Common Rosefinch - 2015 Skokholm

Carpodacus erythrinus Llinos Goch

Rare 24 previous records including 11 in spring and all singles except for three on 11th October 2001

Earliest 3rd May 1970 (11th June 2015) Latest 12th October 1995

1 trapped

1936-1976: 4 trapped, 2011-2014: 4 trapped, 1 retrapped

A brown bird found outside of the Cottage on 11th June was the first spring record since 2013 and maintained the annual status of a species which has been logged in each of the last five years (RDB, GE); there were recent singles between the 5th and 10th September 2014, on 8th June 2013, between the 27th and 29th August 2012 and between the 2nd and 11th September 2011. Prior to these the most recent record was on 25th May 2003. Interestingly the last three spring records have all been one day birds whereas the last three autumn records have all lingered. This year’s bird was subsequently trapped in the Wheelhouse Heligoland and became the fifth to be ringed in five years, one more than marked during the first incarnation of Skokholm Bird Observatory.

Photos on Skokholm blog

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Skokholm Bird Observatory Annual Report 2015 (Richard Brown & Giselle Eagle)

Scarlet Rosefinch - 1994

Rare visitor

Scarlet Rosefinches have been expanding their range in Europe for many years, reaching northern France by 1987 and first breeding in Britain in 1982 (Spencer 1993). They have been recorded in Pembrokeshire on 15 occasions since the first at Skokholm on 26 June 1949: ten times at Skokholm, twice at Skomer and once at Trecwn and at Newport. The Newport bird visited a garden bird-table from 26 December 1991 to 8 January 1992, being the first winter record for Britain, all others occurring between 3 May and 24 July, apart from one at Skokholm on 17 September 1974.

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