Eider - 1994

Winter visitor and possible breeder

Mathew (1894) mentioned single birds at Stackpole (undated) and at Dale on 18 January 1891, and Lockley et al. (1949) could add no others. Eiders have appeared with increasing frequency since 1952, when four were at Dale during the second half of November. A few records refer to the Cleddau Estuary, the majority to the outer coast. Groups of up to eight settle in St Bride's Bay in most winters, where they are most frequently seen at Newgale, and others have been seen off the south coast between Saundersfoot and Flimston, which probably come from the resident flock at Whiteford Point (West Glamorgan). The maximum gathering recorded in Pembrokeshire was of about 30 off the Green Bridge on 26 April 1984. Autumn birds seen in transit off Strumble Head may have originated in Ireland and include most of the adult males recorded.

It was suspected that Eiders attempted to breed at Caldey Island in the early 1980s, and a flightless group seen at St Govan's Head in mid-July 1983 was probably a brood.

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

Scaup - 1994

Winter visitor and passage migrant. Not recorded in May

Mathew (1894) considered the Scaup to be a common visitor that could be encountered offshore in "huge flocks". Lockley et al. (1949) also considered it a common winter visitor, chiefly to Milford Haven, and stated that it was frequent at Orielton where up to 20 were seen at a time. The implication is that Scaup were no longer to be found in huge flocks offshore. Lloyd only encountered Scaup once during his extensive wanderings in Pembrokeshire during the 1920s and 1930s, recording three at Fishguard Harbour on 24 April 1935.

Up to 30 migrating Scaup per annum have been seen passing Strumble Head during October and November in eight of the last ten years. The bulk of winter records fall into the period from December to March. The average number reported in any one winter between 1949 and 1984 was just four birds, with an exceptional 13 in 1968. They became slightly more common and widespread during the cold spells of the 1980s, with an average of 50 birds per year, maximum gatherings being 28 at Amroth in February of 1986 and 1991 and at Newgale in December 1988. Most recent winter records are from St Bride's Bay, the Amroth—Saundersfoot area of Carmarthen Bay and in the outer Cleddau Estuary between Llanstadwell and Dale. They have also turned up at fresh water sites, most frequently at Bosherston Pools but occasionally at Llysyfran reservoir, Jordanston Pools and Marloes Mere

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

Tufted Duck - 1994

Winter visitor and passage migrant.

Mathew (1894) described the Tufted Duck as a common winter visitor, being occasionally met with on inland ponds but in "great numbers diving in the shallows of Goodwick Bay". Goodwick Bay would appear not to be typical habitat for Tufted Ducks and it may be that Mathew encountered them there during a cold spell, when they had been temporarily frozen off fresh waters. Bertram Lloyd did not see any on winter visits during 1925-1937, nor do they normally occur there nowadays. Lockley et al. (1949) considered Orielton to be the principal locality for the species with up to 150 recorded.

Although Mathew commented that they "may occasionally remain to breed" Lockley et al. found no evidence of breeding but did note that a pair once summered at Orielton. Lloyd found a summering male at Penally and males have summered at Bosherston Pools in recent years. The only possible evidence of breeding has been of a pair behaving as if with young in cover seen at Treginnis in June 1988. The young hatched near Dale in 1992 were the result of union between a wild bird and a captive one.

Small numbers pass Strumble Head each year between August and October but do not

build up on Pembrokeshire waters until November, peaking in January and February. They are thinly distributed across fresh waters of the county, such as Pen Beri and Hasguard Hall reservoirs. In the mainly mild winters that prevail in Pembrokeshire up to ten birds were seen at each locality, but with up to 26 at Pembroke Mill Pond, their principal location. Larger gatherings occur during cold spells when up to 40 have been seen at Bicton, 58 at Pembroke Mill Pond, 60 at Bosherston Pools and 105 at Llysyfran reservoir. Numbers also increase on the smaller waters at such times, for example up to 22 at Jordanston Pools, 28 at Heathfield gravel pits and 33 at Anchor Hoetan. Most have departed by the end of April, though May records are not uncommon.

From 1935 to 1946 186 Tufted Ducks were ringed at the Orielton Decoy. Recoveries show that some originated from Russian breeding grounds as far east as the Pechora River, and that some passed through the Baltic states and Holland from September to December, either to return to winter quarters in Pembrokeshire or else to pause here before continuing to Ireland and France.

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

Ferruginous Duck - 1994

Rare visitor

Single birds have been seen at: Pembroke on 28 December 1900, Orielton Decoy on 4 February 1937 (Lockley et al. 1949), and Bosherston Pools from 8 November to end December 1978, 8 to 25 November 1982 and 17 November 1986.

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

Ring-necked Duck - 1994

Vagrant

The first records were of single birds at Bosherston Pools on 12 February and 8 March 1967 (J.W. Donovan et al.); further singles were seen here on 28 March-2 April 1976, 29 November 1977—5 February 1978 and 9 October-18 December 1981, at Llysyfran reservoir on 15 September 1978, at Skokholm on 12 October 1986 and at Haven's Head Pool from 23 to 25 April 1991.

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

Pochard - 1994

Winter visitor and passage migrant, has bred

Mathew (1894) considered the Pochard to be a not uncommon winter visitor but cites only a few scattered records. Mackworth Praed (1946) noted that it had decreased at Orielton, not more than 30 using the lake although formerly it had occurred in dozens. Lockley et al. (1949) regarded it as regular on the upper reaches of the Cleddau Estuary and occasional at Orielton. Saunders (1976) considered the species to be a winter visitor in small numbers but also noted a gathering of 80 at the newly constructed Llysyfran reservoir.

A pair bred at Orielton in 1959 and this remains the sole breeding record for Pembrokeshire.

Small numbers, up to ten at a time, pass off Strumble Head between August and November with a corresponding build-up in the county which peaks between late November and December, with influxes sometimes occurring in cold spells in January and February. Many farm irrigation reservoirs have been constructed in the potato growing areas of Pembrokeshire in recent years and these have become attractive to Pochards. Small parties of up to ten can be found scattered across such waters throughout the winter. Most of the larger waters in the county regularly attract Pochards, additional birds arriving to join them during cold spells. The largest gatherings noted have been 89 at Bicton, 327 at Llysyfran reservoir and 462 at Bosherston Pools.

Departure is mainly in March though occasional birds can linger, and an injured male has summered at Bosherston Pools for several years.

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

Red-crested Pochard

Vagrant

Mathew (1894) records a duck shot at Stackpole (no date). This was lodged in the British Museum , which states it is a male presented by Earl Cawdor, is undated and was from Milford Haven (P. Colston pers. comm.). A female was at Bosherston Pools from 9-20 September 1982 (J.W. Donovan et al.).

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

Shoveler - 1994

Winter visitor and sparse breeder

Mathew (1894) regarded the Shoveler as being "not very common". Mackworth Praed (1946) writing about Orielton decoy stated that the Shoveler was comparatively rare before 1914 but "now 100 pairs is a very normal count" while Lockley et al. described it as a "not very numerous winter visitor" but regular at Orielton. Lockley (1956) noted that unusual numbers of Shovelers visited Orielton in December 1955, with at least 300 there on 28 December, the largest gathering recorded in the county. Subsequently it has remained a scarce winter visitor, the only locality used with great regularity being Marloes Mere. At this site they are difficult to count because of the extensive cover, but up to 50 are seen most winters. The islands of Skokholm and Skomer and the pond at Trefeiddan Pool are used as staging posts during the spring departure. Up to six have occurred erratically elsewhere in the county, mostly near the coast at localities such as Dowrog, Bosherston Pools and the Cleddau Estuary.

Lockley et al. (1949) list Angle, Castle Martin Corse, Dowrog and St David's as breeding localities. Breeding was suspected at several sites during the 1970s. Saunders (1976) classified the Shoveler as a casual breeder and notes that "there have been several reports of breeding in the south of the county". They were proved to be breeding at Skokholm and at Marloes Mere during the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988, at Skokholm in 1991 and 1992 and at Skomer in 1989, 1990 and 1992.

Ringing recoveries from Orielton have shown that some of our winter Shovelers come from breeding grounds such as the Volga and Petchora rivers on the western Siberian Plain.

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

Blue-winged Teal - 1994

Vagrant

A female was at Skokholm on 17 September 1960  (K. Smith), a likely date fora transatlantic vagrant though the possibility of it being an escape from a collection cannot be ruled out.

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

Garganey - 1994

Passage migrant. Not recorded in November or December

Mathew (1894) described the Garganey as an annual summer visitor, while Lockley et al. ( 1949 ) provide four additional records of 10 birds.

It is now almost annual in occurrence, up to six usually occurring on fresh waters near the coast, such as Trefeiddan and Marloes Mere, between March and June, less regularly from July to October. There are three records for February and one of four birds together in Dale Roads on 10 January 1968.

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

Pintail - 1994

Winter visitor and passage migrant. Has bred

The status of the Pintail in Pembrokeshire has varied considerably. Mathew (1894) records many killed on Goodwick Moor but only 28 taken at Orielton decoy between 1877 and 1885. Lloyd encountered the species only once between 1925 and 1936 while Lockley et al. (1949) considered it to be a scarce but regular winter visitor principally to Orielton, where up to 50 were recorded. Mackworth Praed (1946) noted that 100 was regarded as normal at Orielton, and this remains the maximum recorded for Pembrokeshire. The Pintail has been scarce since, with up to ten being noted in most years but with some exceptions: 50 at Angle Bay on 27 December 1961, 20 at Castle Reach on 22 February 1963, up to 32 in Sprinkle Pill from 1972 to 1976, and about 23 wandering around the lower Cleddau Estuary and adjacent waters during the cold spell of early 1987.

A small passage has been noted off Strumble Head in September to November, the largest flock being 36 on 31 October 1990, during which period they have also been noted crossing St Bride's Bay, some stopping off on the islands. Lockley et al. (1949) noted that Pintails sometimes stopped off on the islands in spring and this became a regular feature during the 1980s, culminating in breeding on Skomer with two broods seen in 1988 and continued nesting to the present time, with little success, possibly due to gull predation.

Our interpretation of the overall record is that small parties normally pass through the county, occasionally accumulating when they encounter favourable conditions, otherwise passing on. The Orielton ringing recoveries, from 195 ringed between 1937 and 1946, are consistent with this, showing that birds from west Siberia, Finland and Germany reach Pembrokeshire and that some pass on to south Wales, Ireland and France.

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

Mallard - 1994

Breeding resident, passage migrant and winter visitor

This is the bird that Mathew (1894) knew as the Wild Duck, and it has probably not changed its status to any degree over the past 100 years or so. Lockley et al. (1949) described it as a common resident and winter visitor.

The Mallard breeds throughout Pembrokeshire, in a range of habitats including the islands. A breeding population of some 400 nests may well be an underestimate as the birds are inconspicuous until the broods are out and then not always seen. The total post-breeding population is augmented by reared birds released by wildfowlers, numbers of releases varying from year to year. The Mallard remains widespread outside the breeding season but groups of 100-500 concentrate at favoured localities, such as the Cleddau Estuary, Pembroke Mill Ponds, Bosherston Pools, Pentood Marshes, Marloes Mere, Nevem Estuary and less regularly at other spots. Shifts in distribution are frequent and often sudden, making this a difficult species to assess. Cross breeds with domestic ducks are not infrequent and pure white birds seem to occur naturally among otherwise normal broods. Keeping track of some of these distinctively marked birds illustrates their mobility between localities. Up to 1,500 Mallards normally winter in the county with an exceptional gathering of about 1,500 on Skomer on 23 October 1981, which probably included passage migrants. Peak numbers occur between October and January.

There are fewer recoveries of Mallards ringed at Orielton than for Wigeon or Teal (see above); those which there are mostly relate to passage periods but a breeding season return came from Korelia in north-west Russia. They pass on through the county to Ireland and France and do not necessarily return to Pembrokeshire in the years after ringing, when they occur in other parts of Wales and in England. There is little evidence of diurnal migration.

 

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 98

Orange = breeding probable = 19

Yellow = breeding possible = 66

Total tetrads in which registered = 183 (38.3%)

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