Yellowhammer - breeding atlas change map

Orange = distribution in 1984-88 survey

Large dots = confirmed breeding 2003-07

Medium dots = probable breeding 2003-07

Small dots = possible breeding 2003-07

Percentage change = 50% reduction

White Wagtail - 1994

White Wagtails subspecies alba pass through Pembrokeshire in both spring (from March to May) and autumn (late August to October), sometimes in considerable numbers, such as 200 at Skokholm on 15 September 1988. Many of these originate in Iceland, judging by ringing recoveries, but it is likely that others are Scandinavian, as their passage coincides with the occurrence of other species from that area, such as Grey-headed Wagtails, Scandinavian Rock Pipits and Bluethroats. Ringing also shows that birds passing through Pembrokeshire journey on to France and Spain on the return migration.

Birds of Pembrokeshire - 1994

Status and Atlas of Pembrokeshire Birds

This book is the first authoritative and comprehensive guide to the birds and bird habitats of Pembrokeshire to be published for nearly 50 years.  The opening chapters set the ornithological scene in this [county in] the far south-west of Wales.  The species accounts review the older records, the numerous changes which have taken place, and the massive amount of new information gleaned by increasing numbers of enthusiasts in recent decades.  New discoveries are conitnually being made, and a better understanding of our birds achieved, as a results of these efforts.  The scene is set after a glorious century of ornithological endeavour since the first Birds of Pembrokeshire. On to the next with this book as your guide.  What new discoveries will be made, what new species will occur, what changes, both gains and losses, can only be properly measured by recourse to this new avifauna.

Whether ardent watcher, back garden enthusiast, or just someone who loves the wild places of Pembrokeshire and the birds they support, this book will be essential reading.

Jack Donovan and Graham Rees.

Background to the 1984-88 breeding distribution maps (adapted from Donovan & Rees,1984)

Maps of breeding distribution were compiled as a result of the Breeding Birds Survey conducted by the Dyfed Wildlife Trust from 1984-1988. The methods used for gathering and classifying this information followed those of the British Trust for Ornithology Atlas of breeding birds of the British Isles (Sharrock, 1976).

Distribution is plotted by tetrads (2km x 2km squares). Adjustments were made in as much as the islands of Grassholm, Caldey, Skokholm and Ramsey were regarded as occupying one square each and Skomer and Middleholm were regarded as a composite tetrad. This gave a maximum of 478 tetrads. 

The original maps in the 1994 publication shows:

Presence in the breeding season (=possible breeding): small dots

Probable breeding evidence: medium-sized dots

Confirmed breeding evidence: large-sized dots

Colours are used in the on-line version of these species breeding distribution maps:

Yellow = possible breeding evidence

Orange = probable breeding evidence

Red = confirmed breeding evidence

Digitisation of the 1984-88 mapped records discovered, for a few species, some small differences in the total numbers and the proportions found in tetrads. The on-line maps have amended figures for these species to take these differences into account.   

Northern Oriole - 1994

Vagrant

A North American species which has been recorded 15 times in Britain (Colston et al 991), including birds at Skokholm on 5 October 1967 (C. Britton), at Hook on 6-7 May 1979 (D. Petrie, I. Williams) and at Roch from early January to 24 April 1989 (J.W. Donovan, J. Scammel et al.).

The latter bird was seen by observers from all over Britain, most of whom responded by making a donation to the Dyfed Wildlife Trust, the money being used to construct a hide at Marloes Mere in recognition of the hospitality shown by Mr and Mrs Scammel during the bird's stay.

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

Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1994

Vagrant

A vagrant from North America, juveniles have been recorded in Britain in 21 autumns (Colston et al 1991), including birds seen at Skokholm on 5 October 1967 (C.Britton) and at Skomer from 29 September to 11 October 1988 (S.J.Sutcliffe).

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

Corn Bunting - 1994

Former breeding resident. Now a scarce visitor

Resident but local according to Mathew (1894), and "never seen far from the coast". Resident but very local according to Lockley etal. (1949), "being confined principally to the St David's area, Dale peninsula and Castle Martin districts" and "probably decreasing". They also note that it had bred at Ramsey. Lockley (1957) stated that it had by then become very local and was decreasing rapidly. Sharrock (1976) considered that the Corn Bunting started to decline in Wales from about 1920.

Breeding probably ceased in Pembrokeshire shortly after 1963, when 30 birds were seen in suitable habitat in the Hakin/Herbrandston area. Since then, one or two have been recorded in just 16 years, some of them males which held territory but apparently failed to find mates. Single males were found in only two years of the 1984-1988 Breeding Birds Survey, with no evidence of breeding. One which inhabited the Marloes peninsula from 1977 to 1981 resorted to singing like a Yellowhammer, no doubt misleading many of those who passed by.

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

Black-headed Bunting - 1994

Vagrant

Breeding no closer than Italy, Greece and Turkey (Jonsson 1992), single Black-headed Buntings have been recorded at Skokholm from 11 May to 3 June 1965 and on 26 May 1987, at Skomer on 18 September 1971, and on 31 May 1988 and at Marloes from 29 to 31 May 1990.  These records constitute over 5% of the total recorded in Britain (Rogers 1992).

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

Reed Bunting - 1994

Breeding resident

Both Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) regarded the Reed Bunting as a scarce resident thinly scattered about boggy places.

They are still locally distributed about the wetter parts of Pembrokeshire during the breeding season (see map), but were also found breeding in dry farmland during the 1970s, though none were reported in such places during the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988. From familiarity with most of the known breeding sites the total population can be estimated at about 500 pairs. Reed Buntings bred at Skokholm in 1960 and in 1967, increasing to five pairs in 1977, but two in 1980 were the last to nest. They first nested at Skomer in 1961, the population rising to 17 pairs in 1977, but in more recent years there have only been up to four pairs.

They are more widespread outside the breeding season, often being found among mixed finch flocks, particularly at or near the coast. Up to 100 have gathered at Plumston Mountain in January and February and almost as many have joined mixed finch flocks in unharvested flax during the last two winters.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed - 27

Orange = breeding probable - 54

Yellow = breeding possible - 19

Total tetrads in which registered = 100 (20.9%)

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

Little Bunting - 1994

Vagrant

Little Bunting breed from Finland across Russia and winter in central and eastern Asia (Witherby et al 1940). An off-course migrant was recorded at Skokholm on 19 November 1967 (C.Britton).

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

Rustic Bunting - 1994

Vagrant

Single birds have been recorded at Skokholm on 8 June 1953 (P.J. Conder) and on 6-7 June 1975 (M. Brooke), and at Skomer on 31 May 1987 (J. Hayes, S.J. Sutcliffe). Breeding in Scandinavia and Russia and wintering in central and eastern Asia (Witherby et. al. 1940), some 200 have been recorded in Great Britain, the majority in east coast counties, especially Shetland.

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

Ortolan Bunting - 1994

Scarce visitor

The first recorded Ortolan Bunting in Pembrokeshire was at Skokholm on 2 June 1931, according to Lockley et al. (1949) who also noted occurrences of single birds at Skokholm on 11 September 1936,19 May 1938 and 26 August 1947, with one at Skomer on 7 September 1946 and three at Ramsey from 18 to 21 September 1941. Subsequently up to five have been recorded in 29 years between 19 May and 23 June and between 22 August and 16 October. They have been seen more frequently in the autumn than the spring. Most were at Skokholm (about 42 birds), but birds have been recorded 11 times at Skomer, three times at Strumble Head, twice at Mathry and the Smalls and once at Martin's Haven, Ramsey and Solva.

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

Rock Bunting - 1994

Vagrant

A normally sedentary bird from the Mediterranean which has been recorded in Britain on six occasion (Colston et al 1991), the third being one at Dale Fort on 15 August 1958 (J.H.Barrett, J.D.Pickup).

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

Update on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 10:12AM by Pembrokeshire Avifauna committee

British Birds Rarities Committee 2004

1958 Pembrokeshire Dale Fort, Haverfordwest, 15th August (Brit. Birds 53: 173), no longer considered acceptable.
(Largely sedentary throughout Mediterranean basin from North Africa and Iberian Peninsula, N to C France and S Germany, and E through Turkey, Caucasus region and Iran to W Himalayas. Some populations dispersive or shortdistance migrant)