Blackbird - 1994

Breeding resident, passage migrant and winter visitor

Both Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) described the Blackbird as a common resident, the former commenting on a rapid increase in numbers following mild winters. Blackbirds still breed commonly throughout Pembrokeshire, including some of the offshore islands (see map). The encroachment of conifer plantations on the slopes of the Preseli Mountains has enabled them to breed at higher altitudes than before, but they are still absent from the open tops. At an average density of 100 pairs per tetrad, the total breeding population is probably about 45,000 pairs.

Some are resident, which can be confirmed by noting distinctly marked birds, such as partial albinos, staying in territory throughout the year. However, they generally become sparse in late August and early September, a time when it would be reasonable to expect high numbers, with juveniles present as well as adults. Although less conspicuous during moult a careful search seems to indicate a genuine reduction in numbers. It is probable that many leave the county, perhaps emigrating, though we have no proof of this. The appearance of a Blackbird at the Smalls on 18 July 1982 is interesting in this context, but extensive ringing of Pembrokeshire nestlings may be the only way to put speculation to the test.

Thousands pass through between late September and early December, passage being strongest in October and early November. They are heard calling at night and large numbers have been noted at the lanterns of the South Bishop and the Smalls lighthouses. Periodic falls occur around the coast and on the offshore islands, numbers sometimes being impressive; for example, 11,000 were seen at Skokholm on 18 October 1964. Ringing recoveries show that some of these migrants originated in England on an arc from Stafford to North Devon, whilst others came from western Europe, from between Belgium and Norway. Recoveries also show that Blackbirds passing through Pembrokeshire carry on southwards as far as Spain. In addition, they have been seen at sea heading for Ireland.

Blackbirds may well be more numerous during the winter than in the summer, particularly during mild years. Some are continental birds, such as one ringed in Holland in October and recovered at Pembroke Dock in late December. Further influxes occur when cold weather grips Europe and eastern Britain. Many pass on but others stay until they can retreat eastwards again after the thaw. If the severe weather reaches Pembrokeshire, and endures for any length of time, many die, though there have been no modern repetitions of events such as those noted by Lockley et al. (1949), when thousands of birds perished and the beaches became lined with the corpses of Blackbirds and other "soft- billed birds".

There is a return passage in late February and throughout March, when they are again heard passing at night and have been detected at the lanterns of the South Bishop and Smalls lighthouses.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 299

Orange = breeding probable = 133

Yellow = breeding possible = 19

Total tetrads in which registered = 451 (94.4%)

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

Update on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 5:31PM by Pembrokeshire Avifauna committee

Although the 1994 avifauna says that 11,000 Blackbirds were on Skokholm on 18^th October 1964, the island log says “c,1,000” so the entry is a typographical error.  Still a good number for the island and one of the highest counts for anywhere in Wales.

Ring Ouzel - 1994

Passage migrant, has bred. Not recorded in December

Mathew (1894) frequently encountered Ring Ouzels on the Preseli Mountains and judged from their behaviour that they bred there, noting that eggs were taken in 1867. Lockley et al. (1949) added the record of a pair breeding in a Preseli Mountain quarry in 1948, where Fursdon (1950) also found them nesting the following year, with three young fledged. A pair was present in another nearby locality in 1969 and bred in 1971. There are no subsequent breeding records, though a female was seen in the Preseli Mountains in July 1983.

The Ring Ouzel is a regular spring and autumn passage migrant, with up to four occurring in coastal areas, principally at Skokholm, Skomer and the Preseli Mountains, from 5 March to 26 May and from 27 August to 22 November. One seen at Skomer on 29 February 1984 was probably an early migrant, but another seen in a St David's garden on 6 January 1985 seems more likely to refer to an overwintering bird.

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

Swainson's Thrush - 1994

Vagrant

An example of this small North American thrush, which breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to California and New Hampshire and normally winters from Mexico to Argentina (Cramp 1988), occurred at Skokholm from 14 to 19 October 1967 (C. Britton). This was the first recorded in Britain, although another was found dead at Blackrock lighthouse, Ireland, in May 1956. The Skokholm bird, which was trapped and ringed, occurred in an autumn when the island received no fewer than four North American visitors, the others being Red-eyed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Northern Oriole.

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

Black-eared Wheatear - 1994

Vagrant

A male at Skomer on 4 May 1990 (A.Sutcliffe) was a vagrant from its breeding range, which stretches from Iberia and north-west Africa across southern Europe east to Iran.

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

Pied Wheatear - 1994

Vagrant

Breeds from the Balkans eastwards int Asia.  There are just two Welsh records of single birds at Skokholm from 27 to 29 October 1968 (C.Britton) and at Ramsey on 25 October 1993 (I.Bullock).

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

Wheatear - 1994

Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. Not recorded in February and December

Mathew (1894) and Lockley et al. (1949) regarded the Wheatear as a common breeder on the islands, along the coast and in the mountains. They still breed on the offshore islands, around the outer coast and, most frequently, on the Preseli Mountains (see map). The Skomer and Skokholm numbers were known during the survey period, so adding an average of two pairs per tetrad along the mainland coast and an average density of eight pairs per tetrad for the Preseli area, the county population can be estimated to have been about 400 pairs.

The first Wheatears have been recorded from 4 March onwards, but most appear after the middle of the month. Passage migrants are widespread in coastal areas, with some penetrating a little inland and along the river valleys. They usually appear not to take up station on their inland breeding grounds until about mid-April, though they have been noted at some localities earlier than this. Numbers are generally small, usually up to 20 at each locality, but there was an exceptional 1,500 at Skokholm on 28 Apri11938 (Betts 1992). Passage usually ceases by late April, when larger, richer coloured Wheatears appear. These are usually ascribed to the Greenland race but undoubtedly include Icelandic birds; one ringed at Skokholm in April 1946 was recovered breeding in south­east Iceland in May 1948. These larger birds continue to pass through until the end of June.

Many Wheatears pass through Pembrokeshire in the autumn, from about mid-August to the end of October, with stragglers until 15 November.  They appear to be generally less numerous in the autumn than in spring, but are more susceptible to large localised falls, such as a group of about 300 birds at the Smalls on 19 September 1982. The larger Greenland- type Wheatears are detectable among the autumn migrants but are less obvious than when in spring plumage. Wheatears have been recorded at the lanterns of the South Bishop and the Smalls lighthouses on several occasions.

An unusual record was of a Wheatear at Templeton airfield on 7 January 1989, though it could not be found on subsequent visits.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 42

Orange = breeding probable = 19

Yellow = breeding possible = 24

Total tetrads in which registered = 85 (17.8%)

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

Stonechat - 1994

Breeding resident

Mathew (1894) said "this little species is so numerous, to be seen everywhere by the roadside, perched on the furze on every common, on the coast as well as far inland, that it is likely to be considered one of our characteristic county birds". Lockley et al. (1949) found the Stonechat to be a common resident on all furzy commons and escarpments in the county and noted that they sometimes bred on the offshore islands. The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found that they were very local inland but were well distributed around the coast. The survey began after the population had been reduced by the cold winter of 1982, which would probably have affected the inland birds more severely than those on the coast. There is also less suitable habitat remaining in inland Pembrokeshire than there was in 1949. By the end of the survey about 200 pairs were estimated to have bred (see map), but this level is below optimum.

Numbers have been decimated by many severe winters in the past. The winter of 1947 almost wiped them out (Lockley et al. 1949) and that of 1962/63 also left very few survivors (Donovan 1963). Numbers recover rapidly in subsequent summers largely because of high productivity, with some pairs rearing three broods in a year. A pair at Cwmbrandy, Fishguard, was suspected of rearing four broods in 1962. Breeding is still sporadic on the offshore islands of Skomer and Ramsey, with Stonechats disappearing after severe winters and recolonising again when the general population is at a high level. 

They occur on the islands, including Grassholm and the Smalls, after the breeding season, when they also become more widespread in the county generally, occupying more diverse habitat than during the summer. It is likely that some of our breeding stock moves out of the county. Apparent falls on headlands suggest that some movement takes place and one ringed at Skokholm in September 1960 was recovered in Spain that November. Siberian Stonechats subspecies maura or stejnegeri were noted at Strumble Head on 12 October 1986 (G.H. Rees et al.) and at Skokholm from 11 to 15 October 1990 and 20 October 1992.

   

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 71

Orange = breeding probable = 24

Yellow = breeding possible = 31

Total tetrads in which registered = 126 (26.4%)

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

Whinchat - 1994

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

The Whinchat was regarded as a scarce summer resident by Lockley et al. (1949), and Saunders (1976) added that it was of rather patchy distribution; both indicated that breeding was confined to the north and east of the county. The Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found about 50 breeding pairs (see map). Most were found in the boggy areas which encircle the Preseli Mountains but a few pairs were dotted across boggy places, extending westwards to the coast, where some were also found breeding in bracken-clad cliff-top areas including those at Cemaes Head and Treginnis.

Small numbers of Whinchats, normally no more than three at any locality, occur on the islands and coast between 13 April and mid-June, though they have been recorded from 5 April and there are three earlier records: singles at Skomer on 1 March 1946, at Newgale on 28 March 1959 and at Skomer on 28 March 1988. These coastal birds are seen at the same time as others are arriving at the local breeding grounds, so it seems likely that they ^­are through migrants which breed elsewhere.

Whinchats are slightly more numerous in autumn than spring, up to six occurring at the islands and coastal areas from early July to mid-October, with stragglers until 9 November. Exceptionally there are larger falls such as 40 at Skokholm on 10 September 1968. Migrants have reached Grassholm, and have been recorded at the lantern of the Smalls lighthouse at night in August and September.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 23

Orange = breeding probable = 17

Yellow = breeding possible = 2

Total tetrads in which registered = 42 (8.8%)

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

Moussier's Redstart - 1994

Vagrant

The first of this species to be recorded in Britain was a male at Dinas Head on 24 April 1988 (M. Barrett, G.J. Walker et al.). It is normally confined to north-west Africa and regarded as dispersive rather than migratory, but has wandered as far as Malta and Italy, and one was shot at Heligoland, west Germany, in 1842 (Barrett 1992).

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

Redstart - 1994

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

The Redstart has long been regarded as a rare and erratic breeding bird in Pembrokeshire. Mathew (1894) recorded only two nests and Lockley et al. (1949) added two more breeding occurrences. Scattered breeding pairs were documented during the 1950s at sites including Minwear and Lawrenny. However, the Breeding Birds Survey of 1984-1988 found that Redstarts bred in stone walls all around the foothills of the Preseli Mountains, with about ten pairs scattered elsewhere in the county, including some in nest boxes at the Pengelli Forest Nature Reserve. The Preseli birds are very inconspicuous until their broods are out, the population of about 100 pairs being easily overlooked. Most nest close to settlements which makes them generally inaccessible, but some, such as those at the old slate quarry buildings at Rosebush, are more easily observed.

Redstarts are fairly sparse on passage, up to four being recorded at coastal sites, including Skokholm, Skomer and Strumble Head, between 2 April and 26 May, with occasional stragglers until 24 June. However, our breeding birds are normally back on the breeding grounds during the last month or so of passage, suggesting that the coastal birds are heading elsewhere. Autumn passage extends from July to 30 October, with up to five birds at a time, and over a wider area than in spring, with exceptional larger falls occurring, such as 20 at Skokholm on 21 September 1988. Singles were at Skokholm on 2 November 1968 and 6 November 1992 and a male was seen at St Non's on 8 November 1987.

 

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 21

Orange = breeding probable = 9

Yellow = breeding possible = 9

Total tetrads in which registered = 39 (8.2%)

Black Restart - 1994

Winter visitor and passage migrant

Mathew (1894) listed several occurrences of Black Redstart and noted them annually in autumn at Tenby. Lockley et al. (1949) regarded the bird as a regular winter visitor and noted a March passage with as many as 50 at Skokholm in 1948.

A few still winter in coastal areas, such as Stackpole and the Deer Park, towns, including Haverfordwest, and industrial sites such as the Texaco oil refinery at Rhoscrowther. There is a small spring passage between 16 March and the end of May, with occasional stragglers until 29 June. Usually only one to three birds are seen at each locality, and these are predominantly coastal, including Ceibwr, Strumble Head and St Govan's Head, and on the islands of Skomer and Skokholm.

Autumn passage, which extends from mid- October to the end of November, is very variable. In some years very few appear while in others birds are more widespread; occasionally exceptional numbers occur such as the 54 counted on the Castle Martin peninsula on 24 October 1982 (111 birds were seen in 38 localities in coastal Pembrokeshire during that month). Occasionally birds are seen in July, August and September.

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

White-throated Robin - 1994

Vagrant

A female at Skokholm on 27-30 May 1990 (M. Betts, J.W. Donovan et al. ), a vagrant from a breeding area extending from southern Turkey to Iran and Kirgiz, was the first recorded in Wales and only the second in Britain, the first having been seen at the Calf of Man in June 1983.

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

Photograph of the Skokholm white-throated robin by Jack Donovan - this is a small part of the original slide.