Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - Summer 1989
Dillwyn Roberts

The tree sparrow is scarce in our area since West Wales is apparently on the western fringe of this species' range, although at times unaccountably it is subject to periodic fluctuations in numbers. In the earliest reference to tree sparrows in the county, Lewis Weston Dillwyn F.R.S., quaintly remarks in 1848, that they, "were frequently obtained in the neighbourhood of Llanelly". Be that as it may, by the beginning of this century it was infrequently reported, attested by a single, stark record of a pair near Cilycwm on 13 Sept, 1903, and up to mid-century, slender references to sightings near Nantgaredig and at Glyn Abbey. An observer noting a single bird near Dynevor Castle in 1955, wryly commented that this was his first record for the species for 17 years.

However from c1960 onwards, there seems to have been a gradual expansion in the lower Tywi valley, a flock of c30 being seen at Abergwili in August, 1961, followed by sightings of small numbers at Carmarthen, Llansteffan and on coastal cliffs at Wharley Point and Marros Sands also including pairs nesting in rural gardens and in nest-holes in telegraph poles along the railway track near the old Tin Works, Carmarthen.

Between 1967-69, possibly coinciding with large scale poultry farming activities by Eastwoods & Co on the airfield at Penbre, small numbers of tree sparrows were increasingly noted at Burry Port, Penyberth and Penbre Airfield itself. My first personal sighting was of one in a mixed flock which included Bramblings and a cirl bunting, feeding on spilled corn at the entrance to Eastwoods at R.A.F. Penbre on 2 March, 1969. During the next two years, records from Cilycwm and Cwrtycadno indicated an extension up the Tywi and Cothi valleys, along with now usual sightings at Carmarthen, Ferryside, Pendine and Penbre. June 1972, saw nesting activity at a Ferryside farm and in a nest-box at Llangadog, while winter records quite often refer to small numbers associating with flocks of finches or house sparrows. The first for over a century, were recorded on the outskirts of Llanelli, at Ffwrnes (Furnace) in February 1982, followed by 2 near Pwll in Oct, 1987, while the Winter Atlas Survey disclosed flocks of 15 at Alltwalis and 21 near Dryslwyn in Dec, 1982.

The early 1980's is notable however, for the discovery of families and loose colonies breeding on or near farms in the mid-Tywi valley, between Felinwen and Llandeilo. This consolidation in a restricted area is typified by the sighting of six family parties of up to six birds at six farms in the Dryslwyn-Gelli Aur district in June, 1987. The sedentary nature of tree sparrows is further corroborated by winter flock sightings, 25 near Ffairfach in Sept, 1986, 32 there a year later, at the same time as 39 were seen at Dryslwyn.

In Carmarthenshire, a visit to this district is most likely to produce tree sparrows, whose rich brown almost coppery heads, black "ears" on white cheeks and yellowish brown rumps and altogether smaller and slimmer distinguish them from the more obtrusive house sparrows.