Gadwall - 1949

Anas strepera

Mathew records one shot near Pembroke, two taken at Orielton decoy, and one probably from Stackpole now in the British Museum; all without dates. At Orielton Decoy fifteen were taken up to 1908, and several were shot there between 1914-18.  A male was taken at Orielton in 1914 and another at the end of Nov 1938.

R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society

Gadwall - 2003-07

In the breeding season gadwall favour lowland, shallow, eutrophic waters. They were suspected of attempted breeding at Marloes Mere from 1996 but it was not proven. Breeding was confirmed at Skomer in 2000, 2001 and 2004, the latter during the 2003-07 survey, when they also probably bred at Bosherston, though no ducklings were seen.

Graham Rees

Fieldwork 2003-07

Red = breeding confirmed = 1

Orange = breeding probable = 1

Total tetrads in which registered = 2

Gadwall - 1994

Winter visitor, has bred

The Gadwall was an infrequent visitor in former times. Mathew (1894) noted three occurrences, at Pembroke, Orielton and Stackpole. Lockley et al. (1949) chronicled only 21 occurrences plus"several shot between 1914 and 1918" and Lockley (1961) stated that the Gadwall was an "occasional visitor" to the south-west peninsula of Pembrokeshire, chiefly to Orielton.

It began to appear with greater frequency from about 1964, some staying to winter. This change in fortunes was probably brought about by widespread introductions to various parts of Britain by wildfowlers. At present it is a regular visitor to Pembrokeshire in small numbers, mostly to fresh waters near the coast, such as Marloes Mere. The maximum gathering recorded was of 22 at the Gann during the winter of 1987, the county total at that time being about 40 birds.

A pair bred at Llwyngwair Mill Pond in 1981. They were thought to have been introduced into the locality.

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

Gadwall - 1980s BTO winter atlas

The BTO winter atlas showed that Gadwalls were present in both estuarine and fresh water 10km squares during the winters of 1981-82, 1982-82 and 1983-84.

The darker the colour, the higher the relative total count for each 10km square, the darkest blue represents over 23 birds.

Graham Rees 

Gadwall - 1894

Species account from M Mathew, 1894, "The Birds of Pembrokeshire and its islands"

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