Friday, July 26, 2013 at 9:31AM Regular but not numerous visitor to alder beds and riversides in October to March. Probably increasing, since Mathew has only one definite record (of c.20 in an alder bed at Stone Hall, Dec 1866).
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Friday, August 24, 2012 at 9:27PM The Siskin is a small yellowish green finch which has a narrow pointed bill, yellow wing bars and patches at the sides of the tail. The male has a black cap and bib. The Siskin breeds among conifers, nests being built at the tops of trees, usually attached to outer hanging branches.
At the close of the 1984-88 survey less than 10 pairs were known to be breeding in Pembrokeshire, mostly in Pantmaenog Forest. An increase in numbers followed, being most marked in 1991 following an unusually large influx the previous winter. By the time of the 2003–07 survey they had reached an estimated average density of four pairs per occupied tetrad, suggesting the county breeding population had reached about 280 pairs. During and after the survey, considerable felling of conifer plantations took place and this will have eliminated a great deal of habitat favoured by Siskins, so the period of peak population has probably passed.
Graham Rees
Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 6
Orange = breeding probable = 39
Yellow = breeding possible = 26
Total tetrads in which registered = 71 (14.5%)
GHR, PBBA 2003-7 in Siskin Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 8:59PM Breeding resident, winter visitor and passage migrant
Mathew (1894) had just one record, a flock of 20 seen at Stone Hall in December 1866, but Lockley et al. (1949) considered that the Siskin was a regular but not numerous visitor between October and March, and was probably increasing. Saunders (1976) noted Siskins as winter visitors, but speculated that they might breed soon as they had already nested in Carmarthenshire and Ceridigion, part of a national spread in response to increased afforestation with conifers (Sharrock 1976).
Siskins began to frequent the conifer plantations on the flanks of the Preseli Mountains from about 1979, but breeding was not proven until 1986 when a brood was seen at Pantmaenog Forest. The population slowly increased to 10-15 pairs by 1990 with a considerable increase in 1991. This followed a winter in which flocks were widespread and numerous, the largest being about 130 at Trecwn on 29 January 1991. They now breed in all the plantations, including Pantmaenog Forest, Coed Glyn Aeron, Canaston Woods and Westerton, with others elsewhere including Ty Canol and Trecwn.
Groups of up to five appear at the coast in spring, between 8 April and 2 May. Occasional occurrences at the coast from 27 June to August may involve birds dispersing from Welsh breeding sites. Autumn migrants pass in variable numbers between mid-September and late November. Small parties of up to ten are seen coasting or pausing in coastal areas, especially in October, and there are occasional falls which are particularly noticeable on the offshore islands. An outstanding movement occurred at headlands including Dinas and Strumble during October 1988, with at least 1,200 descending upon Skokholm during fog on the 26 October.
They have become more widespread in recent winters, having learnt to exploit food put out at bird-tables.
Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 1
Yellow = breeding possible = 2
Total tetrads in which registered = 3 (0.6%)
Sunday, October 9, 2011 at 9:04PM 
The BTO winter atlas showed that Siskins were present in six 10km squares during the winters of 1981-82, 1982-82 and 1983-84.
The darkest blue colour in a 10km square represents 19-50 birds seen in a day, in Pembrokeshire up to 32 birds.
Graham Rees
Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 9:03AM Species account from M Mathew, 1894, "The Birds of Pembrokeshire and its islands"
