Chough - 1949 status

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Mathew thought it was common all round the coast from Tenby to Dinas c.1840-50, but by 1894 it was fast becoming scarce.  Formerly nested in ruins of Bishop's Palace at St Davids, and was breeding "in great abundance" on Manorbier Castle about 1857. Probably no scarcer now than it was fifty years ago.  In 1948 approximately 35 pairs breeding, all on coast or islands.

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

British Jay - 1949 status

Garulus glandarius rufitergum

Resident, but not numerous, in all well-wooded areas, and occasionally visits small woods in more exposed districts, eg in Oct 1947 it was seen at Dinas Island, St Ishmaels and St Davids.

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

Magpie - 1949 status

Pica pica pica

Numerous resident except on barest islands, but visits Skomer.  Breeds in low bushes where there are no trees available. Mathew mentions a roost at Stone Hall.

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

Jackdaw - 1949 status

Corvus mondedula spermolegus

Common resident, except at Skokholm and Grassholm, where only a spring migrat at same time as Rook.  Breeds on cliffs and in ruins, etc, inland.  A writer in the Field, 2 June, 1860, noted that it bred in burrows at Skomer; it still dows this - in sea-bird burrows on the edge of the cliffs.

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

Rook - 1949 status

Corvus frugilegus frugilegus

Resident and numerous.  Rookeries in 1945 were 147, containing 9,664 nests (James Fisher - BTO national survey). Marked spring migration at Skokholm during March and April.

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

Carrion Crow - 1949 status

Corvus corone corone

Common resident, nesting on cliffs, trees, in bushes and on derelict buildings.

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

Hooded Crow - 1949 status

Corvus cornix cornix

A straggler.  Recent records: Marloes, 24 Oct 1933; Skokholm, 11 April 1939; Ramsey, 16 June 1930, 31 August 1931; Skomer, 2 April 1946; Tenby, Dec 1947 and Jan and Feb 1948.

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

Raven - 1949 status

Corvus corax corax

Numerous and increasing resident.  Probably not less than eighty pairs breeding, of which about sixty pairs nest on the coastal and island cliffs, the rest inland, sometimes on trees.  Bertram Lloyd records a pair nesting in a fir tree near Angle as long ago as 1931.  Breeding at Treffgarne Rocks (mentioned by Mathew, who though there were about twenty nests in the county, include "a nest or two in . . Ramsey and Skomer").  Four pairs Skomer 1946.  One pair breeds regularly Grassholm.  Clutches of six eeggs are common and one of seven has been recorded (Major W.M.Congreve).  Flocks of up to fifty seen together July-October, notably on West coast.

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