Annual report of Scarce & Rare Birds in Wales
Welsh Ornithological Society
Working with the Welsh Rare Birds Committee (WBRC), the Society produces annual reports on rare and scarce birds in Wales. These are only published online and printed copies are not produced. The most recent two reports are available for reading and downloading for WOS members only. Earlier years are also available for non-members to read and download.
WOS does not provide instant rarity news as BirdGuides and Rare Bird Alert do, but we occasionally publish news reports on exceptional events outside the annual report.
The most recent report is for 2024 and is available for reading and downloading for WOS members only. The 2023 report is also restricted to WOS members only; the 2022 report will shortly be moved to the public download section.
Members Only Annual Reports
Public Annual Reports for 2017-22 (earlier years are available on request)
Monthly Reports
May 2023 – a Song Sparrow on Bardsey and a good range of late summer migrants
A SONG SPARROW on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, on 9th had twitchers springing into action and there was an excellent run of late returning summer migrants.
March & April 2023 round-up, including a UK first
The first ever UK Black-winged Kite amazed an observer near Newtown and Wales was well represented in the UK-wide influxes of Purple Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons and Alpine Swifts. Click for more highlights of a busy two months.
February 2023 – the second Baikal Teal of the year and the very first signs of Spring
No apologies for using the same species as January for the featured image – a second Baikal Teal for Wales and the second of the year! Otherwise a quiet month, with a few tantalising harbingers of Spring at the end.
January 2023 – Wales’s first Baikal Teal in Powys
Highlight of the month was the first Baikal Teal for Wales – in land-locked Powys!
December 2022 – good for ducks!
The undoubted rarity highlight of an otherwise quiet December produced an adult drake AMERICAN BLACK DUCK at Llanrhidian Marsh, Gower, on 20-21st, a trio of drake SURF SCOTER, a drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL and eight RING-NECKED DUCKS at five sites.
November 2022 – wheatears, gulls and ducks the highlights
A couple of rare Oenanthe would go on to define the first few days of November, including an ISABELLINE WHEATEAR