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Recording rare birds in Wales

There are two types of rare bird: rare breeding species and local or national rarities, including scarce vagrants

rare breeding species

Rare breeding species should be reported to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, usually via the county bird recorder. Details of county bird recorders can be found by clicking on the appropriate panel on the Counties and Map page. You can download a list of RBBP species that breed in Wales by checking with the full Welsh List here. Please note that a Schedule 1 licence is required to visit the nest and its environs of some species.

Regional or national rarities, including rare vagrants

If you are familiar with your local area, you should have a good idea of which species are rarely recorded there.  If in doubt when making a record, it’s always a good idea to write a description and take photographs, providing you can do so without disturbing the bird(s). Check against the information provided by the Welsh Birds Rarities Committee (WBRC), especially in the case of ‘visitors’ to Wales, which are often vagrants from overseas. Download and complete their rarity recording form and submit this either directly to WBRC or to the county bird recorder. Details of county bird recorders can be found on the Counties & Map page.

Each area of Wales maintains a record of the birds seen, and these, over time, have become a valuable historic record. Among these records are species that occur only occasionally and each bird report area determines whether the identification of these is correct. However, if a report of a bird is more than just locally scarce, it may go to either the British Birds Rarities Committee (for species or forms that are rare at a GB level) or to the Welsh Birds Rarities Committee.

Click here for species considered by the WBRC.

Want to know what’s around?

 WOS doesn’t attempt to provide a latest sightings service, but Birdguides provided WOS with a monthly summary of rare and scarce reports throughout 2023, which you can see by clicking here. If you want more immediate news we suggest you visit one of the regional or county birding fora or sightings blogs, or use one of the commercial subscription services, such as Birdguides.com or Rare Bird Alert.

Found a rare bird?

In the first instance, we recommend you contact the relevant county recorder, who will be able to advise on identification and issues relating to site access etc. Search the Counties & Map page for contacts to county recorders.

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