Strong support for new Welsh raptor monitoring scheme

Kestrel (Philip Croft, BTO)

The British Trust for Ornithology has expressed delight at the ‘remarkable’ response to its new raptor monitoring project, Cudyll Cymru, which focuses on the more widespread species – Buzzard, Kestrel, Red Kite and Sparrowhawk – as well as Ravens. BTO Cymru is making a last appeal for new volunteers, especially those who have never participated in bird surveys beyond their gardens, to adopt a patch and visit it each month through from now until late summer. Details at bto.org/cudyll-cymru.

The RSPB and BTO Cymru are also asking more experienced birdwatchers to help the UK Heathland Bird Survey. Assistance is needed to look for Dartford Warblers in 1-km squares in north Berwyn, Y Carneddau, this spring, western Anglesey and Pen Llŷn, while summer evening visits to listen for Nightjars are required across the region, including in forestry in Meirionnydd, Gwydyr, Clocaenog, Llandegla and below Moel Famau. Click on the maps below for details.

The first Iceland Gull of winter in North Wales was on the mudflats off Aber Ogwen on Monday. A Long-tailed Duck and a couple of Scaup are on the Inland Sea, with both Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes there at the weekend. With a Red-necked Grebe on Llyn Penrhyn, some birdwatchers have seen all five European grebes on Anglesey in a day. Other Long-tailed Ducks remain off Benllech and Old Colwyn, with at least two Surf Scoters among the latter’s flock of seaducks.

Rhuddlan’s Glossy Ibis made a brief reappearance near the by-pass on Saturday, and is probably still in the area. Bramblings have been reported more widely as birds that wintered in southwest Europe head through Britain en route to Scandinavia; at least 10 were around feeders at Llyn Brenig visitor centre. Firecrests remain at Llangwstenin and Llanfairfechan sewage works, a Twite flock off Flint Castle and Hawfinches feed at Caerhun. Long-staying Black Redstarts are on the Great Orme and at Kinmel Bay, while one paused briefly in an Aberdyfi garden.
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The first Welsh Swallow of spring was in Carmarthenshire on Monday, following the first Sand Martins in the same county the previous day. When will the first in North Wales be found?

Maps of 1-km squares for which volunteers are needed to survey Dartford Warblers (left) and Nightjars (right), as on 24 February 2025. For details of the survey and current maps, visit bto.org/heathland-birds-survey