Whinchat - 2012 research

The Whinchat Saxicola rubetra is a migrant breeding species favouring open country such as heathland, moorland, bogs, marshes and light scrub. The latest atlas of breeding birds in Pembrokeshire 2003-07 (Rees et al 2009) found that their distribution had been reduced by 70% in comparison to the 1984-1988 atlas. And this range contraction is accompanied by a 50% population decline. The species is currently amber listed and a local priority species.

The aims of this survey are to record in detail the current breeding status and distribution of whinchats in Pembrokeshire, and to relate this distribution to habitat. This will lead to a greater understanding of habitat requirements and enable practical land management advice to aid their conservation within the PCNP.

A set of sites where whinchats have bred in recent years within the PCNP were surveyed; St David’s Head, Dowrog, Fagwr Goch, Carn Ingli, Fronlas and Brynberian Moor. Several additional sites were visited on an ad hoc basis. These were; Pantmaenog, North Preseli east of Brynberian, Mynydd Crwn, Afon Wern.

An initial visit was made to each of these sites between 20th May and 10th June and follow up visits were made between 19th June and 5th July. 

No breeding Whinchats were found at either of the St David’s sites and neither did they appear at the two farms south of the Preseli ridge; Fronlas or Fagwr Goch.

A total of 29 pairs were found spread across all the remaining sites with 15 of these at Brynberian Moor.

14 nests were located and based on 11 successful nests for which brood size was known (across all sites) productivity was 4.5 young per nest.

All breeding pairs occupied a mosaic of bracken, low bushes of various species and a wet area such as a gully or flush.

The reasons for the decline in the local Whinchat population were considered. Productivity data are represented by a small sample but based on this surveys results it appears to be near the national average for first broods. There was unoccupied but apparently suitable breeding habitat, suggesting that recruitment is low, possibly caused by factors away from their breeding sites. There was no evidence that Stonechats displaced breeding Whinchats and predation was considered to be an insignificant factor. 

Practical habitat management to favour breeding Whinchats is discussed. The current grazing regime at Brynberian Moor is already well suited to maintaining good whinchat habitat, so it is not necessary to change current practise. Targeted burning of bracken near gullies and mature gorse is likely to be detrimental to the population. Creating small isolated pockets of Whinchat habitat at new sites will probably be ineffective as long as there remains unoccupied suitable habitat.

Whinchats are a very easy species to census, with a single visit made to their breeding sites any time between mid-May and the end of June producing identical and reliable results, and by ringing chicks during June and July a very valuable data set can be established over a few years.  

Read the full report here

Paddy Jenks, Tansy Knight & Jane Hodges 

Whinchat - 1949 status

Saxicola rubetra

Scarce summer resident, chiefly in hill districts of north and east.  Regular but scarce passage migrant on islands.

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

Whinchat - 2003-07

Fifty pairs were found during the 1984-88 survey, most of them about the lower slopes of the Preseli Hills but a few others spread in suitable habitat across the north of the county as far as the coast. The 2003-07 survey found that their distribution had been reduced by 70%. Those which were still breeding were in the Preseli Hills, save for probable breeding on the St. David’s peninsula. The few Possible breeding registrations were thought to have involved birds on passage. It was estimated that a maximum of 25 pairs were nesting by the end of 2007. Reasons for the decline are thought to include adverse conditions on the wintering grounds and changes in agricultural practice. Over-grazing in localities formerly occupied by Whinchats may have encouraged colonisation by Stonechats in some areas.

Graham Rees

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 7

Orange = breeding probable = 2

Yellow = breeding possible = 3

Total tetrads in which registered = 12 (2.5%)

Whinchat - 1994

Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. Not recorded from December to February

The Whinchat was regarded as a scarce summer resident by Lockley et al. (1949), and Saunders (1976) added that it was of rather patchy distribution; both indicated that breeding was confined to the north and east of the county. The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found about 50 breeding pairs (see map). Most were found in the boggy areas which encircle the Preseli Mountains but a few pairs were dotted across boggy places, extending westwards to the coast, where some were also found breeding in bracken-clad cliff-top areas including those at Cemaes Head and Treginnis.

Small numbers of Whinchats, normally no more than three at any locality, occur on the islands and coast between 13 April and mid-June, though they have been recorded from 5 April and there are three earlier records: singles at Skomer on 1 March 1946, at Newgale on 28 March 1959 and at Skomer on 28 March 1988. These coastal birds are seen at the same time as others are arriving at the local breeding grounds, so it seems likely that they ^­are through migrants which breed elsewhere.

Whinchats are slightly more numerous in autumn than spring, up to six occurring at the islands and coastal areas from early July to mid-October, with stragglers until 9 November. Exceptionally there are larger falls such as 40 at Skokholm on 10 September 1968. Migrants have reached Grassholm, and have been recorded at the lantern of the Smalls lighthouse at night in August and September.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 23

Orange = breeding probable = 17

Yellow = breeding possible = 2

Total tetrads in which registered = 42 (8.8%)

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

Whinchat - 1894

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

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