Turtle Dove - 1994

Passage migrant, has bred. Not recorded from December to March

Mathew (1894) recorded Turtle Doves breeding at Orielton, and Congreve suggested that eggs had been taken from Pembrokeshire, according to Lockley et al. (1949).

It is now a regular passage migrant in small numbers, arriving from 15 April but mostly in May. Singing birds sometimes linger through June and into July but there have been no recent breeding records.

Fewer Turtle Doves are seen in the autumn than in spring. Those that do occur are mostly in September and early October, but some have been noted up to 23 October, with a late bird feeding with Collared Doves at Stackpole on 4 November 1983. One ringed on Skokholm in April 1969 was recovered the next month in Galway, Ireland.

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

Collared Dove - 1994

Breeding resident

The Collared Dove arrived in Pembrokeshire in 1961 when one was recorded at St Bride's on 18 April (J.W. Donovan), some six years after the first record for Britain. That same summer a colony of four pairs had established itself at St David's. They had rapidly spread across the county within four years, with further colonisation up to at least 1976. Although widely distributed (see map) there is a degree of patchiness, with substantial colonies in some places whilst being sparse or absent in intervening areas. At an average density of six to eight pairs per tetrad the total population for Pembrokeshire is probably 1,600-2,100 pairs. Flocks of 70-130 became a feature of winter­ time Pembrokeshire from 1967 to the late 1970s, with a gathering of 200 recorded at Porthliski in 1973. Such large flocks ceased to form during the 1980s, though whether this represents a population decrease or a change in habits is not known.

Collared Doves were seen flying out to sea towards Ireland during the major expansion period of the 1970s, mostly in flocks of less than ten, although 26 flew over the South Bishop on 7 May 1976. They still visit the offshore islands as far out as the Smalls, particularly in spring, so although present throughout the year there is a dynamic element at work within the population. Closer study might well show our Collared Dove population to be far from stable.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 73

Orange = breeding probable = 113

Yellow = breeding possible = 79

Total tetrads in which registered = 265 (55.4%)

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

Woodpigeon - 1994

Breeding resident

Mathew (1984) and Lockley et al. (1949) considered the Woodpigeon to be a common resident, most numerous in the wooded north of the county.

Today they breed throughout Pembrokeshire including the islands of Caldey, Skomer and probably Ramsey. Nesting in trees, they are fairly sparsely distributed in open country but more numerous in wooded areas, particularly the conifer plantations. On Skomer, which they colonised in 1970, nests are placed in low brambles and on the ground among bracken, with numbers building up to 30 pairs by 1976 but dropping to an average of 12 pairs in the 1980s. Allowing for the extent of wooded versus open terrain, an average density of 25 pairs per tetrad would suggest a total Pembrokeshire breeding population of about 10,000 pairs.

The extent to which they flock in the winter varies. They usually form groups of just 20 to 50 birds, but sometimes larger flocks are seen, the largest recorded being of 1,700 at Angle Bay on 14 February 1975.

Pembrokeshire birds are probably sedentary, although a few large scale movements have been recorded, such as 4,000 passing over Marloes on 7 December 1986, and they are occasionally seen on the remote islands of Grassholm and the Smalls. However, British Woodpigeons reached Ireland in 1959, a year of exceptional movement (Murton 1965), and one ringed in County Wexford, Ireland, on 13 April 1960 was shot near Carew on 22 September 1960.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 174

Orange = breeding probable = 170

Yellow = breeding possible = 75

Total tetrads in which registered = 419 (87.7%)

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

Stock Dove - 1994

Breeding resident

Mathew (1894) mentioned Stock Doves breeding about the coast and at Picton Park, and also noted their absence around his home at Stone Hall. Lockley et al. (1949) considered the species to be thinly distributed throughout the whole of the county but chiefly a coastal breeder. Saunders (1976) recorded an increase during the

previous 15 years and noted the colonisation of Skomer in 1963. Skokholm was colonised from 1967 while Lloyd thought that they were breeding on Ramsey as far back as 1929. Numbers built up during the period when Peregrines were at a low ebb, with 62 pairs at Skokholm and about 50 pairs at Skomer by 1975. They began to decline as Peregrines increased and today there are none on Skokholm and Skomer and only two or three pairs on Ramsey. Stock Doves still breed about the mainland cliffs and in most parts of the interior of the county (see map). At an estimated average density of two to three pairs per tetrad the Pembrokeshire breeding population is between 300 and 500 pairs.

Nest sites include holes in cliffs and quarries, buildings and old trees, and the use of rabbit burrows has been suspected. Stock Doves can be inconspicuous in well-wooded areas but are detectable when they visit roadside verges to grit during the first hour after dawn. Small flocks of 20 to 30 gather at good food sources, particularly brassica seeds, and larger gatherings have been noted; for example, about 90 were at Llanreath on 3 March 1985 and about 200 at Llysyfran on 16 March 1986.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 25

Orange = breeding probable = 45

Yellow = breeding possible = 87

Total tetrads in which registered = 157 (32.9%)

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

Feral Pigeon/Rock Dove - 1994

Breeding resident

Mathew (1894) noted Rock Doves at Ramsey, Elegug Stacks and Huntsman's Leap but by 1949 Lockley et al. thought that they were "perhaps extinct as a pure race".

Feral Pigeons (wild populations of birds descended from domesticated stock) now breed all around the outer coastline, showing a great variety of plumage patterns some of which closely approach that of Rock Doves. They also breed in town buildings, castles and ruins, industrial sites and country churches. Some farms still have breeding birds in the pigeon-holes of the barns, presumably descendants of stock that was once kept for winter meat.

Pigeon fanciers operate many lofts within the county and their birds can frequently be seen flying around in flocks that act cohesively whereas Feral Pigeons generally act much more as individuals. Drop-outs from pigeon races occur on the offshore islands as far out as the Smalls and undoubtedly keep the feral mainland population topped up.

An average of two pairs of Feral Pigeons per tetrad are estimated to breed around the outer coastline. A further broad estimate of 40 pairs per tetrad elsewhere suggests a minimum Pembrokeshire breeding total of about 3,000 pairs.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 60

Orange = breeding probable = 17

Yellow = breeding possible = 66

Total tetrads in which registered = 143 (29.9%)

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

Pallas's Sandgrouse - 1994

Vagrant

Matthew (1984) noted one Pallas's Sandgrouse shot at Haverfordwest on 8 February 1864, one shot in Pembrokeshire in the spring of 1870, and another shot at Ambleston on 28 May 1888.  This latter record was during a year when there was an invasion of Pallas's Sandgrouse, and they were widespread in Britain.

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

Puffin - 1994

Breeding summer visitor

The Puffin was formerly much more numerous than it is today. There was an extremely large colony of Puffins on Grassholm in the 1890s, estimates of its size varying from 500,000 to 700,000 pairs. However, when reviewing these estimates Williams (1978) used a density of two pairs per square yard to calculate that the population was probably about 200,000 pairs. This huge number nested in burrows in the 'haystack' of red fescue which covered most of the island to a depth of two feet. Eventually this became so honeycombed with burrows that it collapsed and Puffins largely forsook Grassholm, probably by 1920, when local opinion was that many had moved to breed on Skokholm. They bred all over the island of Skomer according to Mathew (1894) who stated "that there is scarcely a yard of ground free of them", and around the turn of the century were also breeding on Caldey, St Margaret's and the Bishops. Lloyd found a small colony of about 20 pairs breeding on Ramsey in 1927, where they bred commonly before the island was invaded by brown rats (Howells 1968). He also noted small numbers in the cliffs between Linney Head and St Govan's Head during the 1920s and 1930s.

Lockley et al. (1949) estimated that about 100,000 pairs were breeding on Skokholm and Skomer combined, but by the time of Operation Seafarer (1969) the total Pembrokeshire population was down to about 9,000 pairs and the Seabird Register survey of 1985-1987 found about 10,600 pairs (see map), so there appears to have been a recent period of stability.

Puffins arrive at the breeding area in about the middle of March, and depart the land by about the third week in August, though some are seen in inshore waters well into October. They spend the winter out to sea. Ringing recoveries indicate that the winter range extends from Greenland to Gran Canaria and across the Atlantic as far as Newfoundland.  they are rarely seen in Pembrokeshire in the winter; those birds that do occur in winter are usually sick or exhausted.

 

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 7

Yellow = breeding possible = 1

Total tetrads in which registered = 8 (1.7%)

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

Little Auk - 1994

Winter visitor. Not recorded in April and from June to August

Mathew (1894) considered the Little Auk to be an occasional winter visitor, with birds being picked up dead upon the shore or at some distance inland in rough weather. Lockley et al. (1949) agreed with this and noted dead birds at Solva on 18 December 1936 and at Freshwater East in the winter of 1945. One flew down Milford Haven after gales on 23 October 1942 (Ball 1943).

The remains of at least 13 were found on Skokholm in 1950 which were estimated to have been "wrecked" during February. Otherwise up to six have been recorded in 20 years since 1950, annually since 1983. They have been recorded all around the coast from Newport Bay to Amroth, as well the islands, including the Smalls, but principally at Strumble Head where an exceptional 21 were seen on 20 November 1983. They have also been blown inland, to Haverfordwest on 11 December 1950, to a swimming pool at Keeston on 4 January 1978, to Trecwn on 5 February 1984 and to Clarbeston on 5 February 1984.

The earliest recorded Little Auk was on 10 September and the latest on 4 March, apart from one bird in summer plumage at St Govan's Head on 30 May 1983.

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

Black Guillemot - 1994

Sporadic visitor, former breeder

Montague (1866) said of the Black Guillemot "we have seen it rarely on the coast of Wales near Tenbeigh where a few breed annually". Mathew (1894) knew of no further occurrences but Lockley et al. (1949) added five records of single birds at the Teifi Estuary, St David's Head and Jack Sound, all in June and July between 1914 and 1933.

Since then up to four have been recorded in 26 years, 60% in June and July. They have mostly been single birds, but a pair was seen around Ramsey Sound throughout the summers of 1968 and 1969 which, with one standing next to a hole in the cliffs of Stackpole Head in 1987, raised hopes of colonisation. All sightings have been from the outer coast ranging from Ceibwr to Strumble Head, Ramsey, Borough Head, Jack Sound, Skomer, Skokholm, Elegug Stacks and St Margaret's Island, apart from one far up the Cleddau Estuary at Hook Quay on 31 January 1971.

The origin of these birds is not known; they may have come southwards from Anglesey or the Isle of Man, but most probably they have flown from Ireland.

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

Razorbill - 1994

Breeding resident and passage migrant

Breeding distribution seems to have changed little since the time of Mathew (1894). Assessing numbers, though, is even more problematical

than for Guillemot, for a large proportion breed in rock crevices where they are not readily visible.

Changes in the fortunes of the Razorbill have been very similar to those of Guillemot. Lockley et al. (1949) noted a decrease in numbers following the second World War, which they attributed to the effects of oil pollution. The population continued to decrease thereafter, with numbers on Skomer, for example, falling from about 2,100 pairs in 1963 to about 1,600 by 1974. In addition to oil pollution, Razorbills in the Irish Sea area were also casualties of toxic residue build-up (Saunders 1976). The Operation Seafarer survey of 1969 found about 3,000 breeding pairs in Pembrokeshire, about 50% of which were at Skomer.

Despite the Irish Sea seabird wreck of 1969 and oiling incidents such as those involving the Christos Bitas and Bridgeness, Razorbills began increasing again in the late 1970s and 1980s. The Seabird Register survey of 1985-1987 found about 6,600 occupied sites in Pembrokeshire, the major colonies being at Skomer (3,869), Ramsey (927), Skokholm (702), Elegug Stacks, Flimston (393), Needle Rock, Fishguard (266), Stackpole Head (138) and St Margaret's Island (154).

Flightless young and moulting adult Razorbills gather off Strumble Head with Guillemots during August and September. Ringing has shown that some Razorbills stay in home waters throughout the year, while others, particularly first year birds, wander to Ireland, Scotland, the North Sea (as far north as Norway), the English Channel, all the way down the Bay of Biscay and into the Mediterranean.

Large numbers pass southwards out of the Irish Sea between late September and early December, often mixed with Guillemots but normally greatly outnumbered by them, though a remarkable 20,000 birds were estimated to have passed Strumble Head on 25 October 1992.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 24

Total tetrads in which registered = 24 (5%)

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

Guillemot - 1994

Breeding resident, passage migrant and winter visitor

Both Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) reported that Guillemots nested on all of the islands and at various mainland cliffs. Egg collecting used to be prevalent; Howells (1968) noted that Ivor Arnold took 500 Guillemot eggs from Ramsey in 1908.

It is difficult to census Guillemots accurately as the number of birds present on the breeding ledges varies with the season and time of day. A single count does not necessarily equate with the number of nests present. However, Lockley (1958) estimated that 5,000 Guillemots were present on the Skomer cliffs, resolved as "approximately that number of pairs". The same assumption has apparently been made by many other observers over the years. This means that the numbers quoted here should not be taken literally, though they should be comparable enough to detect broad trends.

Lockley et al. (1949) noted a decrease in numbers during the second World War and Lockley (1958) used photographs of the occupied ledges at the Wick, Skomer, taken in 1939, 1946 and 1958 to demonstrate a further decline. He was inclined to attribute the decrease to fouling by oil pumped from passing ships. Numbers continued to diminish and the Operation Seafarer survey of 1969 revealed just over 6,000 pairs. They were dealt a further blow by the Irish Sea seabird wreck that same autumn: 15,000 dead or dying Guillemots were accounted for in the Irish Sea but many more must have gone undetected, and Saunders (1976) speculated that as many as 35,000 could have perished. The effects can be judged by a decrease at the Skomer colony from 5,000 in 1966 to 3,000 in 1974.

Pembrokeshire numbers appear to have stabilised during the 1970s and to have increased since, despite temporary setbacks caused by oiling during the wrecks of the Christos Bitas (1978) and the Bridgeness (1985). The Seabird Register survey of 1985-1987 assessed the total county population as about 14,000 pairs, the main colonies being at Skomer (6181), Elegug Stacks, Flimston (3,462), Ramsey (1757), Stackpole Head (980) and Skokholm (160).

Although Guillemots continue to increase conservationists are concerned about disturbance that could be caused by an increasing popularity of rock climbing, particularly on the limestone of the south­west peninsula. The exploration for and possible extraction of oil and gas from our adjacent sea areas also poses potential threats.

Young Guillemots leave the breeding ledges before they are able to fly. The single chicks are accompanied by males and swim to traditional feeding areas, presumably where suitable fish are plentiful. Whilst the young are growing to the fledging stage the adults moult into a state of flightlessness. Only one such regularly used area has been found off Pembrokeshire to date, the sea off Strumble Head, where 300-500 gather each year. After fledging/moulting Guillemots become very mobile. Ringing has shown that while some remain in Pembrokeshire waters other adults journey to Scotland and immature birds into the English Channel, to the North Sea, to France and Spain and into the Mediterranean.

One of the great spectacles of the autumn is the large passage of line after line of Guillemots speeding low across the sea on their way out of the Irish Sea past the north coast of Pembrokeshire between late September and early December, first recorded by Lloyd as long ago as 1936. In more recent times attempts have been made to estimate peak numbers by taking sample counts for 15 minutes in each

hour and extending the results over the duration of the movement. By such means totals of 24,000 were calculated to have passed Strumble Head on 17 October 1983, 26,000 on 13 November 1987 and 35,000 on 20 October 1984.

Small numbers are scattered around the bays and tide races of the coast during the winter, with increased numbers during onshore gales. Large numbers occasionally visit the colonies on fine days in winter when they noisily occupy the ledges and take to the wing for massed whirling flights.

Northern Guillemots subspecies aalge/ hyperborea have been detected on several occasions at passage times and during the winter.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 16

Orange = breeding probable = 1

Total tetrads in which registered = 17 (3.6%)

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

White-winged Black Tern - 1994

Vagrant

White-winged Black Terns breed in Poland and Russia, from where they depart between August and early October, small numbers occurring annually in Britain (Cramp 1985). In Pembrokeshire, the first was recorded at the Gann on 31 August 1973 (K.J.S. Devonald), followed by singles at Llysyfran reservoir on 16-28 October 1976, Llanstadwell on 26 August 1986 and Skokholm on 3 September 1990.

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