Red-footed Falcon - 1994

Vagrant

Mathew (1894) recorded two seen near Cuffem on 5 May 1887 and an undated "example obtained" at Tregwnt. Lockley et al. (1949) did not admit these though no reason was given. Singles have been seen near Solva from 6 to 16 October 1972, at Skokholm on 27 May 1975 and (presumably the same bird) at St Ann's Head on 28 May 1975, with a different bird on Skomer from 8 to 11 June 1975, again at Skomer on 20 May 1989 and at Bosherston Pools on 2 June 1992.

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

Kestrel - 1994

Breeding resident

Both Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) noted the Kestrel as a common resident. In 1920 Lloyd stated that it was not so common in Pembrokeshire as the Buzzard, of which there were probably about 100 pairs at that time. Pembrokeshire has changed considerably since then, post-war agricultural activities having eradicated much of the rough ground. Breeding Kestrels are now confined to the less intensively farmed areas, the offshore islands and coastal strip, the Preseli Mountains, industrial sites and remnant bogs and moors. We estimate the total breeding population to be about 50 pairs.

They are more widespread in the winter. There is no hard evidence that our Kestrels are migratory though they have wandered as far out to sea as the Smalls. Up to 30 gathered on Skomer in September 1986.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 26

Orange = breeding probable = 30

Yellow = breeding possible = 100

Total tetrads in which registered = 156 (32.6%)

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

Osprey - 1994

Occasional visitor. Not recorded from November to February

Not recorded by Mathew (1894) but Lockley et al. (1949) knew of two occurrences, on the Pembroke River in 1904 and again in September 1931. Ospreys have been reported on about 23 occasions since 1966, mostly between July and early October but also once in March, three times in May and once in June. Most records refer to single birds passing along the coast or over the islands but some have stayed awhile about the Cleddau Estuary, where they are attracted by shoals of grey mullet. Frequency of occurrence in Pembrokeshire has increased as the Scottish breeding population has increased (see Table 5).

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

Golden Eagle - 1994

Introduced

Two kept captive on Skomer by the Neale family were released in 1915. One was shot when visiting the nearby mainland. The other .remained on the island before moving to Ramsey in 1928 where it was eventually shot in March 1932. Another, from London Zoo, was released on Ramsey in June 1929, in an effort to encourage breeding, but was found drowned in Ramsey Sound on 9 October 1929.

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

Rough-legged Buzzard - 1994

Rare visitor. Not recorded from April to July

The bird was first recorded at St Bride's in October 1899. Subsequently a total of 11 birds have occurred in nine years, mostly between 18 September and 9 November, in coastal areas ranging from St David's to Lydstep including the islands of Skokholm and Skomer. Exceptions have been one at Porth Iddy on 14 August 1955 and at Caldey from 5 to 11 January 1975. One on Skomer on 22 October 1962 was still there when the island was vacated on 4 November and probably overwintered, since it was again present when the island was reoccupied on 24 February 1963, remaining until 2 March.

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

Buzzard - 1994

Breeding resident

Only half a dozen pairs were known to Mathew (1894) but Lockley et al. (1949) estimated "probably not less than 120 pairs" were breeding, an increase that occurred throughout the Buzzard's range in the post 1914-1918 War period (Moore 1957). They have continued to increase since and in 1954 Skomer, with seven or eight pairs on 722 acres, had the greatest numbers of Buzzards per square mile recorded in Britain (Moore 1957). It is estimated that 250 pairs were breeding in the county during the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988.

In Pembrokeshire, Buzzards nest mainly in trees; in the most open terrain nests can be as little as 1.5 metres from the ground in low hawthorns. Cliff ledges are used around the outer coast and on the larger islands. The breeding distribution is broadly uniform across the county but there are concentrations in heavily wooded valleys such as the Gwaun and Treffgame.

The reduction in rabbit numbers caused by the introduction of myxomatosis from 1952 to 1954 initially caused widespread breeding failure among Buzzards. For example, they almost disappeared from the south-west peninsula in 1955 when along 30 km of coastline on the St David's peninsula, including Ramsey, there were no successful nests. The Skomer population declined to two pairs but quickly recovered to four or five pairs (Davis and Saunders 1965) and has remained largely at that level subsequently. Clutch size has also reduced with one, occasionally two, eggs now being normal whereas three was not uncommon formerly.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 156

Orange = breeding probable = 79

Yellow = breeding possible = 170

Total tetrads in which registered = 405 (84.7%)

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

Sparrowhawk - 1994

Breeding resident

The Sparrowhawk has always been a common resident according to both Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949). Landowners waged ineffective war against them, Lloyd noting a gibbet at Slebech with ten corpses strung on it in September 1930. The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 indicated that it remains widespread, though confirmed breeding records are few since the nests are notoriously difficult to locate. Judging from well-watched areas, the average density is two to four pairs per tetrad and hence the county total would be about 500 to 1,000 pairs. All the nests recorded were in trees, those in the most open terrain being placed in low willows and hawthorns. Sparrowhawks have nested on Caldey (1984), and Ramsey (Saunders 1976), but have only been recorded as visitors to offshore islands in recent times.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 37

Orange = breeding probable = 36

Yellow = breeding possible = 185

Total tetrads in which registered = 258 (54%)

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

Goshawk - 1994

Status unclear

The first record for the Goshawk was a male seen along the Preseli ridge on 12 September 1964 (J.W. Donovan, T.A.W. Davis). It was seen again in 1973 and bred successfully in 1976. Pairs were seen displaying at two sites during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a juvenile at the Gann on 21 August 1981 perhaps indicating successful breeding. One of the adults was known to have been released but the pair disappeared after 1984. A few wandering Goshawks have since been noted at inland and coastal areas, including the island of Skokholm. The Welsh population has been steadily growing for some years and by 1991 is likely to have been in excess of 100 pairs, the nearest in Carmarthensh ire and Ceridigion, so future colonisation of Pembrokeshire is probable.

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

Montagu's Harrier - 1994

Passage migrant

Montagu's Harriers formerly bred in four main areas in Pembrokeshire, in the south broadly between Tenby and Castle Martin Corse, around Leweston, in the St David's area and in the Preseli Mountains, but they have not done so since 1962, or possibly 1968. All records were from moorland or marshy habitat and probably involved a maximum of five pairs.

The Montagu's Harrier is now an annual migrant more frequently seen in the spring, from 12 April to 10 June, than in the autumn, from 12 July to 22 October. It has been recorded in 18 of the last 24 years at localities ranging from the offshore islands across most coastal areas to the Preseli Mountains. A juvenile wintered on Skomer in 1988-1989.

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

Hen Harrier - 1994

Winter visitor. Not recorded from June to August

The breeding records noted by Mathew (1894) were discounted by Lockley et al. (1949) as probably referring to Montagu's Harrier. Even in winter they were becoming scarcer by 1894. By 1949 the species was classified as a "regular but very scarce autumn and winter visitor" (Lockley et al. 1949). Saunders (1976) remarked that Hen Harriers had "increased considerably during the past twenty years".

They usually arrive in October and November, and they depart in March and April with stragglers recorded until the end of May. They range widely across the county during the winter but are scarce south of the Cleddau Estuary and in the eastern Marches. They hunt across most of the coastal plain, including the larger offshore islands, as far east as the Preseli Mountains. The males tend to use the agricultural areas more than the females. Roosts have been located at Plumston, Puncheston, Pantmaenog, Mullock Bridge, Marloes Mere and Dowrog—Tretio. Most roosts contain two or three birds but Dowrog—Tretio usually attracts between six and eight and up to 14 have been seen gathering there. Distinctively marked Hen Harriers occur some years and tracing their movements has shown that birds roosting at Dowrog—Tretio can range as far afield as Martin's Haven. It is not known whether there is any interchange of individuals between roosts.

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

Marsh Harrier - 1994

Passage migrant and occasional winter visitor

This former common resident had by the late 1800s become only a rare visitor (Mathew 1894). Lockley et al. (1949) noted records from the Preseli Mountains and Dowrog. Since then, Marsh Harriers have been recorded in 25 of the 37 years from 1950 to 1987. Single birds wintered near St David's in 1954/55 and at Dowrog in 1982/83, all other records referring to passage birds, with singles occurring from 3 April to 14 June and from 3 August to 28 November. Most records are from coastal areas such as Freshwater East, Marloes Mere, Skokholm, Skomer, Ramsey, Trefeiddan, Llanwnda and Teifi Marshes, but they have been seen inland at Thornton, Jordanston and Loveston. One seen departing from Marloes Mere in May 1987 flew eastwards, steadily climbing, and at a great height was lost to telescope view.

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

Red Kite - 1994

Scarce visitor

Once a common resident but by Mathew's (1894) time had become a rare occasional visitor. Lockley et al. (1949) added one record, a bird on the north side of Preseli Top on 17 April 1947. It occurs more frequently now, one or more being seen most years, usually appearing in the late autumn with subsequent winter records, and for the last three years staying into the summer.

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