South Pembs chough breeding summary

Breeding pairs of chough in South Pembs (Angle to Penally) have all fledged their young now. The last couple of broods fledged quite late at the end of June, whilst the earliest were out by at least 4th June. As is typical of the species, families have been moving around a lot. Many have moved over to the Old Red Sandstone coast where, presumably, there is a greater abundance of invertebrate prey and feeding is much better. About this time of year, the newly independent young start to join up with other juvs, dispersing from their natal areas, feeding and roosting together. There are at least 25-30 choughs on the Angle peninsula and a dozen of more in the Manorbier area (both ORS areas).

Overall, at least 21 pairs appeared to be attempting to breed in south Pembs this year; at least 18 of these were successful, fledging a minimum of 36 young (av 2 yng per nest). Productivity was certainly better this year than last, but not that great compared with some earlier years when the overall population was higher.

On the limestone coast, only 13 pairs were proven to have bred this year, whereas before 2009 the breeding population on the limestone had been as high as 21 pairs. The Old Red Sandstone coastal sections held fewer pairs but here the population was stable and all known nest sites fledged young. Moreover, these areas held small numbers of young non-breeders throughout the spring and summer. Hopefully there will be a good survival of this years juvs - the population certainly needs a bit of a boost!

Noted today, that little grebes appeared to have young in a well-hidden nest at Pembroke Millpond, also fledgling Cettis Warblers were heard in the reedbed on the upper pond/swamp.