Spotted Flycatcher - 1994

Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. Not recorded from December to February

A common but not abundant summer visitor to Mathew (1894); Lockley et al. (1949) also noted it as a numerous passage migrant to the islands.

Today it is a widespread breeder in Pembroke­shire, principally found in wooded areas but also in orchards and gardens and on some islands (see map). At an estimated average density of four pairs per tetrad, a total county breeding population of about 900 pairs can be calculated.

The first Spotted Flycatchers usually arrive in Pembrokeshire during the last week of April or early May. Occasionally they are noted from 19 April onwards, and one was at Skomer from 26 to 30 March 1984. Passage continues through to early June, sometimes to the end of the month, with occasional falls such as the 150 birds seen at Ramsey on 13 May 1967.

They pass through again from about mid-July to early October, with stragglers sometimes recorded until 23 October, but up to three were noted at Skomer between the 1 and 14 November 1977. Falls also occur on autumn passage, such as the 40 birds seen at Skokholm on 14 August 1964.

Ringing recoveries have shown that Continental birds, from Germany, pass through in autumn and migrants of unknown origin ringed locally at that season have reached Nigeria by October.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 87

Orange = breeding probable = 61

Yellow = breeding possible = 76

Total tetrads in which registered = 224 (46.9%)

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

Firecrest - 1994

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

Up to 14 Firecrests per year have been recorded in 29 years since the first was seen in 1949, a bird at Skomer on 17 April. They were noted in seven out of 10 years in the 1980s. A few were recorded in spring, between 11 March and 7 May, but most were in the autumn, between 21 September and 23 November. One was at Skokholm on 13 June 1988.

Winter Firecrests have been located in eight of the past 12 years but may well be more regular than the record suggests, as they are easily overlooked in woodland and dense cover.

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

Goldcrest - 1994

Breeding resident and passage migrant

Although Mathew (1894) regarded the Goldcrest as a common resident, Lockley et al. (1949) remarked that they were not numerous in Pembrokeshire owing to a lack of conifers. Today they breed widely in small numbers over most of the county, but are extremely numerous in the conifer plantations that now exist. At an estimated density of ten pairs per tetrad, with possibly 500 pairs per tetrad in the plantations, the breeding population was probably about 5,000 pairs at the time of the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988. Severe winters cause high mortality in Goldcrests, greatly reducing the breeding population.

A distinct, but erratic, spring passage occurs during the period 10 March to 27 May, when many small falls of 20 or so are found on headlands and the offshore islands.

They are normally more numerous on autumn passage, from 4 August to 12 November, and falls are generally larger; for example, about 250 were noted at Skomer on 8 October 1959.

Goldcrests are widespread in Pembrokeshire in the winter, joining mixed tit flocks and sometimes roving in loose-knit groups of their own species.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 72

Orange = breeding probable = 139

Yellow = breeding possible = 38

Total tetrads in which registered = 249 (52.1%)

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

Willow Warbler - 1994

Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. Not recorded from December to February

The Willow Warbler was a common summer visitor according to both Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949), the latter adding that it was also an abundant passage migrant.

It is a widespread breeding species in Pembrokeshire today (see map) being particularly numerous in some scrub areas, including Castlebythe Common and Waun Cleddau. Using census figures from Dyfed Wildlife Trust reserves as a guide, the average density of Willow Warblers is estimated to be about 100 pairs per tetrad and the total population about 43,000 pairs.

The first Willow Warblers usually arrive during the last few days of March or the beginning of April, though occasionally from 15 March and one was at Skomer on 6 March 1966. Large numbers pass through, with many falls of 100 or more at headlands and islands, including 250 at Skomer on 23 April 1987 and an exceptional 1,000 there on 18 April 1985. Passage continues until mid-, sometimes late, June.

Autumn passage extends from mid-July to early October with stragglers to 24 October. One bird was singing at Goodwick on 28 November 1959. Autumn falls are generally smaller than those in spring, with 40 to 50 birds typically occurring at any locality. Larger counts, up to 150, have been noted, and an exceptional 3,000 birds were at Skokholm in August 1948.

Grey-brown and silvery coloured Willow Warblers have been noted at Skokholm in April and May, and the north European and Siberian subspecies acredula was identified in the hand on 7 and 12 May 1960.

One was seen and heard singing at Stackpole on 9 February 1991.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 166

Orange = breeding probable = 253

Yellow = breeding possible = 8

Total tetrads in which registered = 427 (89.3%)

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

Chiffchaff - 1994

Breeding summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor

"This tiny bird is by far the most numerous of our summer visitors" said Mathew (1894) of the Chiffchaff, and it remains a widespread breeding species in Pembrokeshire. Lloyd (in his diaries for 1921-1934) and Lockley et al. (1949) considered it outnumbered the Willow Warbler in the breeding season, with Lloyd estimating a ratio of at least 2:1 in favour of the Chiffchaff. Lockley (1957) later modified his view, stating the Chiffchaff was "probably" more abundant than Willow Warbler. Using data from census work on Dyfed Wildlife Trust reserves at Rosemoor, Old Mill Grounds and Pengelli Forest an estimate for average breeding density of about 15 pairs per tetrad was obtained, suggesting a total county population of around 6,000 pairs; the estimate for the Willow Warbler is seven times this amount.

Overwintering birds obscure the validity of early and late dates of migrants. However, they do not winter on the islands, so passage dates quoted here are based on islands data only. The first Chiffchaffs usually arrive in the middle of March, but sometimes from 3 March stragglers to the end of the month, peaking in the islands in the autumn between July and 9 November, with one at Skomer from 17 to 30 November 1987.

Birds resembling the grey northern race P. c. abietinus and paler eastern race P. c. tristis have been noted on both spring and autumn passage.

The Chiffchaffs which regularly winter in Pembrokeshire, mainly in woodland, including Slebech and Bosherston, and willow carr, such as Castle Pill, are not necessarily birds which have bred locally.

    

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 131

Orange = breeding probable = 239

Yellow = breeding possible = 10

Total tetrads in which registered = 380 (79.5%)

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

Wood Warbler - 1994

Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. Not recorded from November to March

Mathew (1894) knew of no definite breeding records for Wood Warbler, and described it as a scarce and very local summer visitor, doubting if it occurred west of the Preseli Mountains, whereas Lockley et al. (1949) recorded it nesting in the east of the county and along the Western Cleddau between Hook and Benton. They also noted it had been recorded just once on the islands, at Skomer on 9 May 1946.

Wood Warblers are still very local breeders, their distribution showing a heavy easterly bias (see map). Their favoured habitat is oak and beech woodland, though in recent years a few pairs have occupied pure sitka and larch plantations. Apparently suitable woodlands exist west of this range, such as St Bride's and Hilton Woods, and males have been known to occupy these areas, singing for a week or more before moving on. They arrive on the breeding grounds between 25 April and early May, but when they depart has not apparently been recorded. On the assumption that most nesting sites were located during the 1984-1988 Breeding Birds Survey, and that singing males are indicative of breeding pairs, the total county population can be fairly accurately assessed at about 250 pairs.

The Wood Warbler is a scarce passage migrant to the mainland coast and offshore islands, one or two being noted in most years. Spring records usually fall between 25 April and 25 May, though one was at Skokholm on 7 April 1977.

One or two autumn passage birds occur between 8 August and 27 September in most years, with one at Strumble Head on 2 October 1983. Autumn birds, although scarce, have occurred with increasing frequency in the last ten years.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads) 

Red = breeding confirmed = 7

Orange = breeding probable = 40

Yellow = breeding possible = 4

Total tetrads in which registered = 51 (10.7%)

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

Bonelli's Warbler - 1994

Vagrant

One at Skokholm on 31 August 1948 (Conder and Keighly 1950) was the first recorded in Britain. It has since been recorded in Britain on 106 occasions (Rogers 1992) with just one other Pembrokeshire record, also at Skokholm, in 1991, coincidently also on 31 August (M. Betts).

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

Dusky Warbler - 1994

Vagrant

A Siberian species which is displaced westwards with a similar frequency to Radde's Warbler (Cramp 1992). One at Strumble Head on 15 October 1988 (G.H. Rees et al.) was initially surprised in the open but quickly moved into dense cover and was only observed subsequently by using a car as a 'hide'.

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

Radde's Warbler - 1994

Vagrant

A Siberian species that winters in south Asia, it is occasionally displaced westwards during predominantly easterly winds (Cramp 1992). Such an occurence resulted in one at Skokholm on 22 October 1968 (C. Britton) which was the first for Wales.

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

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1994

Rare autumn visitor

Yellow-browed Warblers were recorded in 15 years between 1959, when they first occurred at Skokholm on 2 October, and 1992. Single birds have occurred at the Smalls, South Bishop, Skokholm, Skomer, the Gann, St Bride's, Manorbier, Castle Pill and Strumble Head, with two at the latter locality on 30 October 1986 and at Caldey on 14 October 1989. Dates of occurrence span 25 September to 19 November, with 70% falling between 2 October and 27 October. All were juveniles of the nominate Siberian race, presumably displaced by weather systems when heading towards wintering areas in south Asia.

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

Pallas's Warbler - 1994

Vagrant

This Asian and Altai Mountain species occurs in Britain in most autumns (Cramp 1992), chiefly in the east but occasionally in the west. The Pembrokeshire records are one at Wooltack Point on 30 October 1982 (A.J. Hansen) and another at Strumble Head on 31 October 1984 (N.A. Lethaby).

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

Greenish Warbler - 1994

Vagrant

A Russian species that has colonised Poland and Scandinavia in recent years and has become an annual migrant to Britain (Cramp 1992), resulting in singles at Skokholm on 31 August 1960, 30-31 August 1961 and 31 August 1976 and at Skomer on 19 June 1990.

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