Coal Tit - 1994

Breeding resident

Known to Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) as a common resident, today the Coal Tit breeds throughout the woodlands of Pembrokeshire, being most numerous in the conifer plantations. These plantations largely post-date the previous avifaunas, and this additional habitat has contributed to the species becoming more numerous than formerly. At an estimated average of two to three pairs per tetrad generally and 50 pairs per tetrad in the plantations, the total breeding population is probably 500­ 700 pairs.

Coal Tits are prone to eruptive behaviour during autumns following productive breeding seasons, and are then seen on the open coast, and reach the offshore islands of Ramsey, Skomer and Skokholm. They were particularly numerous in the autumn of 1991 when they were noted along the cliffs of the mainland; up to seven reached Skomer and 15 were recorded at Skokholm.

 

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 78

Orange = breeding probable = 69

Yellow = breeding possible = 52

Total tetrads in which registered = 199 (41.6%)

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