Choughs

The Chough is one of those birds which have the capacity to stop observers in their tracks, however familiar they are with the bird. The combination of its rarity, beauty, tumbling acrobatic flight and wild evocative call echoing from the cliffs give the Chough a very special appeal. We are fortunate that the mainland of South-west Pembrokeshire and the islands form one of the main strongholds in Britain of the Chough.

The Chough is the rarest member of the crow family resident in Britain. It was formerly much more common than it is today but has now completely disappeared from places such as Cornwall. It is an extremely beautiful crow, with sleek black plumage, red legs and a red down-curving bill. It has a very distinctive call and flight pattern, particularly when in display. Its favoured feeding sites are the grassy slopes found aroud the cliff tops of the islands and the mainland, particularly the closely cropped short grass where they can easily locate their insect food.

On Skokholm, Choughs are recorded in all months, and could charitably be described as an occasional breeder. A pair bred successfully in 1992, which was the first time since 1928. Pairs have occasionally been seen during the spring around the north coast near their favoured breeding sites raising hopes of further breeding attempts and it is hoped that eventually they may become a regular breeding bird on the island.

They are particularly common on Skokholm from July onwards when family parties make regular feeding visits. Large flocks have been recorded in September and October, one of the largest being 32 birds in September 1965.

Choughs breed regularly on Skomer, usually 2 or 3 pairs successfully fledge young. Feeding groups from the mainland also visit Skomer. The birds that breed on Skomer sometimes visit Skokholm to feed and family parties can often be seen crossing between the islands.

Choughs are fairly easy to see on the adjacent areas of the mainland, the stretch of coast path from St Ann's Head to Martinshaven being particularly productive.