Welsh Journals

SKOMER BIRD REPORT (5TH MARCH TO 22ND NOVEMBER, 1961) Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer). 1 in North Haven from 28th October to 1st November and again on 6th and 7th November. Divers (Gavia sp.). 1 on 23rd March, and 3 on 7th April. Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus). None recorded. Two pairs of wings recovered from the roosting place of a Little Owl on 8th June, and the fresh remains of another bird found on a stone wall on 30th June. Manx Shearwater (Procellaria puffinus). Already ashore on 5th March. Young ones were making their way to the sea from 10th August until late September. One also found on 2nd October (P. FULLAGAR), and another, a very late one which was still downy, on the 26th, but unfortunately it died on the 29th. Recoveries on Skomer of birds ringed on Skokholm (year that of ringing) 1955, 2 1958, 2 1959, 4 1960, 1 1961, 2. Retraps of Skomer birds 1955, 1 1956, 1 1957, 1 1958, 1 1959, 4 1960, 6. A bird ringed on Bardsey in 1959 and caught on Skomer in August 1960 recaught on 18th April (M. P. HARRIS). 4 pairs bred in the cellar of the Warden's house and successfully reared 3 young. Fulmar Petrel (Fulmarus glacialis). 7 pairs bred successfully, and, as m 1960, up to 20 pairs prospecting various sites. Last seen on 10th September. Gannet (Sula bassana). Seen offshore in varying numbers from 6th March to 25th October. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). 4, possibly 5, pairs bred on the S. side of the Mew Stone. None on the Garland Stone. Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis). 16 pairs bred. After the normal mid-autumn decrease in numbers, single birds (both adults and immatures) present until the end of the season. 2 birds ringed as chicks during 1960 were recovered, as follows :­11.11.1960, at Plymouth, 106 miles S.E. and 5.12.1960, at Portmadoc, Caern- arvonshire, 92 miles N.E. Heron (Ardea cinerea). 1 on 21st June and 18th July. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). 3 pairs bred, 2 of which reared young. No more than breeding population during the spring. Family parties until 12th June, then none until 12th July when 21 flew S.E. Seen on one other date in July, one in August, two in September and two in October 1 or 2 birds in each case, except on 5th October when there were 17 at North Pond. Teal (Anas crecca). Up to 30 present until 20th March, then up to 4 on most dates to the end of the month. 3 on 8th April and 2 on 24th. None then until 8 on 9th August, and 1 on five days during the rest of the month. Then on twenty-three days until the end of the season, with a maximum of 10 on 19th November.