Black-headed Bunting - 2014 to 2016

2014: A female was present on Skomer from 21st to 24th May 2014 (JWM), the 6th Skomer record. Accepted by BBRC.

2015: Three records of adults in June. The first on Skomer on 7th June (S. Riedlinger), then one at Saundersfoot 10th (D. Lowe) and finally one at St. Justinian’s on the 29th (C & W Williams). All accepted BBRC. It is uncertain as to whether they all relate to the same roving bird.

 

2016: A male Skomer 24th May (E Stubbings). Accepted by BBRC.

Sources: Pembrokeshire Bird Reports, 2014, 2015, 2016.

Black-headed Bunting - accepted records 1990-2009

Emberiza melanocephala

British Birds Rarities Committee

1990 Dyfed Marloes, male, 28th-30th May, photographed (Mr & Mrs E.Deakin, J.W.Donovan et al.).

1994 Pembrokeshire Skomer, male, age uncertain, 8th May (P.Goddard et al.).

1995 Dyfed Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, male, 18th-20th May, photo. (J.Cleal, J.W.Donovan et al.).

1996 Pembrokeshire Skokholm, male, intermittently, 29th May to 6th June, photo. (J.Farmer, G.Thompson, A.Williams); same, Skomer, 5th, 8th, 10th-12th June, photo. (S.Smith et al.).

2001 Pembrokeshire Freshwater West, near Castle Martin, male, 16th May (N. & L.Baker).

2003 Pembrokeshire Skomer, male, 16th June, photo (J.G.Brown).

2004 Pembrokeshire Skomer, first-winter, 5th September, photo (J. G. Brown).

Black-headed Bunting - 1994

Vagrant

Breeding no closer than Italy, Greece and Turkey (Jonsson 1992), single Black-headed Buntings have been recorded at Skokholm from 11 May to 3 June 1965 and on 26 May 1987, at Skomer on 18 September 1971, and on 31 May 1988 and at Marloes from 29 to 31 May 1990.  These records constitute over 5% of the total recorded in Britain (Rogers 1992).

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