Wheatear - 2003-07

It was estimated that 400 pairs of wheatears were nesting in the county during the 1984-88 survey. The distribution found during the 2003-07 survey was essentially the same as in the previous one. It is therefore considered that the population remained unchanged. A decrease in the number breeding on Skomer was balanced by an increase in the number breeding on Ramsey. No evidence was found that the BBS assessment of a 19% decrease in Wales between 1994 and 2007 was applicable to Pembrokeshire. This may be because the Preseli Hills continued to be heavily grazed by sheep and coastal areas were maintained in a favourable condition by the PCNPA’s “Conserving the Coastal Slopes” Project, which may have partially compensated for any possible reduction in Rabbit numbers by reintroduction of grazing by livestock.

Graham Rees

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 36

Orange = breeding probable = 19

Yellow = breeding possible = 31

Total tetrads in which registered = 86 (17.6%)