Shag - 1994

Breeding resident and passage migrant

Mathew (1894) noted colonies of Shags at Ramsey, St Margaret's Island, Caldey and Elegug Stacks, Lockley et al. (1949) adding Skomer, Skokholm, Grassholm and Middleholm. 

In 1969, during Operation Seafarer, 121-126 nests were found. During 1985-1987 the Seabird Register found 96 nests. Colonies vary in size, from single nests to between 25 and 37, the largest being found at Grassholm, St Margaret's Island and Middleholm, though numbers do not remain stable.

More maritime than the Cormorant, Shags can be found feeding in deeper water all around the Pembrokeshire coastline and islands as far out as the Smalls.  They regularly fish in the Cleddau Estuary, penetrating upstream as far as Beggar's Reach, occasionally further, or in the side pills during prolonged stormy weather.

Shags are seen throughout the year but ringing has shown that there is widespread dispersal of breeding birds, especially the young. Some move towards North Wales but most towards the Bristol Channel. A few reach the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay and Spain.  A southwards passage through St George's Channel occurs each autumn and ringing recoveries indicate that these birds come from at least as far as Gwynedd.   

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 28

Orange = breeding probable = 4

Total tetrads in which registered = 32 (6.7%)

Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire