Little Auk - 1994

Winter visitor. Not recorded in April and from June to August

Mathew (1894) considered the Little Auk to be an occasional winter visitor, with birds being picked up dead upon the shore or at some distance inland in rough weather. Lockley et al. (1949) agreed with this and noted dead birds at Solva on 18 December 1936 and at Freshwater East in the winter of 1945. One flew down Milford Haven after gales on 23 October 1942 (Ball 1943).

The remains of at least 13 were found on Skokholm in 1950 which were estimated to have been "wrecked" during February. Otherwise up to six have been recorded in 20 years since 1950, annually since 1983. They have been recorded all around the coast from Newport Bay to Amroth, as well the islands, including the Smalls, but principally at Strumble Head where an exceptional 21 were seen on 20 November 1983. They have also been blown inland, to Haverfordwest on 11 December 1950, to a swimming pool at Keeston on 4 January 1978, to Trecwn on 5 February 1984 and to Clarbeston on 5 February 1984.

The earliest recorded Little Auk was on 10 September and the latest on 4 March, apart from one bird in summer plumage at St Govan's Head on 30 May 1983.

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