Woodlark - 1994

Former breeding resident, now an occasional visitor

Woodlarks were generally distributed in Pembrokeshire up to 1866 but their numbers were then severely depressed by the attention of bird catchers. They sold for 36 shillings a dozen, and in consequence were sought after to the point where Mathew (1894) feared they had nearly been obliterated from the county list.

Numbers recovered during the 1900s and Bertram Lloyd found them widespread during 1927 and 1928. His diaries note their disappearance following the severe winter of 1928/29, but encounters increased from 1931 to 1937.

Lockley et al. (1949) noted that the Woodlark was widely distributed on heath and moorland, particularly around the foothills of the Preseli Mountains, being scarcest in the extreme west. This continued to be the situation until the arctic winters of 1962 and 1963 virtually exterminated them. A pair reared young at Amroth in 1965 and five were seen near Brynberian in May 1967 but there has been no sign of breeding since.

The Woodlark is now only an occasional visitor, one or two being recorded in only nine years between 1970 and 1992, in March and April at Skokholm and Skomer, August and October at Skomer and October and November at Strumble Head. There are winter records of four at Stackpole, in February 1984, and one there in January 1987.

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

Short-toed Lark - 1994

Rare visitor

Single Short-toed Larks at Skokholm from 9 to 13 April 1952, 10 to 20 April 1956, 27 to 28 June 1964, 10 to 14 May 1967, 17 to 18 May 1968 and on 1 June 1970 were presumably birds that had overshot their Iberian breeding area during spring migration.

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

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1994

Breeding resident

Mathew (1894) noted that the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker had been seen at Goodwick. Lockley et al. (1949) considered it scarce, with records from Nevern, Llangwm, Burton and Haverfordwest, and Saunders (1976) agreed but thought that it was probably overlooked because of its secretive nature and might occur more frequently than realised.

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were found in 20 tetrads during the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 and were also seen in other localities outside the breeding season, such as West Williamston, Brynberian and Cwm yr Eglwys. It seems likely that they remain under-recorded.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 6

Orange = breeding probable = 4

Yellow = breeding possible = 10

Total tetrads in which registered = 20 (4.2%)

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

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1994

Breeding resident

The Great Spotted Woodpecker was classified as a rare occasional visitor by Mathew (1894), who listed only six occurrences. The diaries of Lloyd for 1927-1934 document a fairly widespread but patchy distribution, and contain remarks such as "they must have spread strongly" since Mathew's time. T.A.W. Davis noted that they first established themselves at St Ishmael's in 1939. Lockley et al. (1949) considered that they were widely distributed in well-wooded country, with scattered pairs throughout the county. Saunders (1976) assessed the species as widespread in small numbers throughout Pembrokeshire's woodlands.

Although the much harder winters of the early 1960s apparently had no effect, the cold snap of winter 1979 markedly reduced the population; for example, five pairs breeding in Hylton Woods in 1978 were reduced to a single unmated bird in the summer of 1979, and even by 1983 there had only been a recovery to two pairs. In consequence, the surveyors engaged in the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found some woods contained old borings but no woodpeckers. At an average density of three to four pairs per occupied tetrad the county total was probably about 500-700 pairs at the end of the survey, but the total was undoubtedly greater prior to 1979.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers sometimes wander onto the cliffs of the outer coast in the autumn, as at Strumble Head in 1981, 1986 and 1990, and reached Skomer in 1962 and 1964.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 45

Orange = breeding probable = 49

Yellow = breeding possible = 78

Total tetrads in which registered = 172 (36%)

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

Green Woodpecker - 1994

Breeding resident

Mathew (1894) regarded the Green Woodpecker as a common resident. Lockley et al. (1949) noted a considerable decrease following and probably caused by the severe winter of 1947. More recently, hard weather, in particular the winter of 1963, has had a similar effect, but by 1964 areas were being recolonised which had been deserted since the 1930s.

The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found a patchy distribution (see map). With an estimated average density of one to two pairs per tetrad, the Pembrokeshire population would be about 140-280 pairs.               

Green Woodpeckers are not normally seen far outside the breeding range but they have occasionally turned up on Skomer between July and September and have once been seen crossing from Giltar to Caldey.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 35

Orange = breeding probable = 65

Yellow = breeding possible = 39

Total tetrads in which registered = 139 (29.1%)

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

Wryneck - 1994

Passage migrant, has bred

The Wryneck nested in Pembrokeshire during the nineteenth century. Monk (1963) mentions two records, while Mathew (1894), although describing it as a rare visitor, quoted several evocative earlier reports which strongly suggested breeding. As its breeding range in England and Wales contracted it became a rare visitor and Lockley et al. (1949) added but one occurrence, a bird at Skokholm on 6 May 1938.

It has since proved to be a regular passage migrant in small numbers. Eleven single birds have been recorded in spring, between 12 March and 27 May, but up to four birds on 56 occasions in autumn, from 26 August to 18 October, with the majority in September ( and with one exception, a bird seen at Haverfordwest on 11 July 1961). Wrynecks are difficult to detect and 80% of the records come from the offshore islands where there is scant cover to conceal them. However, enough have been detected on the mainland to suggest it occurs more frequently there than the records show.

One found dead at St David's on 31 January 1965 (which was reclaimed from a dustbin to convince the sceptical county recorder!) and one wintering in the Manorbier/Penally area from 23 December 1965 to 1 February 1966 are particularly unusual records. Cramp (1985) quotes only two winter records for northern Europe, in west Germany and in northern France.

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

Hoopoe - 1994

Annual visitor. Not recorded in November

Mathew (1894) remarked that if the Hoopoe was not seen every year then only a short interval passed between occurences, and Lockley et at. (1949) were of the same opinion. That remained the situation until increased observer cover bridged the 'intervals' to show that the birds do occur every year. However, despite the growth in the number of observers, fewer birds were seen during the 1980s compared with the 1960s, when up to ten in a s_/pring were noted. Two to four is more normal now.

Hoopoes have arrived in Pembrokeshire as early as February but most come from March to May, with nearly half in April. A few are seen in June and July with a small autumn arrival from August to late October. One remarkable individual wintered on Tenby Golf Course, being first seen on 14 December 1963 and staying until March 1964.

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

Roller - 1994

Coracias garrulus

Vagrant

One Roller has been recorded, near Panteg from 5 to 8 August 1991 and possibly staying a few days longer (J.L. Nelmes et al.). It fitted well into the Pembrokeshire landscape, using overhead wires as perches from which it plunged to prey on a variety of invertebrates, lizards and, once, a young adder.

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

Bee-eater - 1994

Vagrant

Mathew (1894) refers to two occurrences of single Bee-eaters, one picked up "long dead" at the coast, undated, and one killed at Johnston in about 1854. Lockley et al. (1949) added a record of three perched on telephone wires near Milford Haven on 13 May 1896.

There have been two further records: two birds at Dale on 31 May 1958 and one at West Hook, Marloes, on 16 May 1965.

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

Kingfisher - 1994

Breeding resident

There has probably been little change in the status of the Kingfisher in Pembrokeshire since the time of Mathew (1894), who described it as a common resident, and Lockley et al. (1949), who simply stated that it was resident. The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found about 50 pairs along the streams and rivers and on the larger ponds (see map), but it is probable that some were missed in the east of the county; they used to breed on the river above Solva but have not been known to do so for the past seven years.

Kingfishers wander to the coast outside the breeding season, particularly to the estuaries, and are regularly seen at Newport and various parts of the Cleddau. They have occasionally reached the offshore islands of Skomer, Skokholm and Grassholm.

Freezing conditions can cause high winter mortality. Lockley et al. noted that many died in the winter of 1946/47, becoming very scarce afterwards, and the arctic winter of 1963 reduced the Welsh population by an estimated 85% (Smith 1969), with Pembrokeshire's numbers being cut down to just a few surviving pairs. A succession of mild winters and productive summers enabled them to increase again and subsequent cold spells have not had the same drastic effect.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 11

Orange = breeding probable = 5

Yellow = breeding possible = 31

Total tetrads in which registered = 47 (9.8%)

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

Little Swift - 1994

Vagrant

One at Skokholm on 31 May and 1 June 1981 (M.LeBrooke, P.J.Conder and G.& E.Gynn) in company with Swallows and House Martins, was the fourth record for the British Isles and the second in Wales.

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

Alpine Swift - 1994

Rare visitor

One of two Alpine Swifts present at Angle Bay on 20 November 1908 was shot, and two were seen at St David's Head on 14 September 1934 (Lockley et al. 1949). Single birds were then recorded at Tenby on 23 May 1959, at Skomer from 25 to 27 June 1967, at St David's Head on 21 July 1968, at Skokholm on 13 July 1972, at Strumble Head on 26 April 1983 and at Caldey on 6 July 1985.

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