British Bullfinch - 1949 status

Pyrrhula pyrrhula nesa

Common resident, breeding even in small woods and copses in valleys on exposed coast.  Not recorded Skokholm, but one seen Skomer, 31 March, 1946 and may breed Caldey.

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

Serin - 1949 status

Serinus canarius serinus

Two Marloes, 20 Oct, 1933 (R.M.L.); one Skomer, 2 April 1946 (E.J.M.B)

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

Linnet - 1949 status

Carduelis cannabina cannabina

Numerous resident, breeding wherever there is gorse, including Skomer, Ramsey, Caldey and once Skokholm.

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

Twite - 1949 status

Carduelis flavirostris ? sub-sp.

One seen amongst a flock of finches, Haverfordwest, Dec 1925 (G.S.Haines). A male, Skokholm, 8 April 1933. Race not identified.

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

Lesser Redpoll - 1949 status

Carduelis flammea cabaret

Scarce resident in eastern half of county, in semi-wooded and hilly country, but rarely recorded from treeless districts, though accoxionally seen in winter Skokholm (R.M.L.).  One seen at St Davids, 8 August 1918 by Sir A Raikes (Bertram Lloyd).

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

Siskin - 1949 status

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

British Goldfinch - 1949 status

Carduelis carduelis britannica

Common resident and increasing.  Visits the islands chiefly out of the breeding season.

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

Greenfinch - 1949 status

Chloris chloris chloris

Common resident, but not universally numerous.  Scarcer as a breeder in treeless country.  Abundant in winter, especially on coastal farms.  regular spring migrant at Skokholm, which it also visits in winter.

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

Hawfinch - 1949 status

Coccothraustes coccothraustes coccothraustes

Mathew gives definite records of a pair at Lewston (undated), one Llanstinan, spring 1854, and one taken by a Sparrow-hawk, Slebech 13 Sept 1889. One caught in a rabbit trap, Ramsey, 9 Nov 1896 (H.W.Evans), two shot at Stackpole, 1930 (Bertram Lloyd).

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

Golden Oriole - 1949 status

Oriolus oriolus oriolus

Mathew gives only one definite records, at Goodwick, May 1870 (this should be April 1870).  One Caldey, May 1922 (Wintle - 1924 "Some Caldey Birds").

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

Rose-coloured Starling - 1949 status

Pastor roseus (Sturnus roseus)

One seen near Gateholm, 19 June 1939 (B.Birds XXXI, 149).  One on 16 Oct 1946 at Marloes (RML).  Mathew gives two rather vague records from St Florence and Castlemartin.

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

Starling - 1949 status

Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris

In 1880 bred only in a few places, including St Davids, but by 1894 rapidly establishing itself.  Still rare in same parts as a breeder, and curiously local in distribution in the summer.  Absent from many villages, eg: Fishguard, in the west especially (only six pairs St Davids 1948), but has lately colonised Skokholm (two pairs 1944, about six pairs 1948), and Skomer (one pair 1946).  Abundant winter visitor, roosting in large numbers 1947-8 at Sealyham, Woodbine (nr Haverfordwest), Goodwick and Tenby marshes, and in smaller roosts elsewhere (eg Monk Haven).  These visitors possibly include immigrants from the Continent.

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