Welsh Journals

The main passage was in October with 28 passing in half an hour on 25th (the day when Common Gulls also peaked). Both Common and Black-headed Gulls tended to keep closer inshore than other species. Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) were seen each day and their movements are shown in Table 2. The heaviest passages occurred in the early morning with a maximum count of 214 passing south-west between 7.00 and 7.30 hours on 17th September. The largest single flock was 67 on 16th August. On 24th October several were feeding in the tide race north of Careg-trai. Most kept further out to sea than the other gulls but a few passed very close up to the Head. Terns. Unidentified terns (Sterna species) were seen on 5 dates from 23rd August to 26th October 33 passed south-west (with only 2 flying in the oppo- site direction) on 23rd September when 1 Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) was identified among them. Auks. The auk passage is shown in Table 2. 21 were seen on 10th Septem- ber and, except for 12th September, they were then seen each visit, though the main passage was in October. Almost all were flying south-west, low over the sea, usually in flocks of less than 30, and sometimes as singles. They were often accompanied by Common Scoter and sometimes other species. The heaviest passage was in the early morning with smaller numbers after 10.00 hours. 812 flew south-west between 8.00 and 9.00 on 25th October. The great majority were too distant for specific identification. Under good conditions auks could be seen so far out that some passed behind the North Bishop. These birds were over 3 miles away but could be clearly seen with 7 power binoculars. Both Razorbills (Alca torda) and Guillemot (Uria aalge) were identified in October, and an occasional one was seen swimming close inshore. On 1st December a Guillemot flew north-west from Porth Melgan, crossing the headland about 20 feet above the ground. A large autumn auk passage has been recorded at Bardsey Island, 60 miles to the north-north-east, but does not appear to have been so regularly recorded in Pembrokeshire. VISIBLE MIGRATION OF Land-Birds The visible autumn migration of passerines and other species showed a rather complex pattern. These birds arrived either from the north-east along the coast of North Pembrokeshire (coasting) or came in from over the sea from any direction between west and north (immigration). R. M. Lockley (personal communication) has watched a heavy migration of land-birds arriving from the north- east along the coast above Fishguard in October. Very few alighted on the headland. Most continued in one of three directions. (1) Southward but following the coastline around Porth Melgan and Whitesand Bay (coasting). (2) Southward or south-south-west cutting across the sea from the Head to Point St. John or Ramsey Island (short-cutting- this is probably really a sub-division of coasting). (3) Flying out to sea in directions between south-west and north (emigration). These migrants could, of course, alter direction later when out of sight, and this possibility is discussed below. Watching from the Head it was possible to observe accurately the direction of emigration by reference to the positions of the small offshore islands thus North Bishop lies to the west