Grey Partridge - historical

Ice Age

Bones of Grey Partridge, dating to just before and just after the maximum of the Last Glaciation, 22,000 years ago, have been discovered at two caves in Pembrokeshire: Hoyle's Mouth and Little Hoyle.

Eastham A. (2016) Goosey goosey Gander with Jemima Shelduck in attendance: two Stone Age occupation caves in South Pembrokeshire. Pembrokeshire Historical Society.

17th Century - Owen listed it as breeding in his 'Description of Pembrokeshire (1603).

In 1889 1,273 birds were shot at Stackpole Court (Matheson 190)

The following records and comments collected by GHR and transcribed from his files.

1889 - 80 shot Stackpole Estate, (Box I-239)

1890 - 101 shot Stackpole Estate, (Box I-239)

1908 - "I seen a P on the watering, the first I have seen on the island" Diary of Ivor Arnold, vide R.Howe11s,1968

1924 - Caldey: "An occasional covey is met with, but the bird is not a permanent resident. Attempts have been made to reintroduce it from time to time, but have failed through the neamess of the mainland, to which the birds are apt to fly if disturbed, when they fail to return."  Wintle 1924.

The following (1925-35) are extracts from Bertram Lloyd's diaries: 

1925 - 25 Dec. 3, Pennar Farm;  "seen" Litt1e Haven, 1 July

1927 - 13, Jan: "On the moors above Newport(at about 600 ft.) a flock of 6 not a common bird here, for these are the first I've seen in a month"

However, several near St, David' s, 17, 18 & 27, Feb.  21 June: "Some near Treglemais."

1928 - 20 May: "Scanty here, A pair near Kilpaison" (NB probably 'here' refers to a visit to the Angle area)

1929 - 18 May: A few about, Castle Martin area, more pairs in Stackpole and district owing to Lord Cawdor's game preserving habits.

1929 - 30, May: A few seen around St, David's as usual.

1930 - 28 April: Angle Bay: A good many pairs about; seemingly much commoner in the district than of yore, I've noticed,"

1930 - 8 July: "Pair with newly hatched chicks,on cliffs near Jefferston Wells,

1935 - 11 Sept: 3 near Hayscastle, were the first I've seen anywhere during this tour.  A pretty uncommon species in the county.

1947 - Common resident in Parish of Dale up to 1934, nearly extint after the Feb/Mar 1947 frost (Barrett, 1959)

1956 - Caldey: Attempts to introduce this species have failed as the birds invariably fly back to the adjacent mainland, stray coveys are occasionally seen however. B.L.Sage, Nature in Wales Vol 2, No 4

1963 - 10, Little Haven, 14 , Dec, Nature in Wales Vol 9, No 1

1965 - 1 Ramsey 29 Apl, Nature in Wales Vol 9, No 1

1965 - Pair present, Terfwrdan Isaf, nr Nevern, Mar-April "This species is far less common in Pembs than previously" Margaret Patterson, Nature in Wales Vol 9, No 3

1970 - 2, Stackpole ca 1970 (H.Garlide)

1970 - Bred at Rhosddu, Crymych, 1970 & 1971 (M A Bowen)

1971 - 24 May, Hodgeston Pembs, 2 together in lane, H E Grenfell

1971 - Max 18 wintered Moylegrove Farm Sept (Margaret Patterseon)

1976 - Resident Breeder.  Decreased since Mathrew's time.  Saunders 1976

Common Partridge - 1949

Perdix perdix perdix

Mathew described it as a fairly common resident, especially in the south.  This is true today, but the stock has decreased during and since the last war, due to the use of rabbit gin-traps.  Occaiosnally nests on Ramsey and has been seen on Caldey.

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

Grey Partridge - 2003-07

Considered to be fairly common in Pembrokeshire at the end of the 19^th century, the grey partridge was in decline by the middle of the 20^th century. By the time of the 1984-88 survey it was barely hanging on, surviving only because of additional birds released for shooting. The position remained precarious at the time of the 2003-07 survey and it is doubtful that a self sustaining population existed. Most modern farming practices produce conditions which do not suit Grey Partridges.

Graham Rees

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 2

Orange = breeding probable = 0

Yellow = breeding possible = 3

Total tetrads in which registered = 5 (1%)

Grey Partridge - 1994

Artificially maintained

Mathew (1894) knew the Grey Partridge as a fairly common resident, commonest in the south of the county. The game bag returns for the Stackpole Estate puts some measure on this, for 80 were shot in 1889 and 101 in 1890. Wintle (1924) recorded an occasional covey on Caldey Island and noted periodic releases there. Lloyd's diaries for 1925 to 1936 refer to the Grey Partridge as being a "pretty uncommon species" in Pembrokeshire except on the Castle Martin peninsula, which he attributed to "Lord Cawdor's game preserving habits". Lockley et al. (1949) noted a decrease "due to the use of rabbit gin traps". They also noted that Grey Partridges had occasionally nested on Ramsey Island. Lockley (1961) stated that they had become a scarce resident in the south-west peninsula and several observers commented on a continued decline in the county into the 1970s.

The Grey Partridge has declined nationally since the introduction of pesticides, which reduce the availability of insect food, so vital at the chick stage. Very few, usually single birds or small coveys, were seen in Pembrokeshire during the 1980s to early 1990s, although breeding was noted at Hendre Eynon in 1984. Most reports were accompanied by a note that they had been introduced, in localities as far apart as Llanfyrnach in the north and Caldey Island in the south. Recent releases have favoured Red-legged Partridges rather than this species, for which the future in Pembrokeshire looks bleak.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 6

Orange = breeding probable = 1

Yellow = breeding possible = 1

Total tetrads in which registered = 8 (1.7%)

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

Grey Partridge - 1970s breeding

Red = breeding confirmed

Orange = breeding probable

Yellow = breeding possible

Grey Partridge - 1894

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

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