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WELSH BIRD REPORT FOR 1973 COMPILED BY P. HOPE JONES AND P. E. DAVIS INTRODUCTION An outstanding feature of Welsh ornithology in 1973 was undoubtedly the unusual number of rare vagrants recorded in the Principality during the year. No fewer than six species were added to the Welsh List, the highest annual total since 1967; and there have now been 25 additions in the seven years since the Welsh Bird Report first appeared. The 1973 additions were the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper from N.E. Asia, which appeared simultaneously in Flint and Merioneth; the Ring-billed Gull from N. America, with two or three individuals in Glamorgan; a Little Swift from Africa or S. Asia; a Red-rumped Swallow and a Cetti's Warbler, both of which breed in southern Europe; and a Yellow-breasted Bunting from N.E. Europe or Siberia. American rarities were few this year, with single records of Spotted and Buff-breasted Sandpipers and three of Pectoral Sandpiper; though a Caspian Tern might have come from east or west. In contrast, there were many eastern or southern Old World species, including Little Egret, Spoonbill, Red-footed Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, Collared Pratincole, White- winged Black Tern, Alpine Swift, Bee-eater, Aquatic, Barred and Yellow- browed Warblers, Woodchat Shrike, Rose-coloured Starling, Serin, and a wide range of lesser rarities. Bardsey Bird Observatory, which re-opened after nearly two years of closure, celebrated by recording two of the new Welsh species. With the ending of the BTO Atlas project in 1972 there were only two new organised surveys, on a relatively small scale, to occupy enthusiasts during the spring and summer. The national count of breeding Black-headed Gulls was very well supported in Wales, and a survey of breeding Ringed Plovers was reasonably complete along much of the coastline. Such hardy annuals as the heronry census and the repeat counts of auks were maintained, as were, at other seasons, the wader and wildfowl counts and the Beached Birds survey. The latter documented one major oiling incident, affecting Scoters in Carmarthen Bay. Of the breeding birds of Wales, some showed marked increases and others obvious decreases, compared with 1972. The former tended to be resident species, perhaps favoured by yet another mild winter; and the latter to be long-distance migrants, some of which are now believed to have been decimated by the enduring drought in the Sahel region of Africa. Details of these fluctuations appear in the systematic list. The records in this report have been abstracted from the northern reports by PHJ and from the southern ones by. PED. Bird records for the various counties or regions are always welcomed by the local recorders: Ang., Caern., Den., and Mer.: P. J. Dare, Tan-yr-allt, Trefriw, Gwynedd. Flint.: R. R. Birch, 8 Thornberry Close, Saughall, Chester. Mont.: R. R. Lovegrove, The Walk Mill, Mochdre, Newtown, Powys. Card.: P. E. Davis, Fullbrook Mill, Tregaron, Dyfed. Rad.: T. R. H. Owen, Lulham House, Madley, Herefords. Brec.: M. E. Massey, Windyridge, Pennorth, Brecon, Powys. Carm.: D. H. V. Roberts, 38 Heol Hathren, Cwmann, Lampeter, Dyfed.