After having had one escape the net a couple of days ago it was nice to actually capture this beautiful young female #TawnyOwl in the garden this evening. The local owls seem to be enjoying the calm moonlit conditions currently and are quite vocal. 🦉#BirdRinging #GowerBirds @gowerbirds.bsky.social
I had a late surprise this afternoon with this juvenile Dartford Warbler in my net. The species breed on the cliffs here but it’s taken 6 years for one to stray into the garden nets. Species 70 on the garden ringing list #BirdRinging #GowerBirds #DartfordWarbler @gowerbirds.bsky.social
@rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #gowerbirds
How extraordinary it was to see a Eurasian Scops Owl tonight, locally here in Gower, and in December of all months! A fabulous little bird that was hunting in a suburban park. #GowerBirds #ScopsOwl @gowerbirds.bsky.social
Merlin, honest.
View of the snow from Rhossili Down
Great to see a Merlin on Rhossili Down this morning. Also 2 Snipe and a Wren. Lots of ice, but warm in the sunshine. Snow on the other side of the estuary for the last 2 days but none here.
#birdingwales #gowerbirds @gowerbirds.bsky.social
A Chough
Our AGM is this evening at 19:15 at St Paul's Parish Centre in Sketty, Swansea. There will also be a talk by Mike Shewring on the results of Chough surveys in Gower and a talk by Owain Gabb on Barn Owls. More details at the link below:
www.gowerbirds.org.uk/event/gos-ag...
#gowerbirds
@rarebirder.bsky.social
juvenile #BarredWarbler caught and ringed by myself this morning on Pennard Cliffs, Gower Peninsular. #GowerBirds
a poor picture of a Hen Harrier on Rhossili Down
a poor picture of a Buzzard on Rhossili Down
a plucking from yesterday
A sodden Rhossili Down
Exciting times, in between the showers this morning, on a sodden Rhossili Down. A female/imm Hen Harrier and a wet Buzzard and then, on the trudge back, a male Hen Harrier. Never been happier in the rain!
@gowerbirds.bsky.social
#birdingWales #gowerbirds
Great to catch another #Firecrest yesterday amongst a nice selection of autumn species during a garden ringing session. The 6th #Treecreeper of the year was particularly notable for the site, I’m usually lucky if I get 1 here per year! #birdringing #GowerBirds @gowerbirds.bsky.social
#SiberianChiffchaff caught in the garden on Pennard Cliffs this morning, the first since 2023. It also happened to be the 300th chiff of the year ringed here. #BirdRinging #GowerBirds @gowerbirds.bsky.social
Snow Bunting - Rhossili Down
Snow Bunting - Rhossili Down
Very breezy walk up to the trig point on Rhossili Down this morning enlivened by a confiding Snow Bunting, looking a bit out of place really. Also 2 Chough, Buzzard, Skylark and Snipe.
#birdingWales #gowerbirds
A summary of the ringing year to date of the Gower Ringing Group #GowerBirds www.gowerbirds.org.uk/2025-the-yea...
I had a new species for the garden today with this juvenile Common Redstart. It’s a very scarce species locally and was a nice surprise. Hopefully a pair are nesting not too far away!
Species 68 on the garden ringing list #BirdRinging #Redstart #GowerBirds
Report received of a Chiffchaff controlled in my garden-
Age 4 male Chiffchaff
Ringed - 9 April 2025
Bryyncroes, Gwynedd, UK
recaptured - 1 May 2025
Southgate, Gower, UK
22 days later
Distance 145 km SSE
#BirdRinging #chiffchaff #GowerBirds @gowerbirds.bsky.social
Control of a Starling in my garden
Age 3 Starling
Ringed 31 May 2023
Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees, UK
Recaptured 16 May 2025
Southgate, Gower Peninsula, UK
716 days later, 375km SSW
#BirdRinging #starling #GowerBirds @gowerbirds.bsky.social
Lovely 6 mile walk with my brother and the dogs at Cwm Ivy out towards Whitford Tower. Finally ticked my eider ducks and plenty of whitethroat, sedge, dunlin, ringed plover, whimbrel, shelduck & more #GowerBirds #BirdingWales
#RingNeckedParakeet flying through my garden on Pennard Cliffs just now, a garden first!🦜 #GowerBirds @gowerbirds.bsky.social
A #Cuckoo caught in my garden on Pennard Cliffs became the 67 species for the garden ringing list this evening. There’s been at least one vocal individual along the cliffs here for the last 24 hours. #GowerBirds
13 Whimbrel spotted flying eastwards along Pennard Cliffs today. Also seen were Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, plenty of Whitethroats and a male Cuckoo that dropped into the garden this evening. #GowerBirds @gowerbirds.bsky.social
First #Wheatear of the year for me seen this morning on Cefn Bryn, Gower. Yellowhammer, Stonechat, Skylark, Meadow Pipit & Linnet also about. #GowerBirds
Green Woodpecker have been very noticeably present on Pennard Cliffs over the winter. This smart female bird is the first one to be caught & ringed in the garden this year. #GreenWoodpecker #BirdRinging #GowerBirds
Spring at Rhossili Down & environs has brought out the raptors this morning with 3 Buzzards displaying, a Red Kite, Kestrel and Merlin. 2 Wheatear were my 1st this year, the Meadow Pipits and Chiffchaff were singing and Green Woodpecker calling but, best of all ...
#gowerbirds #birdingwales
🔽
Finally caught up with the black redstart at Crofty. Lovely little bird and seems quite at home on the dung heap #BlackRedstart #GlamBirds #GowerBirds #BirdingWales #UKBirding
Rhossili Down - 37 Lapwing hidden between the sheep and the rock
Some of he 37 Lapwing
Walk on #Rhossili Down this a. m. in rare bit of sunshine. 22 species seen, 'best' being, Raven, Grey Wagtail, 3 pairs of canoodling Chough (one with yellow ring on left leg) &, best ever count for me on the Down, 37 Lapwing, hidden somewhere between sheep & rock in photo #gowerbirds #birdingwales.
Peregrine
Peregrine
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Best of today was a marsh harrier and two peregrines at Llanrhidian Marsh. Dipped the black redstart again at Crofty. Must try harder! #marshharrier #Gowerbirds #BirdingWales #UKBirding
Black-headed Gull EX70314 ringed @ Pitsea Landfill Site, Essex by the North Thames Gull Group + seen in Penclawdd, Gower, Swansea. About 14yrs old, not reported since ringed 12yrs ago. @btobirds.bsky.social @andrewlucas103.bsky.social #Gowerbirds #ukbirding #gullhistories #essexbirding #gulls #birds
