Goshawk – records

March 8, 2021March 14, 2021 Annie H

Accipiter gentilis – GWALCH MARTH – Status unclear

Photo of juvenile goshawk at Carew Cheriton by Richard Ellis

Records extracted from the Pembrokeshire Bird Reports since 2000

Year	Breeding	Other records
2000	Probably 2 breeding pairs in the north of the county around the Teifi and another in the east.	Elsewhere singles (females unless stated) at Llys y fran 9 Jan and in Sept at Roch on 11th , Crundale 18th (male), Slebech & Blackpool Mill 24th and Steynton 28th .
2001	2 pairs bred and 2 others suspected of breeding in the south of the county, 3 pairs suspected to have bred in the north.	Elsewhere individuals recorded at: Solva 13 Jan, Porth Clais 21 Jan, Llanychaer 1 Feb, St. David’s 5 Apr, Strumble 5 Aug and at Ramsey a juv. 18 Sept and a female 25 Sept.
2002	No records received of individuals from the north east of the county but three pairs were noted elsewhere in suitable habitat in the spring / early summer and 3 other pairs bred.	Elsewhere individuals recorded at: Goodwick 18 Jan, Sealyham 19 June and at Strumble Hd 5 & 12 Sept.
2003	A pair was observed displaying at Gelli and at Ffynone. Breeding season records also came from Trecwn, Dowrog & Pantmaenog and a juv. was seen at Strumble Head from 14 Aug on an off until 11 Nov.	Elsewhere individuals recorded in the St. Davids area 15-16 Oct, 11 Nov & 21 Nov, Square & Compass 7 Dec, Westfield Pill 17 Dec, Llanmill 27 Nov and Saundersfoot 30 Dec.
2004	Recorded breeding 16 Apr	Redstone 16 Jan, Sealyham 25-26 Feb, female Vachelic 9 Apr, Strumble Hd 10 Apr, Ramsey 25 May, Cwm yr Eglwys 27 July, Llanmill 30 Aug, juv Maenclochog 3 Sept, Nine Wells 5 Sept and Teifi Marshes 30 Oct.
2005	A total of 5 pairs possibly bred in the county: at Gelly, Canaston Woods, Frenni Fawr. Pengawse and Ffynone_	Westfield Pill 8 Mar, Ramsey 22 June & 20 Nov. Wolfescastle 10 July and Llanmill 27 Aug
2006	Displaying birds were observed at three sites Gelly, Picton and Llys y fran.	Blackpool Mill 20 Feb, Dowrog 8 Feb, Westfield Pill 14 Mar, Maenllwyd 25 May, near Maenclochog in May, Carew 7 Nov, Llanddewi Velfrey 2 Nov, Llanmill (carrying a Jackdaw) 23 Nov, Waundwrgi 2 Dec and 2 at Slebech 3 Dec.
2007	Pairs bred or were seen displaying at Gelly, Canaston, Minwear, Puncheston and West Williamston.	Martletwy on 13 Jan , Ffynone on 18 Feb., Sandy Haven on 24 Feb., Cwm Cneifa on 23 Mar., Hundleton on 12 Apr, Felindre on 14 May, Crymych on 2 Aug. & 21 Dec.. Abercych on 9 Aug, , Stackpole on 1 Nov., Llangloffan Fen on 12 Nov.. Dale on 18 Nov.. Dowrog 23 Nov. — 9 Dec. and at Carew River on 16 Dec
2008	Pairs bred or thought to have bred at ten sites across the county	individuals reported at Castlemartin, Cilgerran. Croes Goch. Crymych, Dowrog, Goodwick. Heathfield. Llangloffan. Llandewi Velfrey, Llanmill. Midland, Mullock Bridge, Narberth. Picton Castle. Rickets Head. Stackpole, Waundwrgi, West Williamston and Westfield Pill.
2009		Reported from nine sites
2010	During the breeding season records came from The Rhos, Plumstone and Ffynone and at Ty Rhyg.	Up to two males and a female were seen on many dates at Plumstone Mountain January – February. Elsewhere at Minwear on 3 Jan, at Ffynone on 20 Feb, One on Skomer on 27 Apr was the first for the island. At Cresswell Quay 30 Nov and at Tegryn on 7 Dec.
2011	Reported from eight sites during the breeding season	Singles at Clyderwen 3 Jan, Whalecombe 13 Feb, Dudwell Mountain 17 Feb, Wolf’s Castle 19 Feb, Llawhaden 27 Feb and Port Clais 11 Sept & 28 Oct. One was found dead at Eglwyswrw on 22 Aug.
2012	Reported from three sites	Reported from 15 sites during the year
2013	At least one breeding pair, which fledged two young and a pair at another site in the north.	Singles reported at: Woodhouse 3 Feb, Rudbaxton 23 Feb, Houghton on 24 Feb, Llandilo on 16 May, Carew Cheriton 17 July, Picton Home Farm on 28 Aug, Merrion on 27 Oct, Eastern Cleddau on 24 Nov.
2014	Present during the breeding season at five sites	Slebech on 13 Feb, Tedion Mountain on 21 Mar, Angle 10 Mar, Skomer on 8 Aug, at Pen Anglas 11 Sept and Llanychaer 25 Sept & 16 Nov.
2015	Reported from three sites during the breeding season	Reported from eight sites across the county
2016	Reported from four sites during the breeding season	Reported from eight sites across the county
2017	Reported from three sites during the breeding season	Reported from a total of eleven locations across the county
2018	Breeding reported at two sites, with records from seven other sites during the breeding season.	Outside the breeding season reported from a further 13 sites, including one on Skomer 15 Aug – 8 Oct.
2019	Reported from 13 locations during the breeding season.	Reported from 22 locations in the county. Including one on Skomer 28 Oct.
2020	Reported from 10 locations during the breeding seasons.	Pairs displaying were observed at two sites and juveniles were seen at two other sites in July.

More about the Goshawk in Pembrokeshire

Eider – records

March 7, 2021March 13, 2021 Annie H

Somateria mollissima – HWYADEN FWYTHBLU – Winter visitor and possible breeder

Earlier records are summarised in Eider 2005

2006	Singles Angle Bay 21 Jan, Ramsey 11 Oct, Strumble Hd 26 Oct and Gann 8 Dec
2007	Only two records received this year, both from Strumble Head, a single male on 26 Sep (GHR) and two on 10 Dec (CBu)
2008	A single female bird which was seen at Angle Bay between 22 Nov and 20 Dec, and four off Skomer on 19 May, were the only records
2009	All records were: singles off Broad Haven (N) and Newgale on 8th Jan, three adult males past Strumble Head on 11th Oct & five past there on 2nd Nov. Finally there was a female/juv type at Neyland on 25th Nov.
2010	A very poor year for this species with the only records being two females off Nolton on 6th Nov and a single male & 3 females at Druidston on 9th Dec.
2011	A group of seven passed Strumble Head on 1st Jan, two at Amroth on 22nd & 23rd Nov reducing to a single bird on 18th & 28th Dec.
2012	All records were: at the Gann two immature males from 17th to 20th March, another two then recorded at Saundersfoot on 16th Aug, then two females at Wisemans Bridge on 13th Oct & lastly a single male at Amroth on 10th Nov. The most bizarre report from 2012 is of an adult male flying low over the bracken on Brynberian Moor on 23rd May (PJ).
2013	Three off Skomer on 29th Apr (photo opposite by DB) and two drakes that passed Strumble Head on 10th Oct were the only records for the year.
2014	No records
2015	All records were: two drakes at St.Bride’s 21st Jan, three (2M,1F) at Broad Haven (N) 14th Mar and three at Haroldston Chins on 13th Apr, a drake at St.David’s Head 16th Mar and finally four ( 1M, 3F) flew through Ramsey Sound on 18th Dec. At Strumble Head two on 8th Sept and a single on 11th Dec, all females.
2016	All records were, two Druidston 2nd Jan, six Broad Haven (N) 15th Feb with one there on 28th of same month, a single bird at Amroth on 6th March with 19 there on the 4th May & a single bird at Nolton Haven on 26th Nov. A flock of 19 that flew West at Amroth on 4th May comprised of 10 males, three 1st summer males & six females & was the largest flock recorded in the county since 40 off Porthgain on 29th Dec 2003.
2017	A single bird Fishguard Harbour 7th to 10th Apr & three off Wiseman’s Bridge 16th Dec were the only records.
2018	Singles at the Gann 30th Apr – 5 th May, Newgale 24th & 26th Nov and at Fishguard Harbour on 9th Dec. The only multiple bird records were from Monksone Point, of six on 22nd Dec, increasing to nine on 26th, three Wiseman’s Bridge 15th Jan and of four flying past Skomer on 29th Oct.
2019	All records were: two at the mouth of the Teifi Est 27 Mar, five in Angle Bay 10 Apr, 40 off Amroth 17 Apr, a male off Pen Anglas 22 Oct and one Wiseman’s Bridge 23 Dec.
2020	Only records received were: two Wiseman’s Bridge 26 Jan, four Angle Bay 4 Sept and two St. Brides 30 Dec.

More about the Eider in Pembrokeshire

Little Tern – records

March 7, 2021March 7, 2021 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

More about the Little Tern in Pembrokeshire

Velvet Scoter – records

February 6, 2021March 13, 2021 Annie H

Melanitta fusca – MOR-HWYADEN GOGLEDD – Winter visitor.

Previous records are summarised in Velvet Scoter 1994

1993	Singles Strumble Head 9 Jan, 12 Jun and 20 Nov and Druidston 25 Nov, 3 Skomer 22 Oct.
1994	4 Amroth 30 Jan, up to 7 in that area 20 Nov – 3 1 Dec, singles Strumble Hd 2 July and Newgale 13 Nov.
1995	Singles Strumble Head 1 Jan, 3 Nov and 2 Dec, 2 Newgale 2 Jan, with singles there 8 Jan and 14 Dec, singles Ramsey 22 June and Gann 18-19 Nov, 3 Amroth 12 Jan and 4 Mar, with on 15 Jan and 17 Dec.
1996	Singles Fishguard Harbour 9 Feb and Amroth 14 Feb, with 14 there 27 Mar. One Strumble Head 20 Sept.
1997	3 Nolton 5 – 7 Jan, one Newgale 12 Feb, 4 Amroth 3 Mar, 2 Strumble Hd 15 Oct, singles there 26 Oct and 7 Nov, and at Wiseman’s Bridge 14 Dec.
1998	3 Broad Haven (N) 10 Jan, up to 4 Newgale 26 Jan – 15 Feb, up to 6 Amroth 15-22 March. Singles Strumble Head 26 Sept & 14 Nov. 2 on 4 Nov. 2 Druidston 6 Dec, 2 Amroth 13 Dec and 2 Broad Haven (N) 20 – 21 Dec.
1999	1-5 Amroth 6-30 Jan, one there 18 & 21 Nov (TJP et al), 1-2 Broad Haven (N) 11-21 Jan (KJSD et al), one Strumble Head 17 Jan (SB).
2000	4 Strumble Head 15 Oct (GHR).
2001	Male Amroth 17 Feb (GHR) and female 25 Feb (DSB), one Strumble Head 10 Nov and 7 on 13 Dec (SEB).
2002	Variably 4-9 Nolton/Newgale 15 Feb – 14 Mar, singles Strumble Head 3 & 10 Nov, 5 Broad Haven (N) 29 Nov – 31 Dec.
2003	5 Broad Haven (N) 5 Jan, 9 there 24 Jan – 12 Feb, 8 on 14 & 15 Feb, 12 on 5 Dec, then 7 from 6 – 29 Dec. One Amroth 2 Jan, 2 Strumble Head 30 Nov.
2004	6 Broad Haven (N) 2 Jan, one there 25 Jan, one Strumble Head 18 Jan, 2 on 15 Feb,3 on 24 Oct and 2 on 25 Oct.
2005	Singles Newgale 13 Jan & 15 Feb, Manorbier 10 Nov, Angle Bay 20 Nov, Newgale 26 & 27 Nov, 2 at latter 24 & 25 Dec, one St Davids Head 26 Dec.
2006	One Newgale 2 – 6 Jan, with 2 there 3 Jan, one Skomer 29 Mar, 2 Strumble Head 8 Dec.
2007	All records were: a male passing off Strumble Head on 12 Sept., three males there on 18 Nov. and two males on 10th Dec, (SEB, AR, CBu). Five off Broad Haven (N) on 18th & 19th Dec., reducing to three by the 23rd (TJP, PKG, KJSD).
2008	The only records were of 5 off Broad Haven North from 2nd until 6th Jan. (LL. DJA).
2009	All records were in St. Bride’s Bay off Broad Haven (N). There were two on 21 Feb, increasing to nine on 19 March which then reduced to two again by the 21st. Later in the year another two were recorded at the same site from 17 to 21 Dec. Elsewhere one passed Strumble Head on 9 Sept and three males passed by on 11 Oct and three were off Pen Anglas on 30 Nov.
2010	All records were from St. Brides Bay with two at Broad Haven on 10 Jan and one at Newgale on 30 Jan & 1 Feb. Then at the other end of the year, three at Broad Haven on 19 Nov rising to eight by 21st, dropping to two from 24 Dec with just 1 remaining by the 31st.
2011	All records were from Broad Haven (N) where there was a pair from 3 to 9 Jan then a female reported on 20 Nov & 1 Dec at the same site.
2012	A 1st winter male at Broad Haven (N) on 26 Feb, a female at the same site from 23 – 30 Nov & three females Wisemans Bridge on 5 Dec were the only records.
2013	A single Female at Broad Haven (N) from 2 to 20 March and three off Newgale 26 Dec were the only acceptable records.
2014	Single individuals were recorded at Strumble Head on 22 Sept, a male off the St. Davids Head/St. John’s Point area from 15 to 19 Nov and off Amroth on 24 Dec.
2015	The only record for the year was of three past Strumble Head on 12 Sept.
2016	A single female type bird which joined the Common Scoter flock at Wiseman’s Bridge on 15 Dec was the only record for the year.
2017	No records
2018	Only record was of a male and two females off Amroth 24 March
2019	Only records were of two in Whitesands Bay 28 Nov and singles off Skomer 5 Nov, off Skokholm 2 Dec and in St. Brides Bay off Broad Haven N on 17 Dec
2020	Only records received were: off Broad Haven (N): one 12 – 21 Jan, three 23 Oct and one 6 Dec; off Wiseman’s Bridge – Coppet Hall: 27- 30 there 19 – 26 Jan, two on 3 Dec and a single 11 Dec.

More about the Velvet Scoter in Pembrokeshire

Ruff – records

February 2, 2021March 13, 2021 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.

More about the Ruff in Pembrokeshire

Bittern – records

January 19, 2021March 14, 2021 Annie H

Botaurus stellaris – ADERYN Y BWN – Sparse winter visitor. Not recorded from July to September

Previous records are summarised in Bittern 1994

The right-hand column shows the number of individuals that were recorded in that year.

1995	Singles Penally Ranges 16 Nov (G&KBH), Dowrog 11 Dec (JB), Trefeiddan 26 Dec (JB) and Pontiago 31 Dec (IM).	4
1996	Singles Dowrog 3-26 Jan (JB), Trefeiddan 7 Jan (JB) and Bosherston pools 29 Dec (TJP).	3
1997	Widespread hard weather at the beginning of the winter resulted in a Jan influx, some birds staying on into March. 2 Bosherston throughout Jan, one remaining until 23 Mar (RJE, RJH et al), singles Llys y fran 2 Jan (DJA, TJP), Dowrog 3 Jan – 8 Feb (JB, JRH et al), Heathfield GP 4-6 Jan (SB), Ffynone 6 Jan (DL) and at nearby Afon Dalais 13 Jan (PG), Teifi Marshes 25 Jan (JWD) Skomer 19 Mar (SS) Upper Haythog 20 Mar (RM)	9
1998	One Shoals Hook 23 Dec (Jba)	1
1999	One ‘booming’ Teifi Marshes 6&7 Aug (DR), one Bosherston 14-27 Nov (LL,PM,AW)	2
2000	One St David’s airfield 26 Dec (JB)	1
2001	No records
2002	Singles Goodwick Moor 5 Jan (CB), Teifi Marshes 15 Jan (WWC staff) and Marloes Mere 14 Dec (SJS).	3
2003	Singles Westfield Pill 21 Jan (AJH) and Pembroke M P 26 Jan – 27 Feb (JH et al), Broad Haven (N) Nov (BN, TW)	3
2004	One Pembroke M P 3 Jan – 28 Feb (PKG, JH), with 2 there 21 Jan (JH), one Teifi Marshes 13 Nov (RB).	3
2005	Singles Teifi Marshes 19 Oct (AKP, JP) and 16 & 22 Nov, and 17 Dec ( per JG)	3
2006	One Trefeiddan in Jan (JBe).	1
2007	No records
2008	No records
2009	A good year for records of this species in 2009 with reports of single birds at : St. David’s Airfield on 2nd Feb & 4th Mar and on the Teifi Marshes from 14th Feb until 15th Mar then at the other end of the year from 7th to 20th Nov (probably present until the end of the year).	3
2010	A single at the Teifi Marshes from the 14th Jan until 8th Mar when it was joined by a second and a third was noted there on the 11th. They were last recorded on 22nd Mar when both birds were seen to fly up high and head off north. Elsewhere singles at Bosherston 13th & 28th Jan, at Fortunes Frolic on 18th Jan and at St Davids Airfield on 1st Feb. At the other end of the year all singles at the Teifi on 21st Oct, at Newgale Marsh on 11th Dec, Newport on 20th Dec, at the top of Newgale valley on 26th Dec, at Freshwater West on 30th Dec and three together at Bosherston on 25th Dec.	14
2011	First recorded at Bosherston with a single bird on 8th Jan, this had increased to two by 7th Jan. Presumably these birds remained as two were recorded during February until on 4th March the number rose to three and then four on the 5th. The last record for the early part of the year was of three on 7th March. One on the Teifi Marshes 6th Mar. At the other end of the year singles at Teifi Marshes 5th Nov, at Castlemartin Corse 1st Dec & two at Bosherston from 14th Nov until the end of the year	9
2012	Singles reported at St. David’s Airfield on 8th Feb, at Goodwick Moor on 24th Feb then probably the same bird flying over Fishguard on the evening of 5th Mar, at Pantmaenog on 29th Feb and on the Teifi Marshes on 21st Nov.	4
2013	The only records were: at the Teifi Marshes on 14th Jan & 7th – 12th Nov, at Castle Martin Corse on 9th Feb and from Bosherston, two on 3rd & 4th Feb, a single bird on 16th & another 17th – 30th Dec.	7
2014	Single birds were at Gupton Farm on 30th Jan & 27th Feb and at Castlemartin Corse on 27th Feb. At the other end of the year, a bird was seen at Bosherston on 13th & 29th Dec and one on the Teifi Marshes all December	5
2015	During the early part of the year single birds were recorded at the Teifi Marshes on 4th & 22nd Jan, Bosherston on 17th & 30th Jan, Castlemartin Corse on 18th Jan & Freshwater West on 21st Feb. Later in the year single birds were recorded at Castlemartin Corse on 29th Oct, 7th & 22nd Nov, with two on the 7th Nov, and at the Teifi Marshes from 16th Nov until 18th Dec	7
2016	A single bird at Teifi Marshes from 18th Jan until 4th April with two there on 21st March. Singles at Llangloffan Fen on 30th March then at the other end of the year at Stackpole on 15th Dec & another at Teifi Marshes 29th & 30th Dec.	5
2017	Up to two reported from the Teifi Marshes on 3rd Jan – 13th Apr and singles at Goodwick Moor on 9th Feb, at Stackpole Court 28th Feb – 2nd Mar and one on Skokholm on 6th May was the first record for the island.	5
2018	The only record was of a single at Newgale 16th Feb.	1
2019	No records	0
2020	All records were of singles: a 2CY at Teifi Marshes 27 July – 3 Sept, and one at Castlemartin Corse 6 & 7 Dec.

More about the Bittern in Pembrokeshire

Whooper Swan – records

January 18, 2021March 13, 2021 Annie

Cygnus cygnus – ALARCH GOGLEDD – Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

Earlier records are summarised in Whooper Swan 1994

This table shows the number of individuals reported in each month. Note that any individual or group may have stayed into the next month or two, therefore these figures do not add up to the number of records, or the number of actual individuals reported in any one year.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Notes
1993					4	1		7		2
1994		1	1		5					3
1995					3	3			2	1
1996			2	2					3	7	(1)
1997	18	9	9					5		3
1998	3	3	3						1	1
1999	3	3	3					9	7	2
2000	1	1	1					9	18	2
2001	1			2				1	1	3
2002	10	11	1		1				2	12
2003	6				1			4		1
2004		1		1				2	3
2005	1								14	10
2006	3	1	1	1			1		1
2007	2	2	2						2
2008								5	8	2
2009	12	6							14	6
2010	16	5	5						10	15
2011	4	4	4					1	10	3
2012	3	5						6	20	3
2013								5	6	5
2014								10	5
2015	4
2016	2		1	1				2	7
2017	2		1				1	16	26	5
2018	4						4	18	9	13
2019	8	18	9	2	1			17	14	3
2020	3	2					1	2	16	14

Notes: (1) One seen briefly at Bosherston Lakes on 29 November 1996 had been colour-ringed in Iceland. This record was in the 1997 report, but the archive shows it actually referred to 1996.

More about the Whooper Swan in Pembrokeshire

Pied Wagtail – roosts

January 4, 2021March 21, 2021 Annie

Motacilla alba yarelli – SIGLEN FRAITH – Breeding resident and passage migrant

In general, the largest counts of Pied Wagtails are usually at winter roosts, which can be in natural areas such as reedbeds, and man-made urban sites that provide some degree of warmth. These can sometimes hold over 600 birds. There was a roost of 600-1,000 in gorse at Martletwy, Pembrokeshire, between January and March 1935, and in more recent times roosts at Teifi Marshes have regularly held over 100 birds, and several hundred have used Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest each winter.

Outside the winter months such gatherings are unusual, but may represent pre-migration staging posts and often include white wagtails along with the pieds. The largest gathering recorded in Pembrokeshire was 1,000 birds, were at the Gulf Refinery, Pembroke, on 18 May 1998.

The following tables show the counts for each site, compiled from the Pembrokeshire Bird Reports, Graham Rees’s Archive of records, and the Pembrokeshire Bird Sightings Blog.

Goodwick/Fishguard Harbour reedbed

Year	Month	Count
1988	Aug	100
1988	Dec	50
1989	Oct	60
1992	Aug	30
2003	Aug	162

Teifi Marshes reedbed

Year	Month	Count
1996	Sep	50
2009	Mar	100
2009	Nov	100
2012	Mar	20
2013	Apr	80
2014	Aug	50
2016	Mar	128
2016	Jan	60
2017	Apr	100
2019	Jan	120

Tenby Marshes reedbed

Year	Month	Count
1930	Aug	100
1930	Sep	300
1984	Dec	107

Haverfordwest/Withybush buildings

Year	Month	Count
1984	Oct	106
1986	Oct	200
2017	Dec	420
2018	Dec	780
2019	Dec	650
2020	March	100
2021	Jan	550

Other roost sites

Year	Month	Count	Place	Habitat
1935	Jan-Mar	600-1000	Martletwy	Gorse
1984	Sep	350	Texaco Jetty	Industrial
1984	Sep	60	Stackpole	Maize field
1994	Mar	50	Nevern Bridge	Reedbed?
1996	Sep	150	Gann	?
1996	Sep	53	Tegryn	?
1998	May	1000	Gulf refinery	Industrial
1998	Sep	70	St Davids School	Sub-urban
1998	Mar	30	Stackpole	Reedbed
1999	Sep	75	Pembroke Millpond	?
2000	Sep	150	Llys-y-fran	?
2020	Aug	50	Picton Ferry	on a boat!
2020	Sep	40	Winterton	Reedbed

References:

BTO website

LOVEGROVE R, WILLIAMS G, WILLIAMS I. 1994. Birds in Wales. T & A. D. Poyser, London

More about the Pied Wagtail in Pembrokeshire

Osprey – first and last dates

January 2, 2021March 14, 2021 Annie

Pandion haliaetus – GWALCH Y PYSGOD – Scarce passage migrant.

Year	First sighting	Last sighting	Estimate of the number of birds involved
1981		12 September	only record
1982		29 August	only record
1984		18 July	only record
1986	29 May		only record
1988	12 June	25 October	three birds
1989	4 March	30 September	two birds
1990	3 May	6 August	three birds
1991	28 March	10 September	eight birds
1992	13 May	29 August	six birds
1993	29 April	9 October	nine birds
1994		6 October	two birds
1995	6 March	15 October	six birds
1996	27 April	21 September	six birds
1997	6 April	17 July	seven birds
1998	8 May	10 October	twelve birds
1999	8 May	9 October	Eleven birds
2000	14 April	18 December	Eight birds
2001	9 April	29 September	Eleven birds
2002	7 April	9 October	Ten birds
2003	29 March	14 September	Seven birds
2004	19 March	11 October	8 spring birds, 6 autumn birds
2005	4 April	5 October	Five birds
2006	11 April	19 October	Eleven birds
2007	8 April	late October	Three birds
2008	4 April		Eight birds
2009	8 April	13 September	Five birds
2010	10 April		Six birds – incl. 1 or 2 summering on the Cleddau
2011		11 September	Four birds – incl. 1 or 2 summering on the Cleddau
2012	24 March	17 September	Nine birds
2013	23 March	30 September	Six birds
2014	early March	2 October	Two spring birds, nine autumn birds
2015	26 March	21 September	Six spring, three autumn
2016	11 April	10 September	Eight birds
2017	18 April	26 September	Three spring birds, three autumn birds
2018	8 April	2 September	Three spring birds, two autumn birds
2019	3 April	26 September	Three spring birds, three autumn birds
2020	6 April	1 October	A long staying 1CY bird at the Gann 5 Sept – 1 Oct had been ringed as a nestling near Elgon, Moray on 10 July this year.

Note that the number of birds may differ from the table in Osprey 2020 because that table is the number of birds in each month, and some may have stayed into a second month

More about the Osprey in Pembrokeshire

Whimbrel – first and last dates

January 2, 2021March 13, 2021 Annie

Numenius phaeopus – COEGYLFINIR – Passage migrant

Earlier records are summarised in Whimbrel 1994

Year	Earliest sighting	Last sighting	Notes
1993	15 April	22 October	Spring maximum – 100 at Gann on 2 May Autumn maximum – 220 passed Strumble Head on 5 August
1994	13 April	27 September	Spring max – 29 at Skomer on 26 April Autumn max – 30 at Strumble Head on 30 on 28 August
1995	9 April	28 September	Spring max – 75 at Brownslade on 7 May Autumn max – 18 at Strumble Head on 26 August
1996	7 April	19 October	Spring max – 30+ at Skomer on 1 May Autumn max – 34 at Strumble Head on 24 August Single on Skomer on 21 November is a notable late date
1997	17 April	18 October	One probably overwintered on Skomer 1996-97 Spring max – 135 at Brownslade 6 June Autumn max – 26 passed Strumble Head on 24 July Two on Skomer in November-December
1998	mid-April	Oct-Nov	Two birds overwintered on Skomer 1997-98 Spring max – 115 at Castlemartin on 21 May Autumn max – 370 passed Strumble Head on 5 August One on Skokholm on 6 December
1999	17 March	November	One probably overwintered on Skokholm Spring max – over 50 at Ramsey on 3 dates mid-April to mid-May Autumn max – 65 passed Strumble Head on 30 August
2000	23 March	20 November	One probably overwintered on Skokholm Spring max – 45 at Whitesands on 1 May Autumn max – 20 at Angle Bay on 18 August
2001	mid-March	2 October	One probably overwintered on Skokholm Spring max – 200+ at Whitesands on 6 May Autumn max – 105 passed Strumble Head on 29 August Up to 3 in Dec when Skokholm vacated
2002	mid-March	mid-October	One probably overwintered on Skokholm Spring max – 70 at Freshwater West on 3 May Autumn max – 21 at Skomer on 1 August
2003	8 March	13 November	Spring max – 64 at Skokholm on 28 April Autumn max – 39 passing Strumble Head on 31 July One still on Skokholm when Island vacated in December
2004	13 March	30 October	Spring max – 60+ Hendre Farm on 3 May Autumn max – 26 at Cwm-yr-Eglwys on 6 August
2005	8 March	October	Spring max – 42 at the Gann on 21 May Autumn max – 55 passed Strumble Head on 4 August Singles recorded at several places in December on Cleddau
2006	20 March	4 November	Single at Angle Bay on 2 & 6 January (same bird as Dec 2005?) Spring max – 148 at Whitesands on 29 April Autumn max – 45 passed Strumble Head on 4 September
2007	17 March	18 November	Spring max – 185 at Whitesands on 1 May Autumn max – 12 at Strumble Head on 1 September
2008	1 March	4 September	Spring max – 64 on the Teifi on 26 April Autumn max – 22 at Stumble Head on 2 September
2009	4 April	2 November	Spring max – 64 at the Gann on 30 April Autumn max – 65 passing Stumble Head on 9 August
2010	10 April	25 September	Spring max – 41 at Ramsey on 21 April Autumn max – 23 passed Strumble Head on 21 August
2011	1 April	14 October	At least two over-wintered on Skokholm seen 1st Jan – 22 March Spring max – 75 at Whitesands on 5 May Autumn max – light passage up to three birds at a time
2012	2 April	23 October	At least two over-wintered on Skokholm 2011-12 Spring max – 79 at St Davids Head on 1 May Autumn max – 53 at Porth Selau Beach on 14 September
2013	10 March	13 September	Spring max – 67 at Marloes Mere on 27 April Autumn max – 1498 seen from Strumble Head on 18 August
2014	27 March	19 September	One may have overwintered on Skokholm Spring max – 110 at the Gann on 13 May Autumn max – 247 passed Strumble Head on 11 August
2015	21 March	25 September	One assumed to have overwintered on Skokholm Spring max – 55 at Freshwater West on 30 April Autumn max – 30 passed Strumble Head on 23 August One on Skokholm in October-November – over-wintering?
2016	10 April	20 September	Spring max – 140 at Kilpaison on 30 April Autumn max – none given
2017	12 April	8 October	Spring max – 32 at Carew-Cresswell on 2 May Autumn max – 40 at Skomer on 29 August
2018	7 March	25 November	Spring max – 70 at Newport on 2 May Autumn max – 16 passed Strumble Head on 24 & 27 August
2019	4 April	30 November	One thought to have over-wintered on Skokholm A leucistic bird at Skokholm on 6&7 May, Spring max – 45 at Skokholm on 28 April Possibly same leucistic bird seen at the Gann on 9 July Autumn max – none given
2020	11 March	4 December	One over-wintered on Skokholm 2019 – 2020 and another one there on 4 Dec. Another winter record from Llanreath-Hobb’s Point (WeBS) 12 Jan

More about Whimbrel in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire Avifauna

All about birds in Pembrokeshire

Tag: Pembrokeshire Bird Reports