glamorgan) over 8-17^th proved to be popular in February. March was fairly quiet apart from mammal news of Tenby’s Walrus which drew in hundreds of onlookers.

April kicked off with some “noc-migging” records, firstly of a STONE CURLEW calling over Penrhyn Bay (Caernarfonshire) on 1st. Another turned up on St. David’s airfield on 26-27^th. Again noc-mig recording paid off and revealed more unknowns – this time a SPOTTED CRAKE over Tregaron Bog (Ceredigion) along with thousands of migrating Common Scoter on 5^th. Who knows what else this technique will reveal in the coming years?

An ALPINE SWIFT was a classic “spring overshoot” for April, photographed over Skokholm on 1^st and seen at Wooltack Point and St Govan’s Head (Pembrokeshire) on 2^nd and again over Nolton Haven on 18^th. In May a BLACK-HEADED BUNTING was a welcome record at the Derlwyn Arms beer garden in Brnyamman (Carmarthen) on 26^th. Is there a better beer garden record in Wales?

June started with a male EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER at Carmel Head (Anglesey) on 1^st. A CASPIAN TERN was at NWC Llanelli (Carmarthen) on 24-30^th. It was colour-ringed and originated from Finland. An unprecedented influx of ROSY STARLINGS occurred throughout the month. July highlights were on Anglesey with an ELEGANT TERN in residence at Cemlyn from 4^th onwards and a PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER was on the Cefni Estuary at Malltraeth over 27-29^th and a pelagic off Pembrokeshire scored a WILSON’S PETREL on 29^th August.

September’s news was focussed on Flintshire with an elusive SQUACCO HERON at Big Pool Wood (Flintshire) over 15-26^th. A BONAPARTE’S GULL was at Rhyl (Flintshire) on 28^th and a WILSON’S PHALAROPE at Burton Mere Wetlands (Wirral), which occasionally ventured onto Border Pool (Flintshire) 21-23^rd. In October Bardsey hosted its second RED-EYED VIREO over 2-3rd which was first seen, then caught, ringed and seen again the following day. Another was nearby on the mainland and was enjoyed by many at Porth Meuddwy on 6-9^th. November did not bring anything special, in spite of Storm Arwen, which caused a lot of damage with heavy rain, high winds and high tides. Finally, December brought a PACIFIC DIVER to Eglwys Nunedd Reservoir in Galmorgan, which proved extremely photogenic and stayed into 2022.

I hope these summaries have inspired you to get out birding and to find your own highlights, whether common or rare. Each outing we usually see something new and always learn.

Good birding for 2022 – and let’s hope that Covid doesn’t restrict us too much and avian flu doesn’t wreak havoc amongst birds in Wales.

Here’s a gallery of twelve of the best (well, eleven birds and a mammal!):