Montagu's Harrier - 1994

Passage migrant

Montagu's Harriers formerly bred in four main areas in Pembrokeshire, in the south broadly between Tenby and Castle Martin Corse, around Leweston, in the St David's area and in the Preseli Mountains, but they have not done so since 1962, or possibly 1968. All records were from moorland or marshy habitat and probably involved a maximum of five pairs.

The Montagu's Harrier is now an annual migrant more frequently seen in the spring, from 12 April to 10 June, than in the autumn, from 12 July to 22 October. It has been recorded in 18 of the last 24 years at localities ranging from the offshore islands across most coastal areas to the Preseli Mountains. A juvenile wintered on Skomer in 1988-1989.

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