Pintail - 1994

Winter visitor and passage migrant. Has bred

The status of the Pintail in Pembrokeshire has varied considerably. Mathew (1894) records many killed on Goodwick Moor but only 28 taken at Orielton decoy between 1877 and 1885. Lloyd encountered the species only once between 1925 and 1936 while Lockley et al. (1949) considered it to be a scarce but regular winter visitor principally to Orielton, where up to 50 were recorded. Mackworth Praed (1946) noted that 100 was regarded as normal at Orielton, and this remains the maximum recorded for Pembrokeshire. The Pintail has been scarce since, with up to ten being noted in most years but with some exceptions: 50 at Angle Bay on 27 December 1961, 20 at Castle Reach on 22 February 1963, up to 32 in Sprinkle Pill from 1972 to 1976, and about 23 wandering around the lower Cleddau Estuary and adjacent waters during the cold spell of early 1987.

A small passage has been noted off Strumble Head in September to November, the largest flock being 36 on 31 October 1990, during which period they have also been noted crossing St Bride's Bay, some stopping off on the islands. Lockley et al. (1949) noted that Pintails sometimes stopped off on the islands in spring and this became a regular feature during the 1980s, culminating in breeding on Skomer with two broods seen in 1988 and continued nesting to the present time, with little success, possibly due to gull predation.

Our interpretation of the overall record is that small parties normally pass through the county, occasionally accumulating when they encounter favourable conditions, otherwise passing on. The Orielton ringing recoveries, from 195 ringed between 1937 and 1946, are consistent with this, showing that birds from west Siberia, Finland and Germany reach Pembrokeshire and that some pass on to south Wales, Ireland and France.

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