Dunnock - 2003-07

Formerly inhabiting scrub in arctic–alpine areas and woodland in tundra eastward from Poland, it has expanded its range westward to occupy a variety of lowland habitats. In Pembrokeshire it has become widespread, being absent only from the tops of the Preseli Mountains and the smallest offshore islands. Its nests are well concealed in bushes, hedges, trees or on banks.

No great difference is apparent when comparing the results of the two local surveys. The estimate of 22,000 pairs in Pembrokeshire which accompanied the 1984-88 survey was based on an average of 50 pairs per tetrad. This was a lower figure than the 60 pairs per tetrad used in the National Atlas of 1966–72, because an attempt was made to take into account the effects of the severe winter of 1982. The 1988-91 National Atlas used an average density of 44 pairs per tetrad for the UK. Since then the BBS has calculated  a 38% increase in Wales between the years 1994 and 2007. Applying this to the original Pembrokeshire estimate suggests that there were 30,000 pairs by the end of 2007. Although this is expressed as pairs, the social life of the Hedge Accentor is such that some territories can be occupied by one female mated to two males or by one male with more than one female. So perhaps the population should be regarded as the number of occupied territories rather than pairs.

Graham Rees

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 161

Orange = breeding probable = 273

Yellow = breeding possible = 11

Total tetrads in which registered = 445 (90.8%)

Dunnock - 1994

Breeding resident

A common resident (as it was for Mathew 1894 and Lockley et al. 1949) the Hedge Sparrow is absent as a breeding bird on the mountain tops and smallest offshore islands. At an estimated average density of 50 pairs per tetrad, there were probably 22,000 pairs during the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988.

Numbers are depleted in severe winters but they are capable of steady recovery in subsequent breeding seasons. Island breeders, and those which inhabit exposed headlands, are noticeably reduced or even wiped out during hard weather but are replaced as the general population expands again.

Peaks in numbers are detected at Skomer in spring and autumn, suggesting migration, but the only confirmed movement was of a nestling ringed on Skokholm in July 1970 and recovered at Dale in November 1970.

  

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 188

Orange = breeding probable = 208

Yellow = breeding possible = 38

Total tetrads in which registered = 434 (90.8%)

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

Dunnock - 1970s breeding

Red = breeding confirmed

Orange = breeding probable

Yellow = breeding possible

Dunnock - 1980s winter atlas

The BTO winter atlas showed that Dunnocks were present in all 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 24 birds.

However, it should be noted that the figures show a high correlation with the number of recording cards returned (therefore related to recording effort) for each 10km square. 

Graham Rees 

Dunnock - 1894

HEDGE SPARROW, Accentor modularis

A common resident. In a hard winter when we were feeding numerous small birds at our dining-room window, a Hedge Sparrow asserted himself as king of the company, not allowing any of the Chaffinches, Tits, Green Linnets, &c, to touch the food until he had satisfied himself. This conduct in a bird usually so unassuming and gentle not a little astonished us, and it was also remarkable that the other birds submitted to his dominion. Mr. Tracy states : " This species is very subject to warts on the beak and legs ; how can this be accounted for ?" We have never met with one thus afflicted.

Mathew M.A. 1894, Birds of Pembrokeshire and it's Islands