The Carmarthenshire Bird Club has produced their latest report covering records from 2008 and 2009.

The club exists to promote the watching and recording of birds in Carmarthenshire and organise meetings, talks and field trips for members. They currently have over 100 members. They have an excellent, informative website at www.carmarthenshirebirds.co.uk where you can receive e-mails of the bird records as they are submitted – so you know where to go and see the latest sightings.

In 2008 205 species were recorded, including one new species, the Cattle Egret, which was seen at the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust at Penclacwydd in May.

In 2009 197 species were recorded – this year a new record appeared for the Black Stork over Machynys. Another highlight was the influx of Glossy Ibises in early September at Pembrey, where a group of 10 remained for 3 days. These were the first records since 1910.

However the bird report is not just a record of the rare and exotic birds that are seen in the county. Records of all species recorded in Carmarthenshire are listed – although it is notable the some of the most common such as dunnocks and robins were not reported at all!  It is important to record the common as well as the rare – keeping records over a long period can help identify population trends and monitor changes and impacts on bird populations.