Monday, August 26, 2013 at 10:33AM Cuculus canorus canorus
Common summer visitor. Bred Skokholm 1928 and has also bred on Caldey; a regular but scarce passage migrant on the islands.
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 6:21PM Cuckoos were found in only 80 tetrads between 2003 and 2007 compared with more than 200 tetrads 20 years ago (a decline of about 62%). All atlas categories registered huge declines.
What is most apparent is that the population is now reasonably widespread only in the open country of the Preselis and on the St. David’s peninsula. Their recorded distribution here in 2003-07 was fairly similar to that of the 1984-88 atlas period. Both these areas probably support potentially good populations of ground-nesting host species (such as Meadow Pipit). They have all but disappeared as a regular breeding species in the south of the county and along the Teifi valley bordering Ceredigion. Surprisingly, Cuckoos appear to have declined along the Castlemartin peninsula where there are still good populations of potential host species within the extensive Military Range.
In 1984-88 it was assumed that the Pembrokeshire Cuckoo population was about 210 pairs (approx one pair per occupied tetrad). The most recently available figures from BBS (Wales) indicate that there has been a 52% decline in the Cuckoo population index between 1994 and 2007. According to a BTO Report (Say Goodbye to the Cuckoo), the national Cuckoo population showed a decline of more than 60% across the country during the period 1981-2006. Because of this population fall, Cuckoos have been added to the “red-list” of birds of conservation concern. The decline in the number of tetrads in which they were found in Pembrokeshire (62%) very much mirrors the national picture over the same period.
If the decline in Pembrokeshire is between 52% (based on the Welsh BBS results, albeit from only 56 sample sites across of Wales) and about 62% (based on the decline in tetrad distribution) – this would suggest a current estimated population of no more than 80-109 pairs, now largely confined to optimal habitat in the north of the County. Because Cuckoos calling in early spring may still be on migration, it is probably better to consider only those tetrads with probable or confirmed breeding evidence; this suggests a population of no more than 70 pairs in the recent atlas period.
The Cuckoo may be the victim of a variety of factors. They may be struggling to find enough food during the breeding season here in the UK and also suffering a similar fate on their wintering grounds in Africa. Declining habitat quality may also be affecting host species such as Meadow Pipit and Dunnock (species also showing signs of decline nationally) and thus affecting the ability for Cuckoos to rear a sufficient number of young each year needed to maintain a stable population.
Bob Haycock
Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 1
Orange = breeding probable = 69
Yellow = breeding possible = 10
Total tetrads in which registered = 80 (16.3%)
PBBA 2003-7, RJH in Cuckoo Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:39PM Breeding summer visitor. Not recorded in January, February, October and November
Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) agreed that the Cuckoo was a common visitor, although Lockley (1957) wrote that it was never an abundant species in the county. Saunders (1976) classified it as being a common summer visitor.
The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found a varying density across the county, Cuckoos being encountered most frequently south of the Cleddau Estuary and from the Preseli Mountains northwards. Assuming an average of one pair per tetrad, the county total would be about 210 pairs. Numbers vary from year to year, presumably according to how they have fared on migration and at their wintering grounds in sub-equatorial Africa. Several observers considered that Cuckoos became scarce in 1985 and 1986 but subsequently recovered their numbers.
Cuckoos normally arrive in Pembrokeshire during the second half of April but earlier birds are occasionally seen, from 1 April; one was recorded at Poppit on 21 March 1985.
Their late summer departure, which is less dramatic than the spring arrival, commences in July and ceases by mid-September. One at Little Milford on 21 and 22 December 1954 was only the second to have been recorded in Britain at such a late date.
Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 10
Orange = breeding probable = 157
Yellow = breeding possible = 44
Total tetrads in which registered = 211 (44.1%)
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:55AM 
Red = breeding confirmed
Orange = breeding probable
Yellow = breeding possible
Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 1:03PM Species account from M Mathew, 1894, "The Birds of Pembrokeshire and its islands"
