Rarities | Birds in North Wales

Records of rarities

If you see a bird that is considered to be a rarity (please refer to the copy of the BOU 2017 checklist of species that shows if each species is a national or Welsh rarity) complete the rare birds form as completely as you can. Please describe the bird as you saw it, giving details of the colours of the different parts of the body. If you take any digital photos, please label them with date, species, place and your name.

There are two levels of rarity in North Wales - national rarities on the list of the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) or Welsh rarities on theblist of the Welsh Records Panel (WRP).

If you have seen a bird that is on the national rarity list, please submit the record to the BBRC using their form:

BBRC online submission form

For information about the BBRC, please see their website:

BBRC

A decision was taken by the CBRG that as from April 2012 we would no longer have a list of 'local rarities'. It was a system that the Recorder inherited, but it has become increasingly difficult to administer or justify. However, the Recorder retains the right to seek further information, possibly including a description, for any 'odd' record that seems to need particular justification (eg a Lesser Whitethroat in January). This means that we now use the same system as that used by the Cambrian Ornithological Society. This will mean that more records will appear in the North-East Wales Bird Report.

Please submit records of rarities to me as soon after the observation as is possible.

If you have not completed a rarities form before, you may wish to see an example of what a successful form is like. Susan Morris has kindly agreed to let us make available a copy of the form she submitted to the Welsh Rarities Panel for a record that was accepted:

Short-toed Lark

If you have seen a bird that is on the Welsh rarity list (below), maintained by the Welsh Records Panel please submit the record using this form:

WRP record submission form