Hawfinch - 2017/18

A series of autumn records, part of an exceptional influx into the UK.

All records were:

One at Skomer on 14th October;

One at St. Brides on 15th October;

Singles on Skokholm 15th & 23rd October;

One at Redberth on 18th October;

10 at Porthclais on 30th October;

A male at Sealyham on 3rd November.

One was photographed feeding in a garden near Lodge Park Stackpole on 9th July 2018.

Hawfinch - 2016

Rare. 4 records since 2000.

Source: Pembrokeshire Bird List (2018 update) edited by Mike Young-Powell on behalf of the Pembrokeshire Bird Group.

Hawfinch - 1949 status

Coccothraustes coccothraustes coccothraustes

Mathew gives definite records of a pair at Lewston (undated), one Llanstinan, spring 1854, and one taken by a Sparrow-hawk, Slebech 13 Sept 1889. One caught in a rabbit trap, Ramsey, 9 Nov 1896 (H.W.Evans), two shot at Stackpole, 1930 (Bertram Lloyd).

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

Hawfinch - 1994

Rare visitor. Not recorded in February and March

Mathew (1894) gave records of a pair at Leweston (undated), one at Llanstinian in the spring of 1854 and one at Slebech on 13 September 1889. Lockley et al. (1949) added one at Ramsey on 9 November 1896 and two shot at Stackpole in 1930. They have been recorded in just nine years since, all single birds, at Crowhill, Little Haven, Skokholm, Skomer and Trefeiddan, with two at Llanychaer in June 1971 and ten at Spittal on 15 July 1972. Scarce in Wales and confined to eastern counties (Hurford 1990) Hawfinches are shy and elusive and might be overlooked in the Pembrokeshire woodlands. Careful searching by ornithologists may well reveal the Hawfinch to be more frequent.

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

Hawfinch - 1970s breeding

Red = breeding confirmed

Orange = breeding probable

Yellow = breeding possible

Hawfinch - 1894

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

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