Mistle Thrush - 1994

Breeding resident

Both Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) regarded the Mistle Thrush as a common resident. The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found Mistle Thrushes to be more numerous south of the Cleddau Estuary and in north-east Pembrokeshire than elsewhere, where they were sparse. At an estimated ten pairs per tetrad in the main areas and two pairs per tetrad elsewhere, the population would probably be about 1,400 pairs.

They flock from July onwards, in groups varying from five to twenty birds, but over 100 were at Skomer on 3 October 1983 and an estimated 500 appeared on Ramsey on 12 October 1972. Flocks disappear before the winter and Mathew considered that they migrated south. He was probably right but we have found no direct evidence to confirm this.

The Mistle Thrush is generally sparsely distributed during the winter, some territories becoming deserted, while in others residents firmly defend well-berried trees.

 

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 89

Orange = breeding probable = 68

Yellow = breeding possible = 57

Total tetrads in which registered = 214 (44.8%)

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