Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 9:12AM 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
Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 9:07AM Ardea cinerea cinerea
Mathew mentions heronries at Sealyham, Pointz Castle (dispossessed by Cormorants), Slebech (believed colonies from last) and Linney Head. Within the last ten years heronries have been recorded only at the following sites: Llwyngwair (nine nests in 1940, felling destroyed this heronry; in 1948 only four pairs nesting in adjacent wood); Slebech (twelve, 1939, moved to Picton, six nests in 1947); and on cliffs Nolton (three 1939), Solva (one 1940), Pointz Castle (two 1946), Poth Liskey (one, 1928), Ramsey (one 1931, 1932, 1946 and 1948), Goodwick (two 1947), and Fernhill (one 1947).
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 9:05AM Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus
Mathew records one shot at Slebech qutumn 1934. Another picked up Tenby, 23 Oct 1917.
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 10:23AM Platalea laucorodia leucorodia
Bred in 1603 (George Owen). Mathew described it as "an occasional visitor . . not bery rare" and gives the following records: eleven shot, Milford Haven, 1854-5; one near Mullock Bridge, 1854; seven Goodwick Sands, 1856; one Pembroke, 1867; one near St Davids 31 Oct 1890. Recent records: one Pembroke Estuary, winter 1911; and two Milford Haven, winter 1927 (W.F.Bentley); one Dowrog 20 Oct, 1928 (H.M.S.); three Slebech 19-22 May 1931 (Miss Stewart); the same three seen by Bertram Lloyd over about three weeks.
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 10:21AM Pandion haliaetus haliaetus
One seen Pembroke Estuary, 1904, and another Pennar Gut, Sept 1931 (W.F.Bentley)
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 10:19AM Haliaetus albicilla
Mathew gives two uncertain records, from near Haverfordwest, 1851, and fom Skomer (no date). An immature shot near Whitechurch, 1908, in the only definite records (B.Birds, XXXV,230)
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 10:17AM Milvus milvus milvus
Formerly a common resident but by 1894 only a rare occasional visitor. It was already scarce on Prescelly Mt by 1930. Howard saunders saw one as Dinas in 1893, and r.m.l. saw one on the moor north of Prescelly Top on 17 APril 1947.
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Friday, August 30, 2013 at 9:01AM Accipiter nisus nisus
Common resident, breeding in quite small copses and cliff side scrub. An autumn and winter visitor to the islands.
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Friday, August 30, 2013 at 8:59AM Circus cyaneus cyaneus
Regular but very scarce autumn and winter visitor seen chiefly by snipe and duck shooters. Mathew records it at Rhinderston and Cuffern Mountain and believed it to be "resident, but becoming scarce" but it was quite probably confused with Montagu's Harrier. Visits Skomer in winter but not recorded Skokholm. There are no definite records of it ever having bred in the county.
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Friday, August 30, 2013 at 8:58AM Circus pygargus
Has bred in the county since 1924 and possibly for twenty years earlier. Mathew records a nest at Leweston in 1854 as only known occurrence.
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Friday, August 30, 2013 at 8:55AM Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus
Said to be formerly common resident but by 1894 only a rare accidental visitor. Mathew records it from Stone Hall, winter 1880, Jordanston Moor, Orielton decoy and Stackpole. One shot, Loveston 1885 (Bertram Lloyd). One Prescelly Mt, 14 Aug 1929, Dowrog Common 11 Sept 1941. J.F. records one immature, Dowrog, 25/26 May 1948.
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society
Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 8:14AM Buteo buteo buteo
Probably not less than 120 pairs breeding in the county, on the coast, islands, and inland. In Mathew's day there were believed to be only half a dozen pairs, of which one pair was found by Howard Saunders on the north side of Dinas Head.
R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society