Iceland Gull - 1994

Rare visitor. Not recorded from June to August

This gull was first recorded at Nolton Haven on 25 September 1955 (E. Crouch) followed by 24 single birds in ten years between 1973 and 1992. The earliest arrival was on 25 September 1955 and the latest on 5 May 1989, the majority being seen between January and March. All were in coastal localities, including Skokholm and the Smalls, the most favoured being Fishguard -Harbour, Llanstadwell and the Gann. Birds of all ages have been involved but 78% were first- year birds.

A hybrid seen at Strumble Head on 1 April 1991 was thought to be an Iceland/Herring Gull cross.

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

Yellow-legged Gull - 1994

Rare visitor

Rightly or wrongly, we have anticipated that this `race of Herring Gull' will be afforded specific status in the future. The Yellow-legged Gull has a mantle colour that is much darker than a Herring Gull's and it remains white-headed in winter. Its breeding range is from Biscay to central Asia and in south-west France it overlaps with the Herring Gull subspecies argenteus without interbreeding (Yesou 1991).

It has been detected in southern Britain with increasing frequency in recent years, including the following Pembrokeshire records: in 1985, one at Llanstadwell from 6 February to 11 April (G.H. Rees) and two on 18 February, singles at Marloes Mere on 3 March and 26 December, at the Gann on 3 March, at Wiseman's Bridge from 27 February to 13 March and at Fishguard Harbour on 6 January; in 1986, one at Llanstadwell on 14 February and at the Gann on 15 February; in 1987, single, but different, birds at Llanstadwell on 17 and 31 March.

Great care is needed when identifying these birds as hybrids between Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls persist in the Pembrokeshire population, following cross-fostering experiments on the islands. The hybrids characteristically have more elongated primararies, show a mixture of rather washed out yellow or pink legs, sometimes yellow and pink, and in winter have streaked heads.

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

Ring-billed Gull - 1994

Vagrant

The first Pembrokeshire record for this species was of an adult at Llanstadwell from 6 to 13 February 1985 (G.H. Rees et al.). Subsequent records have been: a second-winter bird at the Gann from 27 March to 5 April 1986 (which on 31 March was accompanied by an adult), an adult at the Smalls on 8 February 1991 and at Fishguard Harbour a first-winter bird from 23 December 1991 to 1 March 1992 and an adult from 12 January to 8 February and on 26 December 1992.

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

Black-headed Gull - 1994

Winter visitor and passage migrant, formerly bred

The Black-headed Gull was recorded by Mathew (1894) as only an autumn and winter visitor. Lockley et al. (1949) stated that there was said to be a large colony of Black-headed Gulls breeding on Caldey in 1662 and that Dowrog Pond and Trefeiddan were colonised in 1948. The former colony built up to 80 pairs by 1958 and died out shortly after 1966, the latter reached a peak of 18 pairs in 1958 and also became deserted around 1966. Three nests were found on Ramsey in 1962 and 16 pairs bred there in 1964, while up to four pairs bred on Skomer between 1965 and 1970.

Black-headed Gulls arrive in Pembrokeshire from early July, when small parties of adults accompanied by juveniles can be seen flying overland towards the coast and also angling across Cardigan Bay from the north-east. These are presumably birds that have bred in mid-Wales and England. The main arrival takes place in October, appears to be largely nocturnal and is probably Continental in origin. In winter they are widely distributed throughout the county, on the estuaries, harbours and shorelines, but more extensively on inland fields, commuting daily from a number of well-established roosts at Poppit, Nevem Estuary, north Broad Haven—Goultrop, Fishguard Harbour, Llysyfran reservoir, Fowborough, Pembroke River, Angle Bay and Amroth— Saundersfoot. The British Trust for Ornithology's Winter Gull survey of 1985 found a total of 16,826 Black-headed Gulls at these roosts.

Wintering birds depart suddenly in March, presumably leaving at night. Thereafter, occasional small parties of adults are seen passing northwards throughout April and May and about 150 one- year old birds summer on the Cleddau Estuary, with a few others scattered around the coast.

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

Bonaparte's Gull - 1994

Vagrant

One was shot at Solva in the spring of 1888 (Lockley et al 1949).  Mathew (1894) seems not to have been aware of this species, nor indeed of the bird collection of H.W.Evans of Solva in whose hands it remained.

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

Sabine's Gull - 1994

Scarce passage migrant

Mathew (1894) cites three Pembrokeshire occurrences, at Milford Haven in the autumn of 1839, near Amroth on 12 November 1892 and an undated record of a bird taken at Stackpole. No more were recorded until one was seen at Skokholm on 11 October 1968, followed by single birds in five years up to 1979. Since 1980 Sabine's Gulls have been seen annually, mostly as single birds, or two together, blown inshore by gales in the period from 22 August to 23 November. They have been noted at Skokholm, the Smalls, the Gann, Newgale, St David's Head and Fishguard, while 130 passed Strumble Head between 1980 and 1992, with a maximum of 25 in a year and up to six passing in a day.

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

Little Gull - 1994

Passage migrant. Not recorded in June

Mathew (1894) noted two shot at Tenby in January 1892 and Lockley et al. (1949) added one seen at St David's on 12 September 1927.

One or two were noted in 11 years between 1961 and 1979, with seven at Skokholm on 14 November 1967 and 11 at Skomer on 6 August 1970. All were from the offshore islands of Ramsey, South Bishop, Skomer and Skokholm, apart from singles at Mullock Bridge, Strumble Head and Llysyfran reservoir.

Regular seawatching at Strumble Head throughout the 1980s has revealed that up to 20 a year pass southwards out of the Irish Sea each autumn between late July and December, and that larger numbers can occur during severe gales late in the season, such as 69 on 24 December 1984, 75 on 10 November 1985 and 76 on 13 November 1987. As with many other seabird movements, most appear to strike out to sea once clear of the Bishops and Clerks. Thus there are only occasional records from the coastal areas south of St David's, including some which enter the Cleddau Estuary, though never more than three on any occasion.

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

Mediterranean Gull - 1994

Winter visitor. Not recorded in April and May

The Mediterranean Gull was first recorded, at Skokholm, in 1968, when a second-winter bird was seen on five occasions between 3 and 17 November. The species was subsequently recorded in six of the next twelve years, becoming annual from 1980. The early records were all of single birds which did not stay long, but since 1980 one or two have wintered at Fishguard Harbour and there are records from various parts of the Cleddau Estuary, including Llanstadwell, the Gann and Angle Bay, in most winters. Comparison of the combination of head and bill markings of individuals revealed that four Mediterranean Gulls wintered at Fishguard Harbour in late 1986, and that they forayed daily west to Strumble Head or east to the Nevern Estuary. Five were there in the winter of 1992/93. It is suspected that these birds, as well as those that are seen on the Cleddau Estuary, also feed inland during the day but so far they have only been seen at Roch Gate, Hill Leys and Treigo. The Mediterranean Gull has only twice been recorded from the south coast of Pembrokeshire, at Lydstep and at Bosherston Pools.

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

Great Skua - 1994

Passage migrant and occasional winter visitor

Mathew (1894) did not encounter the Great Skua but quoted Sir Hugh Owen as saying that it was always to be found in Goodwick Bay in a good herring season. Lockley et al. (1949) recorded a bird shot in Solva Harbour in 1894. It was next recorded at the Smalls in July 1955 and thereafter with increasing frequency, up to 20 being noted in 17 of the years to 1976, when Saunders wrote that it was recorded off Pembrokeshire in most autumns though in considerably smaller numbers than the Arctic Skua.

Frequent seawatching at Strumble Head in the 1980s revealed that Great Skuas are annual in occurrence in the autumn between 2 July and 28 December, and that overall they are as numerous as Arctic Skuas (compare Tables 13 and 14). Up to 25 birds pass Strumble Head on most days in autumn, but larger numbers are seen following south-west gales, with the maximum recorded being 198 on 3 September 1983. As with other skuas, the majority put out to sea once clear of the Bishops, but some occur inshore along the west coast and to a lesser extent the south coast, though the amount of observation may be insufficient to reveal the true extent.

December records from the Smalls, Strumble Head, Fishguard Harbour, St John's Point and Nolton Haven indicate that a few linger in Pembrokeshire waters throughout the winter.

There is a small and erratic spring passage, from 27 March to 15 June, with ones and twos being seen from all of the coasts and off the islands.

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

Long-tailed Skua - 1994

Scarce autumn migrant

Mathew (1894) noted an immature shot at Tenby in the autumn of 1889 or 1890. No more were recorded for nearly a century until one was seen at Strumble Head on 9 September 1980, since when it has been seen annually, with up to 17 per year occurring between 16 August and 14 November. Most of these have been at Strumble Head, but a few have occurred elsewhere, namely a single at the Smalls in September 1983 and two during September 1984, singles at Skomer on 11 September 1989 and 14 September 1991 and at Ramsey on 28 September 1992. Exceptional numbers were seen in 1991, between 7 September and 18 October, when a total of 74 was recorded at Strumble Head, with 18 on 15 September alone.  Juveniles are more frequently seen than adults.

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

Arctic Skua - 1994

Passage migrant. Not recorded in February and March

Mathew (1894) recorded just one Arctic Skua, but Lockley et al. (1949) commented that they were occasionally seen off Skokholm and Grassholm, usually in August and September, sometimes in May and June. This pattern continued to be recorded, but with autumn occurrences proving to be annual. Records never involved more than four birds on any occasion until ten were seen passing Strumble Head on 11 September 1971 and 50 on 8 September 1974. Saunders (1976) concluded that the number recorded was limited by the "meagre amount of observation carried out from our headlands like Strumble and St David's". Subsequent regular and frequent watching at Strumble Head has fully confirmed this view (see Table 13).

There is a north to south passage out of the Irish Sea in the autumn, from mid-July to 20 November, up to ten per day being a typical tally for Strumble Head. However, south-west gales can bring larger numbers to Cardigan Bay. These birds fly out past Strumble Head when the wind veers round north of west, and 30-70 in a day can be seen in such conditions, with 103 passing on 3 September 1983. Like the Pomarine Skua the majority pass out to sea once clear of the Bishops but small numbers, up to six per occasion, occur along the west coast between Skokholm and Grassholm with up to ten in a day further out at the Smalls. A few wanderers turn in to explore the south coast and have even been known to enter the Cleddau Estuary.

Spring passage is small in volume, when one or two can be detected off any of the coasts between 9 April and June or early July, the late birds possibly being non-breeders.

One was seen at Strumble Head on 15 January 1984 and on 20 December 1991.

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

Pomarine Skua - 1994

Passage migrant. Not recorded in January and March

Lockley et al. (1949) knew of only four birds having been recorded in Pembrokeshire, having cast doubt on Mathew's (1894) statement that it "is by far the commonest of the family upon our coasts and a few are to be seen every autumn".

One or two have been recorded in ten of the years between 1950 and 1979. Regular seawatching at Strumble Head has since given us a new perspective on their occurrences. Table 12 shows that Mathew was indeed correct, a few are seen every autumn, between 4 August and 30 November. On some days late in the period, such as 22 November 1985 when 22 passed, and 17 October 1991 when 97 were seen followed by 130 next day, they can also be the commonest of the skuas to occur.

Observations at the Smalls revealed that one or two passed on ten days in the autumn of 1982, on seven days in 1983 and four in 1984. The only other autumn occurences away from Strumble Head during the 1980s were of a single bird off Skokholm on 16 October 1987 and a total of 10 between 10 August and 22 September 1989.

In combination these records suggest that the path of Pomarine Skuas flying out of the Irish Sea is blocked by the north coast of Pembrokeshire, and they follow this until they can head out to sea again when clear of the Bishops, a few individuals thereafter wandering inshore.

Single Pomarine Skuas have been noted in most recent springs, between 8 April and 6 June, when they have not been confined to the north coast. A flock of five passed Skokholm on 27 May 1991.

Singles were noted at Strumble Head on 8 December 1985 and at the Smalls on 28 February 1983.

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