There seem to be some gremlins on the loose. I'm experiencing "blog problems" and I can't publish John and Russell's monthly round-up until I've got them fixed. In the meantime here is a message from Russell.........
After a few months of deliberation I have decided to try to set up a Ceredigion Records Committee. Most (if not all) counties require a written description of unusual species seen in the county that do not fall either into the British Birds Rarity Committee remit or into the Welsh Rarity Committee remit. Chough, for example, are scarce in most English counties and require a written description to be accepted as county records but are too common elsewhere to be either a Welsh or National rarity and so descriptions are not required for Ceredigion. Black-necked grebes are common in some counties and in those counties no descriptions are required whereas in Ceredigion they are major rarities.I will be sending out a list of scarcer species for the county for which I feel a description should be written prior to acceptance onto the County database but to share the load (and so I do not become the sole arbiter and possibly the one to whom everyone will moan if a record is rejected) I am asking if there are any willing volunteers who have a good knowledge of birds who would be willing to look at the written descriptions and judge whether the record should be accepted or rejected. I envisage a maximum of 5 people including myself on the committee to whom I would circulate records.
After a few months of deliberation I have decided to try to set up a Ceredigion Records Committee. Most (if not all) counties require a written description of unusual species seen in the county that do not fall either into the British Birds Rarity Committee remit or into the Welsh Rarity Committee remit. Chough, for example, are scarce in most English counties and require a written description to be accepted as county records but are too common elsewhere to be either a Welsh or National rarity and so descriptions are not required for Ceredigion. Black-necked grebes are common in some counties and in those counties no descriptions are required whereas in Ceredigion they are major rarities.I will be sending out a list of scarcer species for the county for which I feel a description should be written prior to acceptance onto the County database but to share the load (and so I do not become the sole arbiter and possibly the one to whom everyone will moan if a record is rejected) I am asking if there are any willing volunteers who have a good knowledge of birds who would be willing to look at the written descriptions and judge whether the record should be accepted or rejected. I envisage a maximum of 5 people including myself on the committee to whom I would circulate records.
If anyone has any thoughts or opinions on setting up a scarce birds committee then I would love to hear.
Russell Jones
Warden
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve
Gwarchodfa natur Ynys-hir