South Pembs choughs; quail nr Hayscastle and a plea for owl breeding records

Noted recent comments about choughs fledging on Ramsey etc. So far the season appears not so rosy on the Limestone in south Pembs. Of just 13 pairs known to be nesting on Castlemartin peninsula and apparently feeding young at the nest in May, so far we know of only five of these that have fledged young, though 2 or 3 are still to fledge something (if a bit late). The first young fledged by about 4th June which was good but mortality seems to have hit quite hard already with a few pairs that may have fledged young in early June now on their own with no signs of young around.

On the Old Red Sandstone though things may be a bit better. At least 5 pairs have fledged young from five known sites - including three successful on the Angle peninsula where there has also been a small regular party of 6-8 non-breeding birds (paired up) most of the spring and early summer. Here it seems that winter and spring-feeding may have been much better on the coastal slopes than it may have been on the limestone.

Although the weather in April was great and enabled a good early start to breeding chough, the cold drying winds in May/early June may have had an impact. The cliff-edge vegetation became very parched in quite a few places and so possibly soil invertebrates might have been impacted? What ever the reason, fledging success so far seems not to have been so great on the limestone - for the second/third year running.

Whilst out doing tetrads in Hayscastle area last Thursday, it was nice to come across a calling quail in a large corn field - presumably there are others around now? Also good numbers of yellowhammers in the same area and on the coast between Little Haven and Talbenny area.

This is the last summer for the current UK bird Atlas. Do you know of any barn or tawny owls fledging anywhere in the County? If so please add records to the Atlas. There are, for example, no records of tawny owls breeding at all in 10 km sq SM83 or SM92. Do know if there are any resident in those squares? Also confirmed breeding evidence is needed for 10 km squares SM80, SM82, SM93, SN04 and SS19. So if you have any observations please let us know.