Tree Sparrow - 2016

Uncommon migrant. Formerly bred.

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

Tree Sparrow - 1949 status

Passer montanus montanus

Two Marloes 21 Oct 1933, one Skokholm 15 May 1934, 6 May 1938 and 20 May 1947 (R.M.L.).  One daily at a rubbish-tip, Fishguard, Jan 1935 (Bertram Lloyd)

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

Tree Sparrow - 2003-07

The Tree Sparrow is like a House Sparrow but is slightly smaller and has a chestnut coloured crown and dark cheek patches, the sexes being alike. It nests in holes in trees and buildings.

Historically this species has always been a sporadic breeder in Pembrokeshire. During the 1984-88 survey breeding was confirmed at Dreenhill, Penblewin and Pengawse. During the 2003–07 survey just one pair was confirmed as breeding, at Ramsey Island.

The Tree Sparrow has suffered long term decline across northern Europe, including Britain, probably as a result of changing agricultural practices.

Graham Rees

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 1

Orange = breeding probable = 2

Yellow = breeding possible = 0

Total tetrads in which registered = 3 (0.6%)

Tree Sparrow - 1994

Scarce breeding resident, winter visitor and passage migrant

Lockley et al. (1949) state that Tree Sparrows were first recorded at Marloes on 20 October 1933, and they also listed four other occurrences. Although increased observer cover has since shown them to be more frequent their full status is still not clear.

They bred at Skomer in 1964, near Houghton in 1966, at Templeton, Sandy Hill and Thornton in 1971, near Haverfordwest in 1987, at Pen Blewin and Pengawse in 1988 and at Marloes and Heathfield in 1990. They probably bred at Roch in 1988 and one was thought to have hybridised with a House Sparrow at Martin's Haven in 1965 and 1966. Tree Sparrows kept occurring in the Croesgoch/Mathry/Castle Morris area throughout the 1970s and 1980s, making it seem likely that they also bred in that region, but despite much searching no nests were found.

Small numbers pass through, from March to June and again from August to November, when they appear briefly on the offshore islands, prominent headlands and in coastal stubbles. They are also occasionally found feeding with finch flocks during the winter, usually in ones and twos. Sometimes up to ten are seen, and larger flocks have occurred: 32 birds were seen at Pengawse in February 1988 and 40 at Ratford Bridge on 27 January 1990.

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 3

Orange = breeding probable = 1

Yellow = breeding possible = 2

Total tetrads in which registered = 6 (1.3%)

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

Tree Sparrow - 1980s winter

One record of two birds was registered for the BTO winter atlas of 1981-82, 1982-82 and 1983-84.

Graham Rees