Rock Pipit - 1994

Breeding resident and passage migrant

A common resident to Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949), today Rock Pipits breed all around the rocky outer coastline, on the offshore islands and some way up the shores of the Cleddau Estuary (see map). An estimate average density of eight pairs per tetrad, based on census data from Skokholm and Skomer suggests a total breeding population of about 1,000 pairs.

They are found around all of the estuaries during the winter but otherwise appear to be sedentary. However, Scandinavian Rock Pipits subspecies littoralis have been noted on passage in May, a period when Grey-headed Wagtails bound for Scandinavian regions have also been seen. Scandinavian Rock Pipits were also identified at Skomer from 7 to 11 September 1990 and at Hook on 6 December 1981.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 71

Orange = breeding probable = 23

Yellow = breeding possible = 15

Total tetrads in which registered = 109 (22.8%)

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