Little Shearwater - 1994

Vagrant

A Little Shearwater occupied a burrow on Skomer from June to August in both 1981 and 1982. It was identified as a male by its voice, and it brought nesting material to its burrow but apparently failed to attract a mate (James and Alexander 1984). Singles passed Strumble Head on 27 September 1982, 16 October 1983, 21 September 1984, 5 November 1989 and 7 October 1990, with two on 7 October 1988.

The Strumble Head series of records, coupled with others off southern Ireland, suggest visits to the area are sufficiently frequent for colonisation of the islands to be a possibility, Skomer evidently being suitable for nesting.

Manx Shearwater - 1994

Numerous breeding summer visitor. Recorded in all months

The Manx Shearwater figures as the emblem of the Dyfed Wildlife Trust, an appropriate choice since internationally important numbers of the bird breed on its island reserves of Skomer (estimated 95,000 pairs in 1971 and 165,000 pairs in 1989) and Skokholm (35,000 pairs estimated in 1973). Small colonies also occupy Middleholm and North Bishop. Large numbers probably bred on Ramsey prior to the invasion of the island by brown rats, which is estimated to have taken place in around 1800 (Saunders, 1986). However, by the end of the nineteenth century numbers had greatly reduced, and Mathew (1894) could only suggest that "a few may breed". No definite breeding records on Ramsey have been traced for subsequent years until R. Pratt's record of 200 pairs in 1975 and the RSPB estimate of 300-400 pairs in 1992. In the past, Manx Shearwaters also bred on Caldey and perhaps St Margaret's Island (Mathew 1894).

Manx Shearwaters return to the breeding colonies in late February and depart from late August, some young not leaving until well into October. They visit the nesting burrows only at night, a stratagem which limits the effects of predation by gulls.

They use all the sea areas around the county for feeding, particularly the southern Celtic Deep, increasing numbers penetrating further northwards as the season progresses. Varying numbers also use the Bristol Channel, sometimes following fish shoals as far upstream as the Severn Bridge. Large processions can be seen passing our headlands each evening as they head for the island colonies, assembling in rafts on the water to the seaward side to await nightfall before moving ashore.

A few remain in local waters throughout the winter but the majority cross the Atlantic to winter off the coast of South America, where they are found mainly between latitiudes 20°S and 30°S until December. Return passage may be by way of the west African coast and certainly through the Bay of Biscay. Some first and second year birds summer off Newfoundland and Nova Scotia while others return to their natal colonies, and also visit colonies elsewhere in the Irish Sea and possibly Scotland. Extreme ringing recoveries include a Skokholm­bred bird that wandered as far as South Australia by the beginning of its second year, and an eight- year old in Norwegian waters during May.

Some fledglings wander inland when they leave the colonies, with onshore gales blowing many into the Cleddau Estuary and beyond, sometimes as far as eastern England. The gales also result in passages of thousands off Strumble Head. Many of these could have drifted downwind into the Irish Sea to beat back out to regain their 'ground' but it is highly likely that some could be Scottish birds passing southwards through the Irish Sea.

Fieldwork 1984-88

Red = breeding confirmed

Orange = breeding probable

Yellow = breeding possible

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

Mediterranean Shearwater - 1994

Regular visitor. Not recorded in February and March

This bird was not recorded by Mathew (1894) or Lockley et al. (1949), but one was collected in Pembrokeshire in September 1900 and is in a museum at Harvard, USA (per W.R.P. Bourne). It was next noted at the Smalls in July 1955, and in the 1960s and 1970s it became apparent that the species was a regular visitor in small numbers, up to five at a time, during the months July to October. Most observations came from Skokholm where the principal watching effort was concentrated at the time.

Regular and frequent watching from Strumble Head during the 1980s has shown that the Mediterranean Shearwater occurs in greater numbers than was previously thought, with a daily maximum of 26 on 8 October 1987, and that they appear as early as late June (with one record in April and in May) and a few stay on into the following January. These late birds are only seen inshore during onshore gales suggesting that in calmer weather they would be feeding out of sight of land. Some confirmation of this was obtained when regular observations at the Smalls in 1983 and 1984 provided December and January sightings

Sooty Shearwater - 1994

Regular autumn passage migrant. Has not been recorded in February, June or November.

This bird was not mentioned by Mathew (1894), but Lockley et al. (1949) regarded it as fairly regular during the early part of September, and Saunders (1976) assessed it as annual in its occurrence off the coast in extremely small numbers. The records for the 1950s to 1970s are predominantly from the Skokholm area and average three birds per autumn, with a maximum of six in 1970 and 1971.

Regular and frequent observation from Strumble Head during the 1980s has shown that far more than this pass southwards each autumn, an average of 81 per year being seen between 1983 and 1987. This figure excludes sharp daily peaks in passage occurring after south­west gales, when Sooty Shearwaters were presumably diverted downwind into Cardigan Bay but beat back out to sea in procession when the wind veered to north of west. Greater numbers pass Strumble Head in such circumstances, 237 on 1 September 1985 and 397 on 3 September 1983 being the largest counts. The passage period extends between 3 July and 30 October, but single birds have been seen off the Smalls on 22 March 1984 and off Strumble Head on 2 January 1988, 3 May 1982 and 23 December 1983, suggesting a few remain to winter in the northern hemisphere.

Great Shearwater - 1994

Near annual passage migrant

Mathew (1894) noted one probable occurrence and one or two were recorded at the Smalls on 3 September 1917. These records were reported by Lockley et al. (1949) who considered them unsatisfactory but gave no reasons for this judgement. One bird in Jack Sound on 15 August 1957 (C.M. Swaine) was therefore the first undisputed record for Pembrokeshire. Since then a total of 79 birds has been recorded from the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry, off Caldey, the Smalls, South Bishop and predominantly Strumble Head, where it has been seen in nine of the last ten years. Extreme dates are 14 July and 16 October, one to three birds making up most sightings. However, seven were at Strumble Head on 16 August 1990 and 23 together were seen from the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry on 15 September 1981.

Cory's Shearwater - 1994

Occasional visitor

The first to be recorded was seen about 20 km west of Strumble Head from the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry on 25 September 1965 (J.W. Donovan). Single birds have since been seen at the following locations: South Bishop on 22 February 1976; St Ann's Head on 12 June 1976; Skokholm on 17 August 1979, 6 and 15 August 1989; Strumble Head on 28 August 1981, 4 and 27 August and 2 September 1984, 12 August 1985, 13 and 20 August 1988, 29 August 1989 and 16 September 1990, with two there on 26 August 1981. Such occurrences suggest that we are on the fringe of their northward penetration of the East Atlantic.

Fulmar - 1994

Breeding resident

Mathew (1894) notes just one record, at Tenby in December 1890. Fulmars appeared at Flimston Stack Rocks and at Strumble Head in 1930, thereafter being seen prospecting the cliffs of the mainland and islands with increasing frequency (Lockley et al. 1949). Saunders (1976) dates the first egg found, near Flimston, at about 1940; another was seen on Skomer in 1949 and a chick hatched near Mathry in the same year (Fursdon 1950 ). Numbers had increased to 298 pairs occupying the cliffs of Pembrokeshire by 1969 (Operation Seafarer) and 1,409 pairs by the 1985-1987 Seabird Register survey. Colonies occur on all suitable cliffs with the largest on Skokholm (99 occupied sites in 1991), Ramsey (187 sites in 1992) and Skomer (742 sites in 1990).

Birds frequently visit cliff sites from November but do not normally lay until mid- to late May, the young fledging from August to early September. Adults move out to sea to moult following the fledging period, some becoming flightless. Normally only a few juveniles are seen inshore from mid-September to mid-October.

Violent south-west gales during the autumn and winter can drive Fulmars into the Irish Sea. When the wind veers to north of west they beat back past Strumble Head in impressive numbers, 1,000 on 1 September 1985 and 5,500 on 10 February 1988 being the highest totals recorded.

Dark morph, or 'Blue', Fulmars have been noted off Strumble Head between September and December and at Cemaes Head in August. They have also been seen in the vicinity of colonies at Dinas Head, Skomer and Skokholm in the breeding season, so the "dark phase chick, almost ready to fly" at Eastfield on 27 August 1960 (Davis 1960) might indicate that 'Blues' sometimes interbreed with our Pembrokeshire light morph birds.

 

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 71

Orange = breeding probable = 4

Total tetrads in which registered = 75 (15.7%)

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

Black-browed Albatross - 1994

One seen close inshore at Skokholm on 19 August 1990 (G. Thompson) and one seen from the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry, about 6 km off Strumble Head, on 17 September 1990 (C.W. Murphy) are the only accepted Pembrokeshire records of this southern hemisphere bird, though several others have been claimed. At least 26 have been recorded in British waters including a few which have summered at gannetries (Colston et al. 1991), something to bear in mind when visiting Grassholm.

Black-necked Grebe - 1994

Scarce and irregular winter visitor. Not recorded between April and July.

Mathew (1894) stated that the Black-necked Grebe had been obtained several times in the Pembroke River while Lockley et al. (1949) add a further three occurrences, all from the Cleddau Estuary. The species has been reported in ten years since, all between 30 September and 20 March, save for one in the Nevern Estuary on 28 August 1958. Sightings are usually of single birds, but two have been seen together on three occasions. Recorded from various parts of the Cleddau Estuary, Nevem Estuary, Newport Bay, Fishguard Harbour and St Bride's Bay.

Slavonian Grebe - 1994

Sparse winter visitor. Not recorded in June, August and September

Mathew (1984) stated that a few specimens occur every winter while Lockley et al. (1949) could add only six further records. Since the 1960s the Slavonian Grebe has become known as a regular winter visitor in small numbers. Records fall mainly between October and March but in some years one or two birds in summer plumage have stayed into April and May, with an isolated record of one in the Pembroke River on 30 July 1974. One or two occur right around the coast but it is most regularly seen in St Bride's Bay (up to four) and at Angle Bay (up to seven). It has occasionally been seen on fresh water at Trewellwell, Bosherston Pools, Llysyfran reservoir and Bicton.

Red-necked Grebe - 1994

Scarce winter visitor. Not recorded between May and August

Mathew (1894) noted "several examples" from Pembroke Mill Pond and Lockley et al.(1949) added four further records. A total of 46 have been noted since, extreme dates being 4 September and 21 April. They have been recorded from all parts of the outer coast, particularly Fishguard Harbour and St Bride's Bay, within the estuaries, mainly the Cleddau, and at several fresh water sites such as Bosherston Pools.

Easy to locate and identify on fresh waters and estuaries, it is difficult to do so on the sea. However, enough birds have been found around the outer coastline over the years to suggest that the Red- necked Grebe is still overlooked and may well be a regular visitor in small numbers.

Great Crested Grebe - 1994

Sparse winter visitor

Mathew (1894) regarded the Great Crested Grebe as a "not very common winter visitor" and Lockley et al. (1949) as a "winter visitor, rather scarce". It may have marginally increased since then and is now a sparse winter visitor mainly from October to March, extreme dates being 11 May and 23 June. Up to three can usually be found on the sea in sheltered areas such as Amroth– Saundersfoot and St Bride's Bay, and up to eight most years in Fishguard Harbour. It sometimes enters the estuaries of the Teifi and Nevern, and is seen regularly in the Cleddau Estuary, where up to ten usually winter in Angle Bay and, in some years, in Hook Reach and the Eastern Cleddau.

The Great Crested Grebe has been recorded sporadically on fresh water at Bicton and Llysyfran reservoir and more frequently on Bosherston Pools, where it has lingered late into the spring on several occasions and given rise to the hope that it might eventually breed.

Winter numbers increase markedly during cold spells, when it becomes more widespread; for example 14 were counted in Fishguard Harbour in such circumstances on 15 February 1986.