Grey Phalarope - 1994

Passage migrant. Not recorded from April to July

"For many years hardly an autumn has passed without this pretty species being detected on our coasts" wrote Mathew (1894), who also noted that Grey Phalaropes were numerous at Tenby in the autumn of 1893 and that gales sometimes blew them inland. Lockley et al. (1949) added just six further records of single birds at Loveston, Narberth, Haverfordwest and Pembroke.

Grey Phalaropes have been recorded in 25 of the 43 years since and in every year since 1981 as more observers have been active. Nearly 90% of the records fall in the period 2 August to 29 November, half of them in September. Most sightings are of up to five birds at localities ranging from coastal pools and estuaries to headlands and islands. They have also been seen from passing shipping. Up to 17 phalaropes were seen off Skokholm and 227 off the Smalls between 18 and 29 September 1960, all those seen closely enough proving to be Greys, during a period when there was a large incursion into the Western Approaches (Ferguson-Lees and Williamson 1960).

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

Red-necked Phalarope - 1994

Rare visitor

Singles have been recorded at St Twynell's in c.1900, at St Govan's Head on 19 September 1950, at the Gann on 16 September 1957 and at Haroldston West on 4 and 5 October 1983. Occasionally phalaropes have been seen flying past Strumble Head which were thought to be Red-necked but did not permit diagnostic views.

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

Turnstone - 1994

Largely a winter visitor and passage migrant

Mathew (1894) only recorded Turnstones as rare autumn visitors with no spring records, though by 1949 Lockley et al. (1949) noted its occurrence throughout the year with the smallest numbers, usually immature birds, in mid-summer.

Some Turnstones are present in coastal Pembrokeshire throughout the year. The bulk arrive between August and October, when small parties are seen passing south off Strumble Head, and most depart between late March and May, a few immatures remaining during the summer.

They inhabit weed-strewn rocky areas around the coast, beaches including Wiseman's Bridge, Freshwater West, Broad Haven (north) and Abermawr, and all of the islands as far out as the Smalls. Being easily overlooked it is impossible to be certain about total numbers present but probably 250 are spread around the outer coastline in an average winter, with a further 100 on the combined estuaries of the Nevern and Cleddau.

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

Spotted Sandpiper - 1994

Rare visitor

A bird at Bosherston Pools from 5 October to 2 November 1980 (J.W.Donovan et al) was difficult to locate as it disappeared beneath overhanging tree roots while picking its way along the shore.

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

Common Sandpiper - 1994

Passage migrant and winter visitor, formerly bred

Mathew (1894) stated that Common Sandpipers bred near Maenclochog. Lockley et al. (1949) chose not to admit this record and there have been no breeding records in Pembrokeshire since.

Autumn passage commences as early as 19 June and continues to mid-October, with a late group of 11 on the Cleddau Estuary on 11 November 1984. Small parties of up to 13 occur on all estuaries, on coastal pools, rocky shores, offshore islands and inland ponds and streams.

Up to four winter on the Cleddau Estuary each year, most consistently at Westfield Pill. One wintered on the Nevem Estuary in 1968 and one was seen at St Bride's Haven on 26 January 1987.

Spring passage is smaller than that of the autumn, with groups of up to five stopping off briefly between 5 April and 24 May and seen in similar areas.

They have been heard passing over the county at night and have been seen during lighthouse attractions at the Smalls and South Bishop.

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

Wood Sandpiper - 1994

Scarce passage migrant

Mathew (1894) recorded a Wood Sandpiper at Stone Hall (Welsh Hook) in spring, the next being reported in 1955 when single birds were seen at Skokholm from 10-20 August and at Little Milford on 11 August.

Since then it has proved to be a scarce migrant more frequently seen in the autumn than the spring, having been recorded in 22 autumns and 11 springs. No more than two have occurred, between 17 April and 5 June and between 2 July and 8 October. Most records are from coastal areas, mainly Skokholm, Skomer and the Gann, but inland occurrences have been noted at Hilton Court, Croesgoch, Stone Hall, Rosebush reservoir, Letterston and Ffynnonnau.

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

Green Sandpiper - 1994

Passage migrant and winter visitor

Mathew (1894) considered the Green Sandpiper to be a fairly common autumn visitor although Lockley et al. (1949) listed only eight autumn occurrences. It is now a regular autumn passage migrant, up to seven occurring on small ponds, farm slurry lagoons and streams throughout the county, including those on the offshore islands, and along the pills of the estuaries, passing between 4 July and 23 November.

Mathew also remarked that Green Sandpipers "not infrequently" wintered in Pembrokeshire and Lockley (1961) noted they were "regular but not common winter visitors" to the south-west peninsula. One or two are still found wintering on or near the Cleddau Estuary, most regularly at Westfield Pill and around the Carew/Cresswell Rivers area, but none have been recorded further inland.

There is a sparse spring passage when one or two Green Sandpipers are seen in coastal areas between 11 April and 22 May, but not in every year.

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

Lesser Yellowlegs - 1994

Rare visitor

Single birds have been seen at Skokholm on 9 and 10 October 1961 (D. Glanville), at Skomer on 7 August 1969 (P. Corkhill) and at Bosherston Pools from 7 to 25 October 1984 (R.J. Haycock, D. Little et al.). Any future creation of freshmarsh could well encourage vagrant waders to stay longer and might reveal that they are more frequent than the current detection rate suggests.

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

Greenshank - 1994

Winter visitor and passage migrant

The Greenshank was classified by Mathew (1894) as an occasional autumn visitor and by Lockley et al. (1949) as a regular autumn and winter visitor.

Migrant Greenshanks pass through Pembrokeshire regularly from July to October when up to five are seen at coastal localities, including the Teifi, Nevern and Cleddau estuaries, with occasional larger numbers such as 35 at Hook in August 1984 and 60 at the Gann in September 1969. They are sometimes seen passing headlands and stopping at the offshore islands, including Grassholm and the Smalls, and are heard passing over the county at night. There has been just one record at an inland water, on a small pool near Hayscastle on 7 and 8 September 1989.

On average about 25 Greenshanks winter on the Cleddau Estuary, where they arrive from mid- July (occasionally from late June) and depart from March to early April, which suggests that these birds probably breed in Scotland. Six birds were at Frainslake in January and February 1985.

They are less numerous in spring than in autumn, with up to three appearing on the offshore islands and coastal pools, such as the Gann, from May to early June.

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

Spotted Redshank - 1994

Passage migrant and winter visitor

The Spotted Redshank was listed as a rare autumn visitor by Mathew (1894). Lockley et al. (1949) added four further records. Increased observer activity since the 1950s has revealed it to be an annual passage migrant in the autumn, with up to three at various coastal localities between 18 July and 12 October, and an exceptional 27 at Hook on 12 October 1978. Less regular in the spring, up to five have been recorded between 4 April and 20 June, but not in every year.

Variable numbers, usually between six and twelve, winter on the Cleddau Estuary, principally around Hook Reach. They arrive in August and September and depart in April.

Migrant Spotted Redshanks occasionally drop in at the pools on Skokholm and Skomer, are sometimes seen coasting past promontories and one was noted at a lighthouse attraction at Strumble Head in September 1985.

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

Upland Sandpiper - 1994

Vagrant

Single birds have been seen at Skokholm on 18 October 1960 (K.Smith), at Skomer on 19 and 20 October 1961 (D.R.Saunders) and at Dale airfield on 1 September 1975 (J.W.Donovan), the latter bird being uncharacteristically very wary, requiring considerable persistence to confirm its identity.

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

Whimbrel - 1994

Passage migrant

Mathew (1894) noted the Whimbrel as a passing migrant seen on the coast in May and again in September, and Lockley et al. (1949) described it as "a regular and sometimes abundant passage migrant in spring and autumn".

It is now a frequent visible diurnal migrant, but also passes at night, when it can be heard calling over most parts of the county, and has been seen at lighthouse attractions at the Smalls, South Bishop and Strumble Head.

Spring passage normally begins in mid-April, with advanced birds from 17 March in some years, and continues into June, with a latest record of 23 June. Groups of up to 30 (or even up to 80 in many years) stop off in coastal areas, the saltings of the Cleddau Estuary being particularly favoured, but groups can also be seen on the offshore islands, in coastal fields and around the whole of the rocky outer coast, where small crabs are an important food source, and can be seen passing northwards offshore, with fewer recorded inland. A similar pattern pertains in the autumn from 8 July to 24 October, numbers being similar to spring passage, though a maximum gathering of 110 was at Skokholm on 22 August 1948.

Single Whimbrels were recorded at Skokholm, Martin's Haven, Sandy Haven Pill and Nevern Estuary during the winters of 1962, 1968, 1982 and 1992. One found on Skokholm when the island was reoccupied on 3 March 1971 may also have wintered. A migrant ringed on Skokholm in August 1967 was recovered in Finland in June 1969.

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