Purple Heron - 2000-2018

13 records, 9 since 2000. (the four previous records are mentioned in Purple Heron - 1994)

2001 One Skomer 22 March (JGB)

2006 Single Knapp’s Farm, Martletwy, 12 April – 12 May (MS et al)

2006 Single Orielton 24 – 26 Apr (CH)

2006 Single Bosherston 29 April (DE, EE).

2010 A single at Llan Mill near Narberth from 22nd March was last reported on the 27th of the same month (A. Hart).  Accepted by WRP. 

2012 An adult was seen at Treleddyd Fawr near St.David’s on 27th March (MYP). Accepted by WRP.

2013 Only one accepted record of one at Penally/Ritec area 3rd & 4th June (A.Collens).

2014 A single flyover bird at Skokholm on 8th June was the first record for the island & only the 12th County record (WJ, RD, RB). Accepted by WRP.

2017 A single adult at Bosherston on 6th May (PKG, BS). Accepted WRP.

SOURCE: Pembrokeshire Bird Reports 2000-2018

Additional note from the Skomer Bird Report 2001 - The first for the island made landfall in North Valley on 22 March, sinking into the iris bed before moving to Well Pond to refuel. The bird was in breeding splendour, and the brightness of the plumage indicates that it was probably an adult male.

Additional note from Welsh Birds, vol 5.2 (2007) - 2006 records One would have expected that all three records in one area of Pembrokeshire would relate to the same bird, except that there are overlapping dates

Purple Heron - 1949

Ardea purpurea purpurea

One Haverfordwest, 20 April 1932 (B.Birds XXVI, 23). One seen near the coast 21 APril 1945 (J.S.Wightman)

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

Purple Heron - 1994

Rare visitor

Single birds have been seen at Haverfordwest on 20 April 1932, "near the coast" on 21 April 1945 (Lockley et al. 1949), at Ramsey from 14 to 6 May 1979, at Dowrog from 21 May to 15 July 1979, and found dead at Bosherston Pools on 18 November 1986.