Common Crossbill - 1994

Erratic visitor, has bred

Mathew (1894) gives two records, at Angle in 1858 and at Stackpole in 1868. Lockley et al. (1949) added one at Skokholm on 5 July 1929.

Single Common Crossbills and groups of up to 18 have been recorded in 24 years since, most since 1950. They occur mainly at the coast or on the islands, the increase in frequency perhaps reflecting the spread of the species as a breeding bird elsewhere in Wales as post-World War II conifer plantations have matured. The majority of occurrences have been between 5 July and 17 November. Gatherings of about 50 at Pantmaenog Forest in November 1985 and 56 there on 6 November 1990 were both in years when continental Common Crossbills irrupted into Britain. Birds in the Preseli Mountains plantations were seen carrying nesting material in the early spring of 1991 and breeding was subsequently proven at Ty Rhyg and probably also occurred at Coed Glyn Aeron, Pantmaenog Forest and at Stackpole.

A few Common Crossbills occur on the islands and the coast during years when they irrupt into Britain from Europe.

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