Breeding resident
Formerly rare in Pembrokeshire, Mathew (1894) knew of only one occurrence, a bird shot at Slebech in September 1893. However, Tracy, a contemporary bird-stuffer, considered Nuthatches to be "tolerably common". W.M. Congreve found them at Picton and Saundersfoot in 1908 while Lloyd commented "not so scarce as supposed, increasing apparently" and his diaries for 1927-1934 document a wide distribution. Lockley et al. (1949) stated that they were common breeders in all wooded areas of the county.
Nuthatches were found breeding in most woodlands during the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988, as well as in more open habitat where mature trees grow along hedgebanks and in gardens. An estimated average density of three to four pairs per occupied tetrad suggests a total county population of 600-800 pairs.
They accompany roving tit flocks outside the breeding season and have reached Skomer (but not the other islands) on three occasions, 28 August and 8 September 1986 and 30 July 1990.
Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 65
Orange = breeding probable = 87
Yellow = breeding possible = 47
Total tetrads in which registered = 199 (41.6%)