Kingfisher – 2021 winter

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 Annie

Alcedo atthis – Glas y dorlan – breeding resident

Kingfishers often drift towards the coast in winter, often spending the season on the estuaries before moving back upstream to breeding areas. This movement was more marked when winters were colder and ponds more likely to be frozen over, forcing birds to move in search of food.

Distribution

This map was produced by the West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre using data collected between November and February for the BTO Atlas 2007-11, with additional data collected in 2011-12 winter to fill gaps in coverage.

Best places to see kingfishers in winter:

Bosherston Lily Ponds
Nevern Estuary
Teifi Marshes Reserve
Pembroke Millponds

Wetland Bird Survey

The slightly higher numbers seen on WeBS sites in 1995-96, 2009-10 and 2010-2011 probably reflect the colder winters in those years.

Data for June and July are collected by Jane Hodges during the annual surveillance of summer shelduck populations on the Cleddau Estuary complex. There are no counts in August. The September to March data is collected from sites across Pembrokeshire (including the Teifi Estuary) for the BTO Wetland Bird Survey.

These graphs will be updated as more data comes in.

Pattern of occurrence

Cumulative number of records per week in Pembrokeshire since 2000, taken from BirdTrack. Birds are more widespread during the autumn dispersal period, and also in winter when there are fewer leaves on the trees.

Annie Haycock (BBS & WeBS local organiser)

HODGES J E. (2010-2020) Daugleddau Estuary and Milford Haven Waterway: annual surveillance of summer shelduck populations. Reports to the Milford Haven Waterway Environmental Surveillance Group.

More about the Kingfisher in Pembrokeshire

Greylag Goose – 2021 Winter

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021 Annie

Anser anser – GWYDD WYLLT

Greylag geese were rarely recorded in Pembrokeshire prior to 2000 but since 2011-12 they have been seen more regularly. Counts of 100+ birds are now not unusual on the upper parts of the Cleddau Estuary. They are thought to be descendants of a population introduced by wildfowlers to the Kidwelly area in Carmarthenshire.

Distribution

The main sites are:

The main flock of greylags spend their time commuting between the upper parts of the Cleddau Estuary, especially the Langwm-Hook-Eastern Cleddau area, and the surrounding fields where they feed. However, small numbers may be encountered on bodies of water of any size elsewhere.

Wetland Bird Survey

These graphs will be updated as more data comes in.

Pattern of occurrence

Cumulative number of records per week in Pembrokeshire since 2000, taken from BirdTrack.

Annie Haycock (BBS & WeBS local organiser)

HODGES J E. (2010-2020) Daugleddau Estuary and Milford Haven Waterway: annual surveillance of summer shelduck populations. Reports to the Milford Haven Waterway Environmental Surveillance Group.

More about the Greylag Goose in Pembrokeshire

Grey Heron – Winter 2021

October 20, 2021October 20, 2021 Annie

Ardea cinerea – CREYR GLAS – Breeding resident

Herons disperse widely in the autumn, and small parties of juveniles have been seen flying due west out to sea. Thus, the herons seen on the estuary system in winter may or may not be from local colonies. On WeBS sites, the total numbers drop from around 30-40 in autumn to around twenty in mid-winter.

The overall population trend seems to be for an increase in all parts of the UK for breeding herons, and a general increase in wintering herons except in Wales where there has been a slow decline since 2001-02. The results of WeBS in Pembrokeshire is consistent with this.

Distribution

The main sites are:

While herons can be found at almost any wetland (open water or marshy grassland) sites in winter, they are probably most easily observed on the estuaries and at Bosherston Lily Ponds.

Wetland Bird Survey

Herons were not regularly counted for WeBS until 1993.

Maximum counts are usually in the autumn, coinciding with dispersal from nest sites. This graph will be updated as more counts come in.

Pattern of occurrence

Cumulative number of records per week in Pembrokeshire since 2000, taken from BirdTrack. As herons are considered to be a resident species, they can be seen at any time of year. However, sightings peak in September-October, coinciding with autumn dispersal.

Annie Haycock (BBS & WeBS local organiser)

HODGES J E. (2010-2020) Daugleddau Estuary and Milford Haven Waterway: annual surveillance of summer shelduck populations. Reports to the Milford Haven Waterway Environmental Surveillance Group.

More about the Grey Heron in Pembrokeshire

Greenshank – 2021 Winter

October 19, 2021October 20, 2021 Annie

Tringa nebularia – PIBYDD COESWERDD – Winter visitor and passage migrant

Typically, peak numbers of greenshank in Britain are recorded in August as birds move from their northern European (including Scottish) breeding sites to winter in south-west Europe and north and west Africa. The pattern seen in Pembrokeshire largely follows this regime, with generally higher numbers (usually 30-40, but over 70 in 1995 and 2005) seen in the July-September period compared with the November-February mid-winter period. (Note there were no migration period counts in the early 1990s).

Most of the birds have moved on by the end of October, but those remaining tend to stay put for the rest of the winter. This is generally around 20-30 birds although 58 were present in January 2019.

The Cleddau Estuary is of National Importance for its greenshank population, and is the second-most important Welsh site (the Burry Inlet has higher counts) for the species.

Distribution

The main sites are:

Nevern Estuary
Almost anywhere on the Cleddau Estuary

Wetland Bird Survey

Maximum count may be usually in September-October, but in 2019-20 the highest numbers were in January and March.

This graph will be updated as more counts come in

Pattern of occurrence

Cumulative number of records per week in Pembrokeshire since 2000, taken from BirdTrack. This gives an idea of when the species is most likely to be seen.

The June records are likely to be of failed breeders, returning south early. The main migration takes place from July to October. Birds arriving from October onwards are likely to stay the winter, moving on in March, back to (probably) their Scottish breeding grounds. Spring migration of birds that have wintered further south and will be breeding further north takes place in April-May.

Annie Haycock (BBS & WeBS local organiser)

HODGES J E. (2010-2020) Daugleddau Estuary and Milford Haven Waterway: annual surveillance of summer shelduck populations. Reports to the Milford Haven Waterway Environmental Surveillance Group.

More about the Greenshank in Pembrokeshire

Great Crested Grebe – 2021 Winter

October 17, 2021October 20, 2021 Annie

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

Distribution

The main sites are:

Angle Bay – highest count – 26 in December 2020
Fishguard Harbour
Llys-y-Fran Reservoir – 5-year average max count = 15
Rosebush reservoir
The coast at Amroth to Wiseman’s Bridge – highest count 32 in December 2020.

Wetland Bird Survey

This graph will be updated as more counts come in.

Pattern of occurrence

The numbers of records each week taken from BirdTrack. This gives an idea of when they are most likely to be seen in the county.

Annie Haycock (BBS & WeBS local organiser)

More about the Great Crested Grebe in Pembrokeshire

Gadwall – 2021 Winter

October 16, 2021October 20, 2021 Annie

Mareca strepera – HWYADEN LWYD – Winter visitor, has bred

The gadwall has been increasing in numbers and distribution in winter since the 1960s. However, there was a lack of birds in Pembrokeshire (and in Wales) during the early-mid 1990s, and again in 2007-08. Recent winters have again shown a decline in numbers. The reason for this is not clear, although as this is primarily a freshwater species, it is possible that its occurrence in this part of the country may depend on whether lakes further north are frozen over or otherwise unaccessible.

Gadwall are kleptoparasitic on species such as coot and swans that feed on submerged vegetation – bringing it to the surface where the gadwalls can reach it. It is therefore possible that the recent decline in gadwall here is related to the decline in coot since 2010.