Latest ringing report HERE.

Productivity seems to have been good for most resident species, and first reed warbler young now on the wing.

Latest ringing news HERE

Not a lot on the Outer Head at Mumbles yesterday, but dingy skipper on the wing.

Two grasshopper warblers and good numbers of fledged siskins. Flyover whimbrel.

Latest ringing news HERE.

Recent ringing news HERE

Two grasshopper warblers and a lesser whitethroat among recent ringing highlights. See LINK for photos and summary.

Latest ringing news is HERE

A better than average first half of April, with 6 brambling possibly the more notable captures.

Some good data on returning birds.

Two grasshopper warblers reeling before dawn this morning

Apparent pair of Slavonian grebes displaying on the Inlet. Nice to watch.

Also reasonable numbers of rb merganser (8+) but no count possible.

1 April: willow warbler, 3 brambling (2m, f), jack snipe. Large numbers of siskin and goldfinch. Latest ringing news HERE.

Latest ringing news is HERE

S/pl red-throated diver. Also gannet and 4 common scoter.

2 porpoise, 2 grey seal.

W/pl Red-throated diver close in off Whiteshell Pt this AM.

Great crested grebe at Langland.

The extensive burn last year has taken out a lot of the gorse between Snaple and Whiteshell Pts. However, meadow pipit (1), stonechat (both at Whiteshell Pt), linnet, greenfinch and goldfinch singing / holding territory on the slopes, and rock pipit singing at two locations on the upper shore.

Brambling (2+) still present. First chiffchaffs noted (3), of which 1 was captured.

Ringing report HERE. Photo of nuthatch below by Richard Dann.

Please don’t forget the GOS Talk on Friday at the Environment Centre, Pier St, Swansea. 19:15 start. £1 on door. Talk on the birds and marine mammals seen from the Gower Explorer boat. 

Swallow foraging over channel near South Pond.

Brambling (f) also present. 4 little egret out of roost. 118 common gull in bay.

Please don’t forget the talk next Friday (Environment Centre, Pier St, Swansea) on Seabirds and Marine Mammals seen from the Gower Explorer. 19:15 start. £1 on the door.

New blog post on the ringing year to date. Follow this LINK.

Brambling photo by Richard Dann

Friday 23rd March: The Gower Explorer: An illustrated talk on the coast of Gower as seen by Mike and David Tonge a father-and-son team who see Gower daily from their power boat. Covering seabirds and cetaceans.

At the Environment Centre. Kick off 19:00. £1 on the door.

The GOS walk around Whiteford Point due to be held tomorrow has been cancelled due to the poor forecast. Apologies for the late notice. Bob Tallack had stepped in to lead (as Eddie has had a fall while skating), but it is looking cold, wet and miserable unfortunately.

Apologies for non-sighting post.

The GOS quiz will be held on Friday 26 Jan at 19:00 at the Environment Centre, Pier St, Swansea.
It is always a well-attended evening. Come along and test your knowledge of birds and birding.​
£1 on the door to cover room hire costs.
Always a good prize for the winnter. Last year it was the New Naturalist book on Falcons, by Richard Sale.

Apologies for the non-sightings post.

Please could anyone intending to sightings of birds within the Gower recording area in 2017 send these to Mark Hipkin by the end of February 2017. Mark’s email address is: markhipkin1@gmail.com

Guidance for the submission of records can be found HERE

Many thanks on behalf of the GOS committee.

A summary of ringing at Oxwich in 2017 is available by clicking HERE

For anyone who is interested, you can click through to a more detailed report from the above blog post. Starling photo Stephen Vickers.