Shag - 2003-07

Shags are essentially inshore feeding birds that prefer rocky coastlines.  Their nests are well-distributed around Pembrokeshire, with concentrations on the offshore islands. 

Despite being relatively common around the coastline, breeding Shags are not very easy to count accurately because they nest in deep crevices and so can be almost invisible.  Also some sites are not commonly visited or counted. The population has fluctuated considerably in the last fifty years with a low point during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. The reasons for that decline are unknown but it was seen in all areas of the county. The Sea Empress oil spill in 1996 caused the death of a small number of Shags, mainly around the entrance to Milford Haven and around the south coast of the county.  The counts in 2008 were the highest since the early 1970’s and reflect high breeding success during recent years.

Only about 200 pairs currently breed in the county. The overall impression is, however, of a small but vibrant population which is doing well in the first decade of this century.

Steve Sutcliffe.

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 26

Orange = breeding probable = 3

Yellow = breeding possible

Total tetrads in which registered = 29 (5.9%)