Little Gull – records since 2007

June 17, 2024 Annie H

Larus minutus – GWYLAN FECHAN – Passage migrant.

2007	Records for the early part of the year were singles off Strumble Head on 1st & 20th Jan. at Nevern Est. on 13h at Whitesands on the 2nd Jan. with two there on 2nd Feb. In Autumn singles at the Nevern Est. 6th – 7th Sept, Ramsey on 25th Sept., Skomer on 17th Nov. and at Freshwater West on 9th Dec. Passage was noted off Strumble Head: singles on 19th & 25th Aug., four on the 16th Sept, singles 17th & 23rd with two on the 20th & 24th. The only record received for October was the count of 11 on the 9th. Five counted there on 10th Nov. and the last record was of a single on the 9th Dec.
2008	All records were: one in Ramsey Sound 1st Jan., 1st w off Freshwater West on 9th Jan., two 1st w there on 5th Feb., 1st w off Strumble Head on 10th Jan., a juv. at Cwm-yr-Eglwys 25th Mar., 2nd w in Fishguard Harbour — 17th Sept. and off Strumble Head, on 30th Aug., 2nd 4th, 6th 8 70′ sept., 2 on 13th sept., 3 on 23rd sept.. 5 on Oct., 24th Oct.
2009	All records received were: in the first winter period in in Fishguard Harbour on 17th Jan & a 1st w on 4th Mar, 1st w off Freshwater West on 21st Jan. Birds noted passing Strumble Head, ad & 1st S on 17th June, two in August, 9 in September, two in October and four in November. In the second winter period individuals at: Nevern 9th Oct, 1st w Treleddyn Farm, St. Davids on 26th Nov with another in Whitesands Bay on the same day and an adult in Fishguard Harbour on 10th Dec.
2010	At Strumble Head a total of 18 birds passed between 22nd Aug & 23rd Oct, max seven on the last date. The two birds which passed in August were adults the remainder during September & October were all 1st W. A single 1st W passed Pen Anglas on 23rd Oct.
2011	At Strumble Head 49 birds recorded on 20 dates between 8th Aug & 20th Dec, max 13 on 17th Dec. The majority were 1st w birds. Also recorded, single 1st w birds at St. David’s Head 30th Oct, Fishguard Harbour on 12th Nov , two adults in Ramsey Sound 15th Nov with two 1st w there on 10th, 20th & 27th Dec on the last two dates a 2nd w bird was also seen. The only spring record was a 1st w at Whitesands Bay on 1st Mar.
2012	All records were of singles unless stated at: St. Justinians / Ramsey Sound 6th Jan – 8th Feb, with two there on the 13th, 1st summer Fishguard Harbour 10th Aug, and adult Pen Anglas 20th Sept, Fishguard Harbour 2nd & 19th Oct. Only 17 birds passed Strumble Head all in the autumn, the first on July 29th with the last record on 16th Oct, max four on 12th Oct.
2013	A total of 29 birds were recorded on 13 dates passing Strumble Head, between 26th Aug & 3rd Nov, max eight on 29th Oct. The majority were 1st w birds but adults & 2nd w birds were also recorded. Elsewhere, two were at Fishguard Harbour on 6th Feb with only one the next day & another single later in the year on 24th Sept. The Teifi Est. had single birds on 1st & 21st July and another at Stackpole / Bosherston on 12th – 15th Nov. A 1st w off Ramsey on 15th Sept and an adult in Ramsey Sound on 2nd Dec.
2014	An Adult was at Newgale on 10th Jan and another Adult was at Dale on 31st Dec. At Strumble Head, 19 passed on nine dates between 26th Aug & 7th Nov, max. nine on 21st Oct, of these birds four were adults & 15 juveniles/1st W. On Ramsey, two adults and two 1st W on 11th Jan, another 1st W on 7th Feb and at the other end of the year a juvenile on 25th Oct.
2015	At Strumble Head a total of 16 recorded, two Adults, a single 2nd year bird & 13 Juv/1st w. Elsewhere, a 2nd cy bird West Angle 31st Aug, a 1st w Carew 17th Sept, Skokholm had single birds on 16th Oct & 20th Nov. There were two 1st w off Ramsey 29th Nov and a single 30th & 31st Dec. There was an Adult at the Gann from 10th Dec until the end of the year.
2016	All records were: Ramsey Sound 2nd -19th Jan with another there 8th Mar, Gann 3rd – 5th Jan, 22nd Jan – 18th Feb, St. Dogmaels (Teifi Est) 28th Feb – 2nd Mar, and in Fishguard Harbour 1st May. At Strumble Head a total of 22 birds recorded, 4 ads & 18 juvs, max. 8 on 18th Oct. Skokholm had single birds on 8th Oct & 7th Nov. 1st w off Skomer 13th Sept.
2017	At Strumble Head a total of 14 birds recorded 10 Juveniles & four 2nd winters. A single bird (age unspecified) was at the Gann on 4th Feb, two adults and a 2nd w off Skokholm on 25th Oct, a 2nd w on 26th and a 1st w on 5th Nov.
2018	Singles: Teifi Estuary 5th Mar and off Skokholm 17th Sept, 2nd & 18th Nov. Two passed Strumble Head on 18th, 19th and 21st Sept.
2019	All records were: singles Nevern Est 6 Jan and Gann 22- 24 Mar, off Skomer 5 Nov. Two off Skokholm 7 Nov and two in Fishguard Harbour 6 Sept. Total of nine logged passing Strumble Head: three on 31 Aug, singles 1 & 7 Sept, two on 29 Sept & 6 Oct.
2020	All records were: off Strumble Head in August, one on 21st, two on 22nd and three on 26th and singles on 24 Sept & 3 Oct. Elsewhere singles: Nevern Est 10 Jan, Fishguard Harbour 25 Aug, Gann 24 Sept, 31 Oct & 14 Nov, Skokholm 3, 14 & 17 Oct, 1, 15 – 25 Nov.
2021	In the first winter period a 2CY Amroth 19 Feb and one at Nevern Estuary 22 Feb. In the second winter period: Wiseman’s Bridge 1 Dec, an adult Fishguard Harbour 5 Dec, two on 8th Dec, adult Gann 29 Dec. Passage noted off Strumble Head: three 1CY 3 Oct & five 1CY on 1 Nov, off Skomer 25 Oct and adults off Skokholm 22 & 29 Nov.
2022	All records were: two off Amroth 19 Feb, one Newport 15 Feb, Skokholm 6 Sept and one Llys-y-fran Reservoir 27 Nov. A total of 47 logged passing Strumble Head, 39 1CY birds and eight adults. Max day count was of 21 on 18 Nov (17 of which ten were 1CY and four were adults).
2023	All records were: 2CY at the Gann 13 Jan (photo right by DJ Astins), and two adults there 25 – 27 Feb. A total of 35 logged passing Strumble Head, of which three were adults, three 2CY and 29 1CY. Only other record was of two Goultrop Roads 1 Nov.

Records extracted from the Pembrokeshire Bird Reports which may contain more detail than shown here

More about the Little Gull in Pembrokeshire

Whooper Swan – WeBS 2023-24

December 31, 2021April 29, 2024 Annie H

Actitis hypoleucos – PIBYDD Y DORLAN – Passage migrant and winter visitor

Updates to the Wetland Bird Survey counts for this season.

Several birds have been reported at Marloes Mere and in the St Davids area since late November 2023, but not on a WeBS site on a WeBS count.

There are often more whooper swans in the county than appear in WeBS counts as they are often feeding away from WeBS sites during the day when the counts are done.

Annie Haycock (BBS & WeBS local organiser)

More about the Whooper Swan in Pembrokeshire

Great Northern Diver – WeBS 2023-24

December 7, 2021April 29, 2024 Annie H

Gavia immer – TROCHYDD MAWR – Winter visitor and passage migrant. Recorded in every month

Updates to the Wetland Bird Survey counts for this season.

Annie Haycock (BBS & WeBS local organiser)

More about the Great Northern Diver in Pembrokeshire

Yellow-legged Gull – records

March 14, 2021March 29, 2023 Annie H

Larus michahellis – Gwylan Goesfelen – Scarce winter visitor

Previous records are summarised in Yellow-legged Gull 2018

2019 –

Up to four at Llys y Fran Res. in January, two at both Amroth 25 Aug and at Slebech 5 Sept.
Otherwise all records were of singles at Fishguard Harbour 4 Jan, 26 – 27 Sept, 12 & 28 Nov, 7 & 25 – 26 Dec; at Nevern Est 25 Feb, 24 Sept, 9 & 23 Nov; at Gann 24 Oct, 20 Nov & 23 Dec; at Llanstadwell 21 Mar, Grassholm 3 Aug and at Marloes Mere 9 Nov.

2020 –

All individuals reported were: an adult in Fishguard Harbour 1 – 9 Jan, presumed same returning bird 8 Sept & 4 Dec.
Adults at the Gann 6 Jan, 15 Sept, 18 & 24 Oct and a 2CY 4 Dec.
Counts from Llys-y-fran Res gull roost: five adults and 3CY 4 Jan, two adults and 3CY on 17 Jan, five adults & 3CY on 2 Feb and four adults on 23 Feb. An adult on 15 Aug. Six adults 15 Nov, four adults & 1CY on 25 Nov, three adults & 3CY on 29 Nov, five adults & 3CY on 6 Dec.
An adult at Nevern Est 20 July, 1 & 23 Aug, 25 Sept & 31 Oct – quite probably the Fishguard individual. 1CY there on 1 Sept, had been ringed as a nestling in Switzerland.
Elsewhere an adult at Broad Haven (N) 20 Sept.

2021 –

In Fishguard Harbour, and adult 4 – 15 Feb, returning there from 17 Aug – until the end of the year and a 2CY on 19 Dec, presumed same individual also seen at Nevern Estuary 20 Oct, 16 & 23 Dec.
In Angle Bay an adult 24 Mar & 19 Aug and a 1CY on 13 Nov.
At the Gann: 27 Feb, two on 26 Oct, one 17 & 19 Nov and 10 & 21 Dec.
At the Llys-y-fran gull roost: six on 10 Jan, four on 21 Feb and four on 29 Oct & 22 Dec.
Elsewhere: adult Lawrenny Ferry 21 Jan, 2CY Amroth 13 Feb, Sprinkle Pill 15 Oct & 12 Nov
and at Fowborough Point 22 Oct & 12 Nov.

2022 –

adult Fishguard Harbour 12 Jan, returning 19 Aug until end of the year (presumed same at Nevern Estuary 15 Nov),
Angle Bay 5 Jan,
the Gann 17 Jan, 24 – 25 Dec
St. Dogmaels 26 Feb,
Westfield Pill 24 Apr & 10 Sept,
Skomer 27 July,
Hook/Sprinkle Pill 17 Aug – 8 Oct
Counts at Llys-y-fran Reservoir gull roost produced monthly peaks of seven on 29 Jan, five on 2 Feb, five 24 Oct, six on 9 Nov & four on 5 Dec.

Records extracted from the Pembrokeshire Bird Reports

More about the Yellow-legged Gull in Pembrokeshire

Ring-billed Gull – records

March 14, 2021January 7, 2024 Annie H

Larus delawarensis – Gwylan Fodrwybig – Vagrant

Description required for the Welsh Birds Rarities Committee

Previous records are summarised in Ring-billed Gull 2019

2020 – Wintering adult at Llys-y-fran Res from December 2019 until 23 Feb returning there from 25 Nov (BS et al). The only other record was of a 2CY at Dale – Gann 4 + 6 Jan (DJA, LM, BS et al).

2021 – Wintering adult at Llys-y-fran Res from 25 Nov 2020 until 14 Mar,

Records extracted from the Pembrokeshire Bird Reports

More about the Ring-billed Gull in Pembrokeshire

King Eider – 2020 first for Pembrokeshire

March 13, 2021October 21, 2021 Annie H

Somateria spectabilis – HWYADEN FWYTHBLU’R GOGLEDD – Vagrant.

First county record was of a first winter male at Little Haven / Goultrop Roads 10 Nov onwards, moving around the coast, off Howney Stone, St. Brides until the end of the year (DO et al).

Probably overwintered, but with a lack of observations due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions

The only previous Welsh records have come from Caernarfonshire & Meirionnydd in 1989 – 1990 and Aberaeron, then Ynyslas, Ceredigion 2017 – 2019.

Extracted from the Pembrokeshire Bird Reports and from the Scarce and rare birds in Wales 2020 (Welsh Birds Rarities Committee/Welsh Ornithological Society).

Little Tern – records

March 7, 2021March 29, 2023 Annie H

Sternula albifrons – Môr-wennol Fechan – Scarce passage migrant. Not recorded from December to March or July

Earlier records are summarised in Little Tern 2006

2006	All records from Strumble Hd where 1 on 3 Aug, 3 on 25 & 27 Sept, singles 28 Sept & 2 Oct.
2007	All records were of singles off Strumble Head in September, on the 1st, 3rd and 5th (GHR, RS)
2008	All records were: two at Freshwater West 30 April, and one there 20 May. Two in Angle Bay on 5 Aug, and one on Carew River on 3 Sep.
2009	Passage noted off Strumble Head in Autumn: in August two on the 20th and one on the 21st, in September one on 4th and 5th, and two on 8th, and finally one on 10th October.
2010	All records came from Strumble Head where there was an above average year with a total of 29 birds between 25th July & 16th Sept. In July two on 25th, in August single birds on 16th & 18th with four on 21st and in September single birds on 1st, 4th & 5th with a good count of 16 on 7th (highest ever day count) and finally two on 16th.
2011	Only recorded from Strumble Head where 14 birds passed, one on 29th Aug and in September a single on the 10th, two on 11th, 12th & 13th with four on the 18th.
2012	Only recorded from Strumble Head where 15 birds passed on five dates: nine on 18th Aug with singles on 25th & 30th, in Sept. three on 1st & a single on the 24th.
2013	Only recorded at Strumble Head when four seen on 28th July (RS).
2014	Two spring records of a singles: at the Teifi Est on 4th May then another at Fishguard Harbour on 7th & 8th May. It was a good year for this species passing Strumble Head with a total of 21 birds logged. In August singles on 11th, 25th & 30th with two on 27th, six on 29th & seven on 28th. In September singles on 17th & 30th and in October a single bird on the 9th.
2015	Only recorded at Strumble Head, with four on 23rd Aug and a single on 3rd Sept.
2016	At Strumble Head a total of eight birds recorded, singles on 4th & 29th Aug with six on the 31st of the same month.
2017	A total of nine birds recorded at Strumble Head, five in August, three in September and a single in October
2018	A total of 17 logged passing Strumble Head: four on 24th & 27th Aug, five 21st Sept and two 19th & 23rd Sept
2019	Single off Strumble Head 29 Sept was the only record.
2020	One off the mouth of the Teifi Estuary, 19 Aug
2021	No records
2022	Five logged passing Strumble Head, two on 23 Aug & 7 Sept and a single 9 Sept. One noted off Skokholm 6 Sept.

Graham Rees. Pembrokeshire County Bird Recorder 1981-2007

More about the Little Tern in Pembrokeshire

Chiffchaff – ringing recoveries

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021 Annie H

Phylloscopus collybita – SIFF-SAFF/SIFF SIAFF – Breeding summer visitor, passage migrant and winter visitor

Since 2009, 2157 chiffchaffs have been ringed at various sites on the Pembrokeshire mainland. Another 2000 or so were ringed on Skokholm in that period.

These days, ringing is primarily for monitoring bird populations – their survival, reproductive rates, and so on. It is a very important tool in understanding how and when bird populations change.

A good proportion of the chiffchaffs ringed on the mainland are part of Constant Effort Site ringing, which is designed for population monitoring. Many of the birds ringed will be breeding, or will have hatched on that site. They will often be retrapped on the same site, in the same or subsequent years. These birds are not included in the map.

Chiffchaffs ringed on Skokholm are on migration. They may be heading north in spring, and south in winter, although occasionally a bird seems to be going in the wrong direction as it overshoots its destination. An example is a bird that was ringed on Skokholm in spring, but subsequently settled to breed in Cornwall that summer.

This map shows where birds ringed in Pembrokeshire went to, or where birds ringed elsewhere came from.

Ringing has been undertaken on Skokholm and elsewhere in Pembrokeshire for many decades, but the earlier data isn’t currently easily available.

The apparently low number of birds that have left mainland Pembrokeshire reflect the fact that a large proportion are ringed as fledgelings and juveniles, which are very vulnerable to predation. Birds that have made it as far as Skokholm before being ringed are a bit older, and so have a much better chance of survival.

Meanwhile, that chiffchaff from Keeston is the oldest, and the furthest-travelled, chiff-chaff from Pembrokeshire in the last decade at least.

Annie Haycock (BBS & WeBS local organiser)

Data from Mike and Theresa Sherman of the Pembrokeshire Ringing Group, from the Skokholm Island Annual Reports, and from the BTO website.

More about the Chiffchaff in Pembrokeshire

Ruff – records

February 2, 2021June 15, 2024 Annie H

Calildris pugnax – PIBYDD TORCHOG – Passage migrant

Previous records are summarised in Ruff 1994 and Ruff 2012

2013	The only reports were of singles at Fishguard Harbour on 17th Apr, at the Gann 3rd Aug, at Skokholm on 27th Sept and at St. Dogmaels on 28th Sept.
2014	A single was reported on spring passage at Skokholm on 31st May, All other sightings referred to birds on autumn passage, with up to two birds present at Marloes Mere from 21st to 26th July and then singles on Skokholm on 1st and 18th Sept, on Skomer on 8th Sept, at Marloes Mere on 13th Sept, at Nevern Est on 15th Sept and at Teifi Marshes on 23rd Sept. Subsequently, two were seen at Marloes Mere from 10th to 18th Oct and the last sighting was of a single at Cosheston Pill 16th Nov.
2015	Only two reports on spring passage of a single reeve on Skomer on 10th May, then possibly the same bird on Skokholm on the 11th. The first returning bird was also on Skokholm on 29th June, where the species was the reported on a further 21 dates until 15th Sept, with a max of 5 on 25th Aug. There were also multiple sightings at The Gann, where the species was reported on 7 dates, with a maximum of three on 19th Aug. Elsewhere, single birds were recorded at Skomer, St David’s Airfield and at Cosheston Pill, where the last sighting of the year was reported on 18th Oct.
2016	All records were: two Skokholm 20th Aug, with one there on 23rd, two at the Gann and one at Marloes on 16th Aug, two Poppit 18th Sept. On Skomer singles 22nd & 24th July and 7th Sept.
2017	All records received: singles at St. Dogmaels 1st Apr, Gann 29th & 30th May, 25th July, Skomer on 26th July & 25th Sept, Skokholm 21st Sept, Nevern Est 12th Oct; three at the Gann 23rd Apr and six there on 3rd Nov, decreasing to two on 8th Nov; two on Skokholm on 5th May; three at Marloes 26th Nov – 3 rd Dec, with a single remaining until 9th .
2018	All records were of singles unless stated: at Teifi Estuary 24th Aug, Angle Bay 1st Sept, increasing to three on 7th, Pembroke Mill Pond 9th Sept and Gann 29th Oct.
2019	Winter records: two at the Gann 3 Jan, one there 21 Feb, one 3 & 10 Nov. In autumn singles at: Gann 14 & 24 Aug and 10 Sept, on the Teifi Est 14 Aug & 26 Sept and on Skomer 8 Sept.
2020	All records were of singles unless stated: at the Gann 27 Jan, 4 Mar – 1 Apr, 15 Aug – end of the year, with two there 19 & 28 – 29 Sept, on Skokholm 16 – 20 Apr, on Skomer 23 + 30 Aug, at Teifi Est 22 Aug and at Nevern Est: 25 Aug & 15 Sept.
2021	All records were of singles unless stated: Gann a ringed individual 1 Jan – 3 Feb, others there 25 Apr, 23 Aug, Treffynnon 3 Apr, Nevern 1 Aug & 20 Sept, Skomer 31 Aug. Two Castlemartin Corse 18 Sept.
2022	All records were of singles unless stated: on Skokholm 27 Mar and at the Gann 1 May were the only spring records. In the autumn: Dale Airfield 21 Aug, 2 – 8 Sept with four there on the final day, the Gann 8 & 28 Aug, two 20 Aug, 13 Sept & 12 Oct, Angle Bay 14 Aug, two Marloes 17 Aug, Llys-y-fran Reservoir 1 – 5 Sept, on Ramsey 11 Oct and at Nevern Estuary 12 – 26 Oct & 15 – 17 Nov.
2023	All records were of singles unless stated: at Marloes Mere two on 18 Mar, one 20 Apr, one Penberi Res. 21 Apr, male at the Gann 22 Apr, juvenile at the Gann 24 July – 25 Sept, male & two females 26 Sept, increasing to five individuals on 2 Oct, with one juvenile remaining until 1 Nov.