Cirl Bunting - 1994

Former resident, now a rare visitor

Mathew (1894) classed the Cirl Bunting as a rare occasional visitor noting there were specimens in the Stackpole Court collection with others recorded near Tenby, Solva and Dinas. Lockley et al. (1949) quoted breeding at Solva in 1895, which was recorded by H.W. Evans, whose notes show that up to three pairs nested annually until 1910. He also recorded four or five at Haverfordwest Railway Station in July 1925. Thereafter single birds were recorded at Solva in July 1925, at Dale in 1948 (Lockley et al.) and at Saundersfoot on 24 January 1952. A pair was seen near Broad Haven (north) on 13 November 1955 and singles were recorded at Newgale on 31 August 1958 and singing at Monkton on 5 and 6 June 1961. A flock of ten was at Gelliswick on 24 November 1963, and singles were seen at Trefwrdan Isaf and Nevem in early 1965, at Ramsey on 19 April 1965 and at Pentre Ifan on 2 June 1981.

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

Yellowhammer - 1994

Breeding resident

An extremely common resident according to Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949), the Yellowhammer still breeds throughout Pembrokeshire but is absent from deep woodland, the mountain tops and most offshore islands. The exception is Caldey, where there were four pairs in 1954 (Sage 1956), and the species is still present there (see map). In the absence of comprehensive census data, three small sample areas were surveyed during 1989 and singing males recorded. On this basis a density of 35-40 pairs per tetrad was estimated, and from the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988, this would suggest a probable county total of 14,000-15,000 pairs.

Yellowhammers form small flocks from about September onwards and although absent from large areas during the winter can be plentiful in some localities. One or two visit the islands in most years, with increasing frequency at Skomer, but less often than they did 20 years ago at Skokholm.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 107

Orange = breeding probable = 222

Yellow = breeding possible = 54

Total tetrads in which registered = 383 (80.1%)

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

Snow Bunting - 1994

Passage migrant and winter visitor. Not recorded in May, July and August

Mathew (1894) recorded Snow Buntings near Fishguard in 1859 and at the Smalls on 17 October 1884. Lockley et al. (1949) added records from Solva in October 1894 and February 1912, at Boulston in February 1911 and at St Ann's Head on 27 April 1914. They also noted that it was regular at Skokholm in October and November, but had only once been seen in the spring.

Nowadays one or two pass in spring, between 10 March and 27 April, though not annually. One was at Strumble Head on 5 June 1959.

They are regular autumn migrants, passing through coastal regions and the islands, occurring as far out as the Smalls. Groups of up to 12 have been recorded annually between 23 September and 18 November. At Strumble Head 14 birds were seen on 9 October 1983, and 17 birds were at Skokholm on 6 October 1961.

Up to 30 Snow Buntings have been found in the winter on the tops of the Preseli Mountains and they are probably regular, a challenge for birdwatchers to ascertain their true status there. Individual birds have also wintered on the coast at Fishguard Harbour several times during the 1980s, and at Strumble Head in 1984, while groups of five at St Ann's Head on 30 December 1984 and on Castle Martin ranges on 22 January 1985 may also have been wintering.

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

Lapland Bunting - 1994

Passage migrant. Not recorded in March, April and December

The first birds recorded in Wales were two at Skokholm from 5 to 12 September 1936, followed by another one on 10 May 1948 (Lockley et al. 1949). Subsequently small numbers of Lapland Buntings have been recorded passing through Pembrokeshire in most autumns, up to five at a time being noted between 2 September and 22 November at Skokholm and Skomer and less often at headlands, including Stackpole, \St David's and Strumble. At Strumble Head 26 birds,were seen on 5 October 1987 and again on 24 Septeruber 1988.

They have been noted on the islandthree times in May, once in June and July and twic_\e in August. The only winter records are of two at Skomer on 4 February 1962 and of a party of eight at Newport on 28 January 1976.

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

Blackburnian Warbler - 1994

Vagrant

The first occurrence of this North American species in Britain was at Skomer on 5 October 1961 (D.R. and S.M. Saunders). The record was submitted to BBRC which concluded it was "probably" this species. At that time many people were doubtful that small birds could cross the Atlantic unaided. There the matter lay until 1988 when the record was re-submitted, it having been established by then that passerines from North America regularly occur in the British Isles. Both BBRC and BOURC accepted it and the species was admitted to the British list in 1990 (Saunders and Saunders 1992).

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

Black-and-white Warbler - 1994

Vagrant

A North American species that has reached Britain on nine occasions (Colston et al 1991).  The record at Skomer on 10 September 1980 (M.Alexander) was the fifth British occurrence and the first, and so far only, one for Wales.

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

Hawfinch - 1994

Rare visitor. Not recorded in February and March

Mathew (1894) gave records of a pair at Leweston (undated), one at Llanstinian in the spring of 1854 and one at Slebech on 13 September 1889. Lockley et al. (1949) added one at Ramsey on 9 November 1896 and two shot at Stackpole in 1930. They have been recorded in just nine years since, all single birds, at Crowhill, Little Haven, Skokholm, Skomer and Trefeiddan, with two at Llanychaer in June 1971 and ten at Spittal on 15 July 1972. Scarce in Wales and confined to eastern counties (Hurford 1990) Hawfinches are shy and elusive and might be overlooked in the Pembrokeshire woodlands. Careful searching by ornithologists may well reveal the Hawfinch to be more frequent.

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

Bullfinch - 1994

Breeding resident

A common resident according to Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949), Bullfinches are generally distributed in Pembrokeshire, being absent only from open areas such as mountain tops, exposed headlands and offshore islands, although they have bred at Caldey since at least 1924 (Wintle 1924). Secretive in manner and difficult to census, the majority of records from the Breeding Birds Survey

of 1984-1988 refer to possible and probable breeding and they may have been missed in some areas. An estimate of 10-15 pairs per tetrad suggests a total of 4,000-5,000 breeding pairs.

The Bullfinch is generally regarded as sedentary, but there is at least some degree of mobility, for up to three at a time have reached Skomer on seven occasions. Groups of up to 12 sometimes gather at bird-cherries in the autumn and at least 30 were mixed with Chaffinches in stubble at Sandy Haven in January 1988.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 139

Orange = breeding probable = 73

Yellow = breeding possible = 127

Total tetrads in which registered = 339 (70.9%)

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

Scarlet Rosefinch - 1994

Rare visitor

Scarlet Rosefinches have been expanding their range in Europe for many years, reaching northern France by 1987 and first breeding in Britain in 1982 (Spencer 1993). They have been recorded in Pembrokeshire on 15 occasions since the first at Skokholm on 26 June 1949: ten times at Skokholm, twice at Skomer and once at Trecwn and at Newport. The Newport bird visited a garden bird-table from 26 December 1991 to 8 January 1992, being the first winter record for Britain, all others occurring between 3 May and 24 July, apart from one at Skokholm on 17 September 1974.

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

Common Crossbill - 1994

Erratic visitor, has bred

Mathew (1894) gives two records, at Angle in 1858 and at Stackpole in 1868. Lockley et al. (1949) added one at Skokholm on 5 July 1929.

Single Common Crossbills and groups of up to 18 have been recorded in 24 years since, most since 1950. They occur mainly at the coast or on the islands, the increase in frequency perhaps reflecting the spread of the species as a breeding bird elsewhere in Wales as post-World War II conifer plantations have matured. The majority of occurrences have been between 5 July and 17 November. Gatherings of about 50 at Pantmaenog Forest in November 1985 and 56 there on 6 November 1990 were both in years when continental Common Crossbills irrupted into Britain. Birds in the Preseli Mountains plantations were seen carrying nesting material in the early spring of 1991 and breeding was subsequently proven at Ty Rhyg and probably also occurred at Coed Glyn Aeron, Pantmaenog Forest and at Stackpole.

A few Common Crossbills occur on the islands and the coast during years when they irrupt into Britain from Europe.

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

Lesser Redpoll - 1994

Breeding resident and passage migrant

Mathew (1894) stated that the Redpoll was resident in small numbers and was a common winter visitor, while Lockley et al. (1949) recorded the Redpoll as a scarce resident in the east of the county, in semi-wooded and hilly country. The advent of conifer plantations has helped it to spread. It was first found breeding in conifers at Rosebush in 1969. Other plantations have since been colonised, though a few birds breed in other habitats, including parkland. From personal experience of most of the known breeding sites, an estimated 100 pairs were nesting in Pembrokeshire at the end of the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988.

Small numbers pass through coastal Pembrokeshire between 15 April and 10 June. Two stayed at Skokholm through June and July in 1981, and again from July to mid-November. One ringed at Skokholm in May 1962 was recovered in County Wicklow, Ireland, in January 1963.

Redpolls are normally sparse in Pembrokeshire during the winter, sometimes being found in association with Siskins; however, they were unusually widespread in the winter of 1990/91, with flocks of up to 50 recorded as late as 31 March.

        

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 8

Orange = breeding probable = 16

Yellow = breeding possible = 6

Total tetrads in which registered = 30 (6.3%)

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

Twite - 1994

Scarce visitor

The first recorded Twite in Pembrokeshire was at Haverfordwest in December 1925, followed by another at Skokholm on 8 April 1933 (Lockley et al. 1949). Up to seven at a time have since been recorded at Caldey, Dale Airfield, Goodwick Moor, Martin's Haven, Ramsey, St David's, the Smalls, Skokholm, Skomer and Strumble Head, with an exceptional flock of 19 seen at the Gann on 28 December 1981 at the beginning of a cold spell. Although recorded in all months the majority were between September and December.

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