Breeding resident
Both Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) noted the Kestrel as a common resident. In 1920 Lloyd stated that it was not so common in Pembrokeshire as the Buzzard, of which there were probably about 100 pairs at that time. Pembrokeshire has changed considerably since then, post-war agricultural activities having eradicated much of the rough ground. Breeding Kestrels are now confined to the less intensively farmed areas, the offshore islands and coastal strip, the Preseli Mountains, industrial sites and remnant bogs and moors. We estimate the total breeding population to be about 50 pairs.
They are more widespread in the winter. There is no hard evidence that our Kestrels are migratory though they have wandered as far out to sea as the Smalls. Up to 30 gathered on Skomer in September 1986.
Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 26
Orange = breeding probable = 30
Yellow = breeding possible = 100
Total tetrads in which registered = 156 (32.6%)
Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire