Welsh Journals

Ornithological Notes 1970-72 H. MORREY SALMON, C.B.E., M.C., D.L. These notes, which are summarised in their present form for the convenience and interest of the members of the Society, include the more unusual and interesting occurrences in Glamorgan during the three years 1970-71-72. Those who desire more detailed information can consult the Glamorgan Annual Bird Report published for each of these three years by the Ornithological Section of the Society, in association with the Gower Ornithological Society. All three species of Divers were seen and the least frequent, the Black-throated Diver, was recorded in each winter as single individuals between January-April off the Gower coast; another spent several days in November 1971 on Llanishen reservoir; unusually, two were found dead: one at Newton Pool on 14 February 1970 and the other at Kenfig Pool on 2 January 1972. Other sightings on fresh water were at Eglwys Nunydd reservoir and Kenfig Pool in January 1970. All five grebe species were reported, although the Red-necked Grebe was seen only in 4970 in the Burry Estuary in March-April, but the other two winter visitors, Slavonian and Black-necked, occurred in small numbers as usual. Breeding by Great Crested Grebes at Hensol was not repeated but in 1971 and 1972 exceptional numbers were present in spring at Eglwys Nunydd reservoir and three pairs bred successfully there in 1971, though this was not repeated in the following year. Similarly, extraordinary numbers were at Llanishen reservoir, where they cannot nest, no less than sixteen being present in April-May 1971, the majority remaining until July and later. Fulmars bred as usual in small numbers in Gower and individuals were again reported prospecting the south Glamorgan cliffs. Manx Shearwaters came up the Channel in varying flocks in summer as far as off Lavernock Point, though few were reported in 1972. A few Storm Petrels were seen off Gower coasts in summer 1972. Occasional flocks of Gannets, some considerable, were noted in the Channel between Gower-Lavernock in 1970 and 1971 but few in 1972. Cormorants bred in small numbers in Gower and there were the usual out of breeding season concentrations there, with smaller numbers occurring in the Taff estuary and on inland waters. A Shag was noted atAberthaw in October 1972 and small numbers were seen in Gower but they did not, apparently, breed. The Penrice heronry continued to flourish and increased to 29 nests in both 1971 and 1972. The Herons at Hensol re-established themselves and that heronry appears stabilised at 14 nests; as well, a new breeding site with two nests was located at the eastern end of the county near Craig Llanishen in 1972. It is interesting, too, that the old heronry site at Margam seems to be again attracting Herons, twelve birds being seen there in February 1972. Two Purple Herons, the third and fourth occurrences only in the county, came to Gower, one in April 1970 and the other, which stayed for two days, in May 1971. What was probably a Little Egret, though it was not identified with certainty, also came to Gower in September 1970; this species has only once before been recorded in Glamorgan, also in Gower, in 1957. During the influx of Little Bitterns into Britain in April-May 1970, two