Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 11:12PM Apus pallidus
Vagrant
A single bird at Strumble Head on 12 and 13 November 1984 (N.A.Lethaby) was one of four British occurrences following an unusual spell of southerly winds bearing Saharan sand.
1994 BoP in Pallid Swift Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 11:09PM Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. Not recorded from November to February
Mathew (1894) regarded the Swift as a summer visitor, local but numerous in places, and noted breeding on inland crags. Lockley et al. (1949) called it a numerous summer visitor breeding in castles, chapels and tall buildings.
Although the majority of today's Swifts breed in buildings, natural sites are used in the cliffs at Stackpole Head, St Govan's Head and Stack Rocks (Flimston), as were others at Linney Head and Caldey Island in the past. The availability of man-made sites must be limiting, and an upsurge in building renovation in recent years, as well as the construction of new buildings that do not permit access to Swifts, makes it probable that they are less numerous than they used to be. Assessing the size of the population is problematical as their nests are not readily visible. Some idea can be gained by watching how many enter buildings or by noting the numbers screaming around the colonies during calm evenings. Using such methods, it is evident that considerable numbers breed in towns such as Tenby and Haverfordwest, that they are less numerous in other towns such as Fishguard and Narberth and that smaller colonies exist in pockets, as at Wiston Church, Gelly and Boncath. Linking rough estimates of this kind with the Breeding Birds Survey, the total population seems to be of the order of 2,000 pairs, but this may well prove to be an underestimate.
The first Swifts usually arrive in April, with the bulk following in May. Earlier birds have been seen from 14 April, and six were at Orielton on 21 March 1960 and one at Skokholm on 26 March 1953. They continue to pass northwards throughout May and into June. One was seen against the lantern of the Smalls lighthouse on the night of 17 May 1984.
It is difficult to decide whether the Swifts seen over the offshore islands in July are migrants or feeding birds from mainland colonies. Those found dead from collision with the lantern of the South Bishop lighthouse at night in July might indicate passage, but they could have been locally breeding birds which were asleep on the wing when forced down by bad weather. Swifts depart the colonies suddenly and en masse during the first three weeks of August, when they can also be seen flying in off the sea along the north and west coasts, and they were recorded killed at night at the South Bishop lighthouse on 6 August 1975 and 25 August 1976. A few are seen in September with occasional stragglers into October, the latest recorded being on 28 October.
Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 89
Orange = breeding probable = 11
Total tetrads in which registered = 100 (20.9%)
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 11:07PM Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. Not recorded from October to March
The Nightjar was regarded by Mathew (1894) as a common summer visitor, to be found breeding all over Pembrokeshire. Lockley et al. (1949) similarly assessed it as a fairly common and widely distributed summer visitor that occasionally bred on the larger offshore islands.
Observers began to note a rapid decrease during the 1960s, part of a national decline, and by 1971 they could be found at only eight sites. None were proved to be breeding during the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 but `churring birds' were heard in five localities, so the Nightjar might just be hanging on as a Pembrokeshire breeder.
They are still recorded occasionally on passage at the coast and the islands. The earliest recorded arrival is 26 April and latest departure 25 September.
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:55PM Breeding resident and winter visitor
Mathew (1894) considered the Short-eared Owl to be common in the winter. He also noted that eggs had been taken from Skomer, where R. Drane* saw half-grown young in 1895. Lockley et al. (1949) stated that they were frequently seen over heaths and bogs in the winter, and noted breeding at Skomer and Ramsey.
Up to five pairs have continued to breed at Skomer, which can represent 20% of the Welsh population, but there was an unprecedented 12 pairs there in 1993 as this book was compiled. Breeding was reasonably frequent on the St David's commons but may now have ceased. Elsewhere breeding has been sporadic and confined to rough ground and young plantations, like those around the Preseli Mountains which have now matured.
They have been seen arriving off the sea at Strumble Head in October and November, when they have also occurred at the Smalls and Grassholm, with up to nine recorded at Skokholm. Records at the Smalls and South Bishop in March and April may refer to birds on return passage.
A remarkable influx occurred during a cold spell in January 1982 when at least 40 were present at Ramsey. Winter birds have become scarcer during the 1980s and early 1990s, being recorded at 14 sites in 1983 but at no more than seven localities in any year since.
Fieldwork 1984-88(based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 1
Yellow = breeding possible = 2
Total tetrads in which registered = 3 (0.6%)
Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire
*NB - Robert Drane's observation - 1895 Half grown young found,Skomer (R.Drane) NiW, Vol 4 No 4
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:53PM Irregular visitor, formerly bred
Mathew (1894) regarded the Long-eared Owl as a scarce winter visitor and reported that "bird-stuffers" received a few occasionally. Lockley et al. (1949) said it was a scarce resident and noted breeding near Granant, at Solva, near St Dogmael's and at Dowrog; the last breeding record was in 1935.
They have been recorded in 17 years since, mostly between January and March but also in May, July, October and November on the offshore islands, where nearly half the total has occurred.
No evidence exists to indicate their origin but it is tempting to think of Ireland as a likely source. Considering how inconspicuous they are it is conceivable that dispersing juveniles reach Pembrokeshire in most years and stay the winter; for example, there were roosts of three at Colby Moor in 1991 and at Rhodiad y Brenin in 1993.
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:52PM Breeding resident
The Tawny Owl was regarded as a common resident bird by Mathew (1894) and by Lockley et al. (1949), and this remains the case today.
This owl breeds in wooded areas throughout Pembrokeshire, utilising holes in trees and old crow nests, and can also be found in all of the towns, where it nests in buildings. Tawny Owls are only occasional visitors to the offshore islands, mainly during autumn dispersal, though they were present in the breeding season on Caldey during the 1984-1988 Breeding Birds Survey.
At an average density of four to five pairs per tetrad, the total adult population of Tawny Owls in Pembrokeshire is probably between 800 and 1,000 pairs.
Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 57
Orange = breeding probable = 84
Yellow = breeding possible = 60
Total tetrads in which registered = 201 (42.1%)
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:47PM Breeding resident
The first Little Owl in Pembrokeshire was noted at Solva in 1920, and later the same year they were found breeding at several sites (Lloyd's diary, 1936). Lloyd encountered them in ten widespread localities, ranging from Freshwater West to Eglwyswrw, between 1925 and 1937, and also found several nests. Lockley et al. (1949) stated that the Little Owl was by then a common resident.
It had become the commonest owl in Pembrokeshire by 1927, but was less numerous by 1946 when Saunders noted that "there are now only a few records annually, mostly from coastal areas". A pair attempted to breed at Skokholm in most years up to 1954 but were discouraged and sometimes deported because of their predation of Storm Petrels. Up to six pairs breed annually at Skomer where Storm Petrels are also preyed upon. Little Owls were located in 31 tetrads during the 1984-1988 Breeding Birds Survey, probably totalling 50 pairs, and were recorded in other localities during the intervening winters, so they appear to be on the increase again.
Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 7
Orange = breeding probable = 7
Yellow = breeding possible = 17
Total tetrads in which registered = 31 (6.5%)
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:46PM Vagrant
One Scop's Owl was caught near Pembroke in the spring of 1868 (Mathew 1894). Another, at Skokholm on 25 April 1955 (P.E. Davis), was found roosting in a hole near the cliff top and was captured for ringing by throwing a net over the entrance.
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:43PM Breeding resident
"A resident far from common" wrote Mathew (1894), an assessment with which Lockley et al. (1949) agreed. Lloyd entered "uncommon in Pembrokeshire" in his diary for 1925, and Saunders (1976) remarked that the Barn Owl seems never to have been particularly common in Pembrokeshire.
Nonetheless, Blaker (1934), who conducted a survey of England and Wales on behalf of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, estimated that there were 220 pairs in Pembrokeshire (a total derived from Blaker's map by C. Shawyer, pers. comm.). The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found more Barn Owls than was expected at the outset, probably over 100 pairs. A large proportion of the sites were brought to light by talking to farmers and it is possible that others might be revealed could more landowners be canvassed.
Both Mathew and Lockley et al. noted nesting in cliff crevices on the mainland and islands of Skomer, Caldey and St Margaret's. They have since been only occasional visitors to the islands of Skomer, Skokholm and Ramsey but have nested in the cliffs at Pen Beni and Dinas Fawr.
Mathew noted two instances of communal roosting, or what he termed an "owlery". One in the roof of a country house contained about a dozen adults, besides owlets in various stages of growth. The other, in the connected roof space of a row of cottages, contained between 40 and 50 Barn Owls. The only modern equivalent record concerns 12 seen emerging from the ruins of Butterhill Mansion in 1987.
Since it is only occasionally seen hunting in the twilight in Pembrokeshire, and more often at night passing through the headlight beams of cars, this species is easily overlooked, although it will hunt in broad daylight following snowfalls.
Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 31
Orange = breeding probable = 11
Yellow = breeding possible = 68
Total tetrads in which registered = 110 (23%)
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:41PM Vagrant
One shot at Stackpole in 1832 and lodged in the British Museum (Matthew, 1894) was the first for Britain, another being recorded in Ireland the same autumn (Witherby et. al. 1940).
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:39PM Breeding summer visitor. Not recorded in January, February, October and November
Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) agreed that the Cuckoo was a common visitor, although Lockley (1957) wrote that it was never an abundant species in the county. Saunders (1976) classified it as being a common summer visitor.
The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found a varying density across the county, Cuckoos being encountered most frequently south of the Cleddau Estuary and from the Preseli Mountains northwards. Assuming an average of one pair per tetrad, the county total would be about 210 pairs. Numbers vary from year to year, presumably according to how they have fared on migration and at their wintering grounds in sub-equatorial Africa. Several observers considered that Cuckoos became scarce in 1985 and 1986 but subsequently recovered their numbers.
Cuckoos normally arrive in Pembrokeshire during the second half of April but earlier birds are occasionally seen, from 1 April; one was recorded at Poppit on 21 March 1985.
Their late summer departure, which is less dramatic than the spring arrival, commences in July and ceases by mid-September. One at Little Milford on 21 and 22 December 1954 was only the second to have been recorded in Britain at such a late date.
Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)
Red = breeding confirmed = 10
Orange = breeding probable = 157
Yellow = breeding possible = 44
Total tetrads in which registered = 211 (44.1%)
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:37PM Feral visitor
Single birds were seen in gardens at Newport on 30 January 1988 (A.P.R. East) and Crundale on 20 March 1988 (J.E. Donovan). The origin of these birds is uncertain. They may have been escapes or may have arrived due to expansion of the feral population established in south-east England. They are included here to keep the record complete and perhaps permit further evaluation by those whose task it will be to write the next Pembrokeshire avifauna.