Red-necked Grebe - 1949

Podiceps griseigena griseigena

Tracy said that he had several times killed this species on the millpond at Pembroke.  One Tenby, spring 1898; one Crickmarren Pond, 1 Mar 1917; one Solva, 10 Sept 1920; one St Ann's Head, 21 Apr, 1938.

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

Great Crested Grebe - 1949

Podiceps cristatus cristatus

A winter visitor, rather scarce, chiefly in the waters of Milford Haven.

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

Fulmar Petrel - 1949

Fulmarus glacialis glacialis

Mathew knew of only one, caught on a cod line in Tenby Bay Dec 1980.  Appeared in 1930 at Flimston Stack Rocks and landed on cliffs there in 1931.  Since then, they have been present in the breeding season at many cliffs in the north, west, and south, but have not yet been recorded (1948) laying eggs, although breeding in the ajoining county of Cardigan (1947).

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

Sooty Shearwater - 1949

Puffinus griseus

Not mentioned by Mathew.  Seen fairly regularly migrating north-westwards during the early part of September off Skokholm.

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

Great Shearwater - 1949

Puffinus gravis

Mathew has an unsatisfactory record.  One or two probably of this species, off Smalls lighthouse, 3 Sept 1917 (B.Birds, XII 225)

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

Manx Shearwater - 1949

Puffinus puffinus puffinus

Mathew called Skomer "the largest breeding-station . . .in the British Isles," which may be correct.  He believed that a few might nest on Ramsey; the Modern Universal British Traveller, 1779, states that the "Harry-bird" (ie the Shearwater, see Oxford Dictionary 1901) breeds at Ramsey, and there is a good description of it nesting in holes there.  Mathew gives some evidence that they were possibly breeding on St Margaret's Island in 1893, and perhaps also on Caldey; he seems not to have known of the Skokholm colony.  About 25,000 pairs breed on Skomer, and at least 10,000 pairs on Skokholm.  Visits the whole coast at night, from March to August, and often heard calling inland (eg Haverfordwest)

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

Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel - 1949

Oceanodroma leucorrhoa leucorrhoa

Mathew rather surprisingly described it as a not very rare visitor in stormy weather.  He gives no definite records, and only one has been recorded in the fifty years, picked up at Pembroke Dock, 12 Nov 1931, and sent to the National Museum of Wales.

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

Storm Petrel - 1949

Hydrobates pelagicus

Mathew knew only of a small colony "in the chinks of an old wall on top of the cliff" on Skomer.  there are still some on Skomer (about 30 pairs in 1946), but the main colony is on Skokholm, estimated in 1939 at 600 pairs.  It is preyed upon extensively by Little Owls on these islands.  Also breeds on islets in St Brides Bay, but not on Grassholm (1934).  Occurs in winter inland occasionally after gales, eg one Haverfordwest 12 Dec 1939.

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

Gannet - 1949

Sula bassana

The colony on Grassholm now (1948) numbers approximately 7,000 pairs.  Its history is to be found in various places: in I knew and Island by R.M.Lockley; and in The Breeding, Distribuion, History and Population of the North Atlantic Gannet by J.Fisher and H.G.Vevers (Journal of Animal Ecology, 1943, XIX 177-8).

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

Shag - 1949

Phalacrocorax aristoltelis aristotelis

Common resident, more numerous than Cormorant.  Mathew givew the following breeding stations: Ramsey, Skomer, St Margaret's Island, the channel side of Caldey, and in a cave on the west side of the great Stack.   A pair usually breeds at Skokholm and others at Grassholm and Middleholm, and along the whole coast there are scattered pairs.

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

Cormorant - 1949

Phalacrocorax carbo carbo

Common resident.  Found on inland waters, autumn to spring.  Mathew gives the following breeding stations: Ramsey, Skomer, Lydstep Head (20-30 pairs), at Pointz Castle (where they drove out Herons), and in trees at Slebech.  These still exist but the colonies fluctuate (eg the colony on the Mewstone, Skomer was apparently deserted in 1898 and in 1947).  Other colonies: St Margaret's Island, St Bride's Stacks, Pwll Deri and Newport Head.

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

Smew - 1949

Mergus albellus

Mathew mentioned that it had been shot at Goodwick and Stackpole, and thought it a not uncommon winter visiotr.  The only occurrencse recently are: a pair Dale, 1904; an immature male, St Davids 10 Oct 1914; a female 5 Mar and an adult male 5 Dec, 1918 near Newport; one seen Milford Haven, Nov 1925; and one seen Solva Harbour, Feb 1930.  Six were seen and a pair taken at Orielton in Jan/Feb, 1939

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