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Entries in JEH (15)

Friday
May112012

Pied Wagtail - 2003-07

The Pied Wagtail, sub- species yarrelli, breeds throughout Pembrokeshire.

In Pembrokeshire, Pied Wagtails utilise a wide range of nesting habitats, ranging from natural cavities, holes and recesses e.g. in rock faces or sea-cliffs, (pers. obs.) banks, old stone walls, buildings, e.g. out buildings, barns, sheds and even castles. Foraging habitats include the foreshore, saltmarsh, farmland, including farm yards and slurry pits, and urban environments.

The 1984-88 tetrad survey confirmed that the Pied Wagtail is a widespread breeding resident.  It was found in most parts of the county, from the coastal fringes and offshore islands to the upper parts of the Preseli Hills.  The map shows that by the 2003-07 tetrad survey, the distribution of breeding Pied Wagtails had become patchy, with gaps opening up in parts of mid-Pembrokeshire and areas such as the Pencaer Peninsula and Cemaes/Poppit/St. Dogmaels area.  These localised losses appear to have been counter-balanced by breeding records obtained in the 2003-07 survey in tetrads where Pied Wagtails had not previously been recorded as confirmed or probable breeding.

The tetrad data indicate an overall increase in the number of tetrads where Pied Wagtails occur as a breeding species:

A 17.2% increase in the number of tetrads in which breeding was confirmed between the two tetrad surveys compares favourably with a 15% increase in the breeding population across the UK as a whole between 1994 and 2007 (data from the BBS survey).

Following the 1984-88 tetrad survey, the total breeding population of Pied Wagtails in the county was estimated to be between 1400 and 1700 pairs, based on an average density of 5-6 pairs per tetrad. On this basis the 2003-07 tetrad survey suggests an increase in the total breeding population, to perhaps 1,700 – 2,000 pairs.

Jane Hodges

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 192

Orange = breeding probable = 105

Yellow = breeding possible = 72

Total tetrads in which registered = 369 (75.3%)

Friday
May112012

Grey Wagtail - 2003-07

During the 1984-88 tetrad survey, Grey Wagtails were found to be widespread in Pembrokeshire, breeding on all major and many of the minor streams and rivers, from the Preseli Hills to the coast.  The results of the 2003-07 tetrad survey suggest that they are still widespread in the county, although there have been some localised losses, e.g. parts of the Western Cleddau catchment area and from watercourses to the south and east of Haverfordwest.  Gains have occurred in eastern parts of Pembrokeshire and in one or two tetrads in the west of the county. The data also indicate a 31% increase in the number of tetrads where breeding was confirmed, and a 12% increase in the number of tetrads where breeding was probable. The BBS index suggests a population change at UK level between 1994 and 2007 of +26%.

In general, Grey Wagtails appear to be doing well in the county, possibly reflecting the recent trend towards milder winters which will have helped to improve and maintain winter survival, hence recruitment to the breeding population.  They are sensitive to prolonged spells of cold weather, although population crashes are usually followed by quite rapid recovery. Other factors that are likely to influence Grey Wagtail breeding populations include water quality and the management of watercourses and associated vegetation by the sides of the banks. Operations such as the removal of gravel shoals could be detrimental, as could clearance of mature bank-side vegetation.

Following the 1984-88 tetrad survey, the breeding population was estimated to be around 450 pairs, based on an average of four pairs per tetrad. An estimate of the breeding population following the 2003-07 tetrad survey would probably be very similar, i.e. around 450 pairs.

Jane Hodges

 

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 58

Orange = breeding probable = 24

Yellow = breeding possible = 32

Total tetrads in which registered = 114 (23.3%)

Friday
May112012

Rock Pipit - 2003-07

Rock Pipits breed all around the rocky open coast on mainland Pembrokeshire, and on the offshore islands, including Grassholm, some 12 miles west of the mainland, where they nest on/in cliff faces. They also occur within the sheltered Milford Haven Waterway, on rocky shores backed by cliffs. 

The data from the 2003-07 tetrad survey suggest that, although the Rock Pipit remains a common breeding resident on the islands and mainland coast, there have been changes in the distribution of breeding pairs, and probably in the overall number of pairs.

The data indicate that Rock Pipits have disappeared from 20 tetrads in which they were recorded as confirmed breeding in the 1984-88 tetrad survey, which represents a 9% rate of decline.  On the other hand, there was a significant increase, an almost doubling, of the number of tetrads where Rock Pipits were recorded as “probable breeding”.

 A look at the tetrad map confirms that Rock Pipits have disappeared as a breeding species from the upper Daugleddau Estuary, much of the inner and outer sections of the Milford Haven Waterway, and from the open coast in the Amroth/Wisemans Bridge/Saundersfoot area.  Elsewhere on the coast, it is worth noting that several of the tetrads where Rock Pipits were recorded as probable breeding coincide with parts of the coast that are particularly difficult to survey from the cliff tops.  Observers may have erred on the side of caution because they were unable to obtain sufficient evidence to confirm breeding in these tetrads.  If this is the case, then it is likely that the distribution of the breeding population on most of the outer coast remained stable between the two tetrad surveys.

In terms of the size of the breeding population, the situation is less clear.  The Pembrokeshire Bird Report for 2003 notes that there were 30 territories occupied by Rock Pipits on Skokholm Island.  A comparison between this and the figure of 41 occupied territories quoted for Skokholm Island in 1990  suggests a decline of up to 27% in breeding Rock Pipits on the island during that period. 

Reasons for the decline recorded on Skokholm Island are not immediately obvious, although a lack of insect food at critical stages in the breeding cycle, perhaps resulting from poor weather may be a factor, and it may not be representative of the population as a whole. A 9% decline in the number of tetrads in which breeding was confirmed between the two tetrad surveys, however, would put the total population at around 900 pairs.

Jane Hodges

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 51

Orange = breeding probable = 40

Yellow = breeding possible = 11

Total tetrads in which registered = 102 (20.8%)

Friday
May112012

Meadow Pipit - 2003-07

Meadow Pipits are ground-nesters, in open, rough grassland, heathland and moorland, where at an important host-species for the Cuckoo.  In Pembrokeshire, Meadow Pipits can be found on rough grazing on the coastal slopes and headlands, on the islands, Ramsey, Skomer and Skokholm in particular, on lowland heathlands and on the slopes and tops of the Preseli Hills where they are the most numerous breeding passerine.  Grasslands on the old, disused airfields such as Templeton, St Davids and Brawdy, which are extensively grazed, are also important for Meadow Pipits.  Reseeded permanent pasture that is intensively grazed by dairy cattle or sheep is unsuitable for Meadow Pipits: the short swards provide insufficient cover for nesting, and disturbance from livestock grazed intensively is a hazard. Sheep are known to consume the eggs of Meadow Pipits.

Following the 1984-88 tetrad survey, it was noted that although still a common species, the Meadow Pipit had declined since, for example, Lockley’s review in 1949, in which he describes the Meadow Pipit as a common species.  In between the two tetrad surveys, further changes occurred.

These figures suggest that changes in the distribution of Meadow Pipits have been both subtle and localised, although overall, they point to a decline in the breeding population.  The distribution map shows that whilst there have been gains in some areas, there are now significant areas of Pembrokeshire away from the principal peninsulas, coastal fringes, and the Preseli Hills, where the Meadow Pipit is absent as a breeding species.  Reasons for the overall decline and fragmentation of the breeding population are almost certainly linked to changes in agricultural practices, in particular farms moving out of more extensively mixed farming regimes into intensive dairy and sheep farming.

Following the 1984-88 tetrad survey, it was estimated that there were about 4,000 breeding pairs, based on an average density of 20 pairs per tetrad. Assuming that Meadow Pipits still occur at a similar density, then based on the number of tetrads where breeding was confirmed or probable during the 2003-07 tetrad survey, the breeding population is thought to be approximately 3,220 pairs.

Jane Hodges

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 66

Orange = breeding probable = 95

Yellow = breeding possible = 31

Total tetrads in which registered = 192 (39.2%)

Friday
May112012

Tree Pipit - 2003-07

Since the 1984-88 tetrad survey, Tree Pipits have undergone significant declines as a breeding species in Pembrokeshire.

These data suggest that Tree Pipits have disappeared from ca. 60% of the tetrads in which they were recorded in the 1984-88 survey.  A glance at the tetrad map confirms that, whilst the strong bias in distribution remains east of a line from Newport on the north coast to the east of the Daugleddau Estuary, Tree Pipits are now absent from the majority of tetrads in which they were recorded in the first tetrad survey to the west of this line.  The 25 tetrads in which Tree Pipits were recorded as confirmed or probable breeding in the 2003-07 survey are clustered around the Gwaun Valley and lower flanks of the Preseli Hills, and around the Canaston/Minwear Woods and areas south to Lawrenny and Martletwy in mid Pembrokeshire.

The dramatic rate of decline suffered by this species in Pembrokeshire far outstrips the national rate of decline. The BBS data for the UK during the period of 1994 and 2007 indicated a rate of change of -11% and raises questions about its future in the county.  The reasons for the rapid decline in the breeding population of Tree Pipits are not known, although factors such as loss or deterioration in the quality of breeding habitat are likely to have played a major part. 

Habitat loss has almost certainly occurred, as forestry plantations have either been clear-felled or have matured and closed-over; woodland glades have been in-filled by scrub or bracken encroachment, and structurally diverse edges to semi-natural habitats have been lost, as a result of changes in farming practices.  Other key factors are likely to include survival of birds on their sub-Saharan wintering grounds. The 1984-88 survey used an estimated average density of 10 pairs per occupied tetrad to arrive at a county population estimate of 800 pairs. The breeding population during the 2003-07 survey, using the same density estimate, was probably 250 pairs, or less if the average density had decreased.

Jane Hodges

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 1

Orange = breeding probable = 24

Yellow = breeding possible = 5

Total tetrads in which registered = 30 (6.1%)

Thursday
May102012

House Martin - 2003-07

Most House Martins arrive in Pembrokeshire between early and mid April, although there have been sightings as early as February.  

House martins are highly dependent on buildings for nest sites with up to 99% of the breeding population building mud nests, or utilising artificial nest boxes positioned high-up on walls beneath over-hanging eaves, which protect the nest and its contents from adverse weather. In Pembrokeshire, a small proportion of House Martins nest in sea caves, or beneath over-hangs on sea cliffs. Colonies can be found, for example nesting in/on sea cliffs to the south of Ceibwr; at Nolton Haven and on the Castlemartin coast.

The 1984-88 tetrad survey confirmed that House Martins are widely distributed as a breeding species across the county.  A comparison between this and the 2003-07 tetrad survey suggests a stable or slightly increasing breeding population:

The tetrad map illustrates where localised changes in the distribution of breeding House Martins have occurred in between the two tetrad surveys. House Martins are absent as a breeding species from all the offshore islands, with the exception of Caldey Island, where it was recorded as “probable breeding” during the 2003-07 tetrad survey.  They are also absent from the tops of the Preseli Hills and from heavily wooded areas.

Whilst the breeding population of House Martins has generally remained stable or increased overall, localised losses from some tetrads could be due to a number of factors, which may also hold the key to their future as a breeding species in the county.  These factors include future availability of suitable nest sites. It is vital that building renovations, as well as new buildings take account of their nesting requirements if they are to continue to grace our skies. The availability of mud for nest-building is also vital as this resource can be easily lost e.g. as a result of tidying up muddy seepages, hollows and puddles. A single source of mud may supply the entire House Martin population on farms or in small settlements. Other key factors include abundance and distribution of aerial insects.

Following the 1984-88 tetrad survey, the total breeding population of House Martins in the county was estimated to be around 4,000 pairs (an average density of 20 pairs per tetrad was assumed).On this basis, an increase of 16% of tetrads where breeding was confirmed during the 2003-07 tetrad survey suggests a total breeding population of about 4,700 pairs.

Jane Hodges

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 235

Orange = breeding probable = 17

Yellow = breeding possible = not included

Total tetrads in which registered = 252 (51.4%)

Thursday
May102012

Swallow - 2003-07

Swallows are highly dependent on the availability of suitable buildings for nest sites.  They nest in barns and other outbuildings, porches, sheds and garages, and are often semi-colonial particularly in farm buildings where livestock are kept.  More unusual nest sites have included a sea cave in Martins Haven and a disused underground heating duct at Stackpole.  They have nested in the public conveniences at Martins Haven for many years. Swallows have also bred successfully in some of the rooms in Carew Castle. Swallows are aerial insect feeders, and forage over a range of semi-natural habitats such as freshwater and salt marsh; open water; open, wooded areas and scrub, and over pasture especially if it is grazed by livestock, e.g. cattle and horses.

Data obtained during the 2003-07 tetrad survey suggests relatively little change in the distribution of breeding pairs of Swallows in the county (see map).

The data show an increase of 13% in the number of tetrads where breeding was confirmed between the two tetrad surveys. The map shows a largely unchanged distribution of tetrads in which breeding was confirmed or probable. A few gaps have however, opened up, for example on the St David’s Peninsula, on the Pencaer Peninsula and in one or two parts of mid and north Pembrokeshire away from the coast.  These appear to be quite small-scale, localised losses that may be linked to the loss of suitable nest sites, e.g. as a result of conversion of outbuildings to dwellings. They may also be a result of changes in the distribution and abundance of aerial insects, following changes in land management practices.

Following the 1984-88 tetrad survey, it was estimated that at an average density of 20 pairs per tetrad, there were at least 8,500 pairs of Swallows in the county. A 13% increase in the number of tetrads where breeding was confirmed during the 2003-07 tetrad survey suggests that the breeding population is around 10,000 pairs.

Jane Hodges

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 338

Orange = breeding probable = 74

Yellow = breeding possible = 22

Total tetrads in which registered = 434 (88.6%)

Thursday
May102012

Sand Martin - 2003-07

Trans-Saharan migrants, Sand Martins usually arrive in Pembrokeshire in March, but were recorded as early as the 14th February during the 2003-07 Atlas survey period.

In Pembrokeshire, Sand Martins nest in sandy/gravelly river banks, in soft sandy/gravelly sea cliffs and in artificially created habitats, notably sand and gravel pits.  They are highly colonial, and return to the same colony site, although they generally dig fresh nesting burrows, to avoid parasitic infestation.  Sand Martins feed mostly on aerial insects, foraging over freshwater, wetlands and pasture, preferably grazed by cattle.  They generally avoid urban and densely /wooded areas.

As illustrated by the map, on the mainland colonies are scattered on the coast and inland. With the exception of a cliff site in the Freshwater West area, all the colony sites were found in mid and north Pembrokeshire. Sand Martins are absent from the offshore islands.

At first glance, a comparison between the two tetrad surveys suggests a significant expansion in the breeding population of Sand Martins. A closer inspection of both the numbers of tetrads where Sand Martins were recorded and the tetrad map, however, revealed a 10% decrease in the number of tetrads where breeding was confirmed.  There were also changes in distribution of colonies: They have disappeared from four tetrads in between the two surveys. This was counter-balanced by the recording of several new colonies, mostly on the coast.

The two sets of tetrad data for “confirmed” and “probable” breeding are very similar, although the tetrad map clearly suggests changes in distribution of colony sites.  This could well indicate that suitable nesting habitat is a finite resource in Pembrokeshire, hence a potential limiting factor on the distribution and size of future breeding colonies of Sand Martins.

Sand Martin colonies tend to be transient, and will move if a particular sandy bank becomes over-stabilised.  On rivers, fresh bank falls that occur whilst rivers are in spate will be preferred to stable bank/cliff faces that may become over-gown.  Similarly, artificial sites e. g. sand and gravel pits will also be deserted once exposed faces become too stable, hence unsuitable for Sand Martins, they even move around within active sand pits. This is likely to be a contributing factor in the changes in distribution noted between the two surveys: sites may have fallen into disuse because they no longer offer suitable exposed, soft sandy/gravelly cliffs which birds can burrow into, yet are firm enough for the burrows to remain intact during the breeding season.

The overall size of the breeding population is not thought to have changed significantly between the two tetrad surveys, and is thought to be between 70 and 100 pairs ( the population estimate given in Donovan and Rees (1994) was based on accurate colony counts).

Jane Hodges

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Large dots = breeding confirmed = 11

Medium dots = breeding probable = 2

Total tetrads in which registered = 13 (2.7%)

Thursday
May102012

Skylark - 2003-07

The 1984-88 tetrad survey revealed that the Skylark was one of the most widespread breeding species in Pembrokeshire, being absent from only ca. 35 tetrads. During the  1988-91 National Atlas it was also found to be one of the most widespread breeding species in the UK. The breeding population in Pembrokeshire, based on an average of 15 pairs per tetrad, was estimated to be around 8,000 pairs. 

Data from the 2003-07 Pembrokeshire tetrad survey indicates that the Skylark, as a breeding species, has disappeared from ca. 33% of the tetrads in which it was previously recorded.  This represents a significant decline, which may be happening at a faster rate in Pembrokeshire than in the UK as a whole, as BBS data indicate that between 1994 and 2007 the UK Skylark population decreased by 13%. The breeding population in Pembrokeshire is now probably nearer to 5,000 pairs.  The tetrad map indicates that large gaps in the distribution of breeding skylarks have opened up in the area to the north of the Nevern Valley, towards Poppit and Cemaes; in the area between the Eastern Cleddau and the Carmarthenshire border, and in mid-Pembrokeshire, away from the coastal strip and Preseli Hills.

The Skylark is a ground-nesting species, with a strong preference for open countryside, with rough pasture, heathland and moorland.  In the winter, Skylarks utilise winter stubbles, ungrazed grassland, fallow land and coastal habitats such as sand dunes and saltmarsh.  Reasons for the disappearance of Skylarks from parts of Pembrokeshire are likely to include changes in farming practices, such as from mixed farming to intensive dairy farming and cultivation of grass for silage, a trend that was alluded to in Donovan and Rees, (1994). 

Winter foraging habitats may also have been lost due do the trend towards autumn-sown rather than spring-sown cereals, in which valuable winter stubbles have disappeared, thus affecting winter survival of the breeding population.  The islands and peninsulas, such as Pencaer, St Davids, Marloes and Castlemartin, and the Preseli Hills are likely to become increasingly important as strongholds for Skylarks. Inland, old airfields such as Templeton, St Davids and Brawdy are hotspots for Skylarks, supporting relatively high densities of breeding pairs.

Jane Hodges

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 41

Orange = breeding probable = 227

Yellow = breeding possible = 15

Total tetrads in which registered = 283 (57.8%)

Monday
May072012

Grey Heron - 2003-07

Grey herons generally nest in mature trees, deciduous tree species such as oak and beech together with conifers such as Scots pine. Cliff-nesting Grey Herons have been recorded on parts of the St. Brides Bay coast in the 1960’s and 70’s, there have even been instances of ground-nesting (Donovan & Rees, 1994).

Between the 1984-88 and 2003-07 surveys, there have been changes in the distribution and numbers of heronries in the county. The number of tetrads where breeding was confirmed dropped from 10 to 8.  The data obtained from the BTO heronries census show that between the two surveys, at least one established heronry was lost, Shipping Wood, which was clear-felled in the late 1990s, and the oldest continuously occupied heronry in the county at Slebech fell into disuse in 1995/96 when the birds relocted to another site on the Western Cleddau. 

The heronries census also includes records of single nests in several parts of the county, though these tend to be occupied only sporadically.  Such sites were recorded at Templeton, Westfield Pill, Bosherston Lily Ponds and Crygmarren Pool during the 2003-07 survey.

It can be difficult to locate nest sites and to confirm the breeding status of Grey Herons, especially once the leaves have come out on deciduous trees, or in dense conifer plantations where access can be difficult.  This could explain the relatively high number of possible breeding records (not included on the maps), especially if these involved pairs nesting singly away from the established colonies.  Total numbers of breeding pairs vary from year to year, and it is difficult to accurately estimate the size of the breeding population. 

In 2007, the five heronries that were counted as part of the heronries census yielded a total of 35 pairs.  In the mid-1990s the number of pairs regularly exceeded 40 and peaked at 60 in 1997. The total breeding population could therefore be somewhere between 40 and 70 pairs. Donovan & Rees (1994) quote a range of between 30 pairs when the population is at a low ebb, e.g. following the harsh winter of 1962-63 and 65 pairs in more favourable times.

Jane Hodges

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 8 (1.6%)

Orange = breeding probable = 3 (excluded from total)

Total tetrads in which registered = 11

 

Monday
May072012

Little Egret - 2003-07

Little Egrets were considered to be rare vagrants to Britain and Ireland until 1989 when the first of many influxes of birds into southern England occurred.  Since then, there has been a dramatic increase in numbers of Little Egrets in southern Britian, thought to be linked to the breeding success at French colonies.  The species is now very firmly established as a winter visitor to Pembrokeshire, with up to 70-80 Little Egrets over-wintering on the estuaries and open coast.

They utilise coastal lagoons, saltmarsh, brackish marsh and rocky shores as well as estuarine mud flats.  They roost communally, often sharing tree roosts with Grey Herons.  Since the mid 1990s, Little Egrets have been present in small numbers in the Milford Haven Waterway & Daugleddau Estuary during the spring and summer months (Hodges 1992-2007), and during the 2003-07 tetrad survey, breeding was finally confirmed.

Without doubt, the recent series of mild, virtually frost- and snow-free winters has been a major factor in the steady increase in the wintering population in the county, with some birds choosing to remain in Pembrokeshire to breed.  Clearly, there is suitable nesting and foraging habitat in the estuaries to support a breeding population of Little Egrets.  They are, however, extremely vulnerable to prolonged spells of cold winter weather, and their future as a breeding species in the county is inextricably linked to the severity of winters. Little Egrets are likely to gain “climate space” as a result of predicted climate change, and hence it seems likely that they will continue to become established as a breeding species in Pembrokeshire.

Monday
May072012

Shelduck - 2003-07

In Pembrokeshire, Shelducks are strongly associated with estuaries, in particular the Milford Haven Waterway and Daugleddau Estuary, and its associated embayments and tributaries. In the 1984-88 survey, breeding Shelducks were also recorded on the Teifi Estuary, and on Caldey Island.

A comparison between the 1984-88 and 2003-07 breeding surveys reveals changes in the distribution of breeding Shelducks in the county, as shown on the tetrad maps.

Some of the more significant changes include the disappearance of Shelducks as a breeding species from the southern side of the outer Milford Haven Waterway, e.g. in Angle Bay/Kilpaison, and from coastal sites such as in the Freshwater West area.  There have also been gains, with Shelducks breeding on Skomer and Skokholm Islands and on the Nevern Estuary. Breeding Shelducks were also present on the Teifi Estuary. The number of tetrads in which Shelducks were recorded as confirmed or probable breeding had also increased by 2003-07, from 31 to 36, with possible breeding recorded in a further 14 tetrads.

One or two of the records of possible breeding  on the exposed open coast need to be treated with caution.  Pairs and small groups of Shelducks are a common occurrence on the open coast in May and June, either resting on the surface of the sea, or on the cliffs above (J. E. Hodges, pers. obs.). 

Some of these birds may well be non-breeders en-route to moult grounds.  Moult migration in Shelducks is well-defined.  First and second year birds leave for the moult grounds from May onwards, to be followed by non-breeding adults or failed breeders later in June and early Jul.  By mid-July all non-breeding Shelducks, together with adults that are not minding ducklings, have left the Milford Haven Waterway and Daugleddau Estuary for the moult grounds (Hodges, 1992-2008).

Following the 1984-88 survey, the breeding population of Shelducks in the county was estimated to be around 50 pairs.  In the period 2003-07, the numbers and sizes of broods of ducklings seen in the Milford Haven Waterway & Daugleddau Estuary varied each year, from 10 to 22 broods.  In addition, several territorial males and pairs without broods (but which may have attempted to breed) were recorded in each of the five seasons. Taking into account the breeding pairs on the islands; in the Newport area and on the Teifi Estuary, together with pairs scattered around the county, 60 – 70 breeding pairs might be a reasonable population estimate. 

Caution should, however be exercised, since Shelducks are known to “dump-nest”, whereby females lay their eggs in another female’s nest, leaving the owner of the nest to incubate the eggs and lead the newly hatched ducklings to water along with their own ducklings.  “Dump-nesting” is sometimes indicated by large broods, e.g. of nine ducklings or more, and almost certainly occurs amongst the Shelduck population in Pembrokeshire.

Jane Hodges

 

 

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 23

Orange = breeding probable = 13

Yellow = breeding possible = 14

Total tetrads in which registered = 50 (10.2%)