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Indoor Meeting Saturday March 2nd 2019, Goytre Village Hall, 7:30 pm |
THE CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS - GEORGIA, ARMENIA and AZERBAIJAN by PAUL BOWDEN
Paul will provide an illustrated presentation including photos and video to show us the wildlife and environment of countries on the very edge of the Western Palearctic region. Rarities from the east are always a possibility. |
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Iolo Williams Meeting - Sold Out |
All tickets for the Iolo Williams evening on March 25th have now been sold.
If we have any returns they will be offered to members at the indoor meetings. |
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2018 Sightings Wanted NOW! |
It's that time of year again! Please send your 2018 records to the county recorder ASAP. Just download the Excel spreadsheet from the GOS website and start entering your sightings – records should be submitted by 31 January 2019 if possible. Click here to see how to do this.
Although we would prefer to receive records submitted using the spreadsheet, records submitted via Word documents and paper slips will still be accepted. If you use Word, please make sure there is a new line for each record and that data is entered in the following order and separated by a Tab:
Species name, location/site, date of sighting, number of birds, comments (such as age/sex of birds, breeding notes etc), your name and initials.
But please try the spreadsheet method – you'll find it easy and we'll find sorting and assessing your records much simpler.
Could those of you who use BirdTrack (an acceptable alternative) please also send your records to Darryl? This is merely to ensure no record goes missing.
Please email your electronic format (spreadsheet, etc.) records to Darryl Spittle at countyrecorder@gwentbirds.org.uk or post them to 48 Ffos-y-Fran, Bassaleg, Newport NP10 8LU. |
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Colour-ringed Curlew sightings needed |
The critical decline of Curlew is well documented and your help is required in reporting all sightings of recently colour-ringed birds.
Some Curlew wintering on the Rivers Usk and Severn have been ringed, using six rings on the legs. Information on their whereabouts will help conservation efforts.
The key colour rings to identify individuals are the single ring on the left tibia (upper leg), and the two rings on the right tibia (blue and lime green). There is a metal ring on the right tarsus, and two colours on the left tarsus to denote the project (yellow and white).
Andrew Strong is collating information on re-sightings of any of these birds on behalf of the BTO. Please email Andrew details of any colour-ringed Curlew that you see, to aj.strong@icloud.com, and he’ll get back in touch with you to let you know the bird's history.
Usk-marked wintering birds have been reported on their breeding grounds in both Poland and Finland. Any further sightings of your birds will be published in The Dipper (the Gwent Ornithological Society newsletter), or see http://www.curlewcall.org . |
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BIRDWATCHING AT LLANDEGFEDD RESERVOIR |
Birdwatching permits are required for Llandegfedd Reservoir from October 1st - March 1st. They can be purchased from the Welsh Water visitor centre located at the Dam end of the reservoir at a cost of £8.00.
For entry to the north end of the reservoir you will need a key for the car park gate. The keys cost £6.00 and you can obtain them from the visitor centre at the same time as the permit. If you already hold a key from a previous year you do NOT need a new one. |
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GDPR: How we use your personal data (May 2018) |
Gwent Ornithological Society uses personal data of members and contributors to Society publications and website. This is detailed in the article 'How we use your personal data (May 2018)' which you can find here in Articles. |
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CHICK MORTALITY / PREDATION at Newport Wetlands Reserve |
A study is being made of chick mortality at NWR and your help is requested. If you see any type of chick predation / mortality whilst bird watching at the reserve would you please use the form at the link NRW Chick Predation and send your reports to Thomas.Dalrymple@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk Whilst it is expected that most predation is by avian predators (Gulls, Herons, Corvids, Raptors ) if you note any mammalian predators the same form can be used. Your observations will be helpful in the overall monitoring exercise. |
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Reporting sightings of rare and Schedule 1 birds on the GOS website |
In Gwent's wide variety of habitats we have many sites of ornithological interest which hold rare and Schedule 1 breeding bird species. Newport Wetlands Reserve, which encompasses Goldcliff lagoons, Uskmouth reedbeds and the grasslands, is a well managed site and very secure for breeding birds, but sites elsewhere in the county are unprotected and the many breeding species present there are vulnerable to threats such as disturbance and, potentially, even egg collectors.
For this reason please AVOID POSTING SIGHTINGS WHICH INCLUDE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS (other than at NWR) for any rare, locally rare or Schedule 1 species that you suspect are breeding, showing signs of breeding behaviour or are in suitable habitat, on the Gwent Ornithological Society Sightings page.
If you discover a rare or Schedule 1 species that you suspect is breeding, please report your sighting directly to the county recorder, Darryl Spittle at countyrecorder@gwentbirds.org.uk.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.
Tom Chinnick
Schedule 1 species which may be found include the following:
Garganey
Spoonbill
Red Kite
Marsh Harrier
Osprey
Little Ringed Plover
Kingfisher
Merlin
Hobby
Peregrine
Firecrest
Bearded Tit
Woodlark
Cetti’s Warbler
Crossbill |
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GOS policies, as required by the Charity Commission, can be read here. |
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Solar energy and wind farm developments |
From time to time the committee is asked where the Society stands with regard to solar energy or wind farm developments. Policy statements detailing our views have been drawn up.
Click here to see our policy on solar energy
and here to see our policy on wind farm developments. |
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