Subsequent to last week’s summary being posted, news emerged of a Wryneck seen and photographed at The Range, Holyhead on the 15th September. This is only the 18 accepted record of Wryneck on the island.
An adult Rose-coloured Starling at Bull Bay at the end of May wasn’t generally available as it was hidden in gardens, but a juvenile at Moelfre has been more accommodating though it can be mobile and a little difficult to pin down. It has shown well at times on telegraph poles, wires and roof tops around the village. It was only in recent years that it was dropped off the list of species considered by the Welsh Birds Rarity Committee, just as it became a lot scarcer. It is only the 31st record for the island.
Wryneck was new for the year and takes the cumulative year list to date up to 212 (LISTS) - subject to the appropriate records being accepted by the British and Welsh Birds Rarity Committees as applicable.
Wildfowl:
Mute Swan
18, at Llyn Coron (21st).
Greylag Goose
c. 500, flew in to roost at Llyn Coron (21st).
Egyptian Goose
5, flew over the beach near Tros y Afon, Beaumaris (19th).
Eider
Up to 6, around Ynys Moelfre (6 on 20th, 4 on 24th, 3 on 25th).
1, off Benllech sea front (24th).
Common Scoter
10, off Moelfre (20th).
10, off Traeth Bychan (23rd).
200+, off Benllech sea front (24th).
Gadwall
30, at Llyn Coron (21st).
Coot
110, at Llyn Coron (21st).
Waders:
Oystercatcher
26, on the beach near Tros y Afon, Beaumaris (19th).
Ringed Plover
2, at Llyn Cefni (22nd).
3, at Foel Ferry (19th).
Curlew
12, on the beach near Tros y Afon, Beaumaris (19th).
c. 45, at Llyn Coron (21st).
Black-tailed Godwit
Up to 18, at Llyn Cefni (18 on 24th, 11 on 22nd).
1, at Valley Tidal Doors (25th).
Common Sandpiper
1, at Church Island / Ynys Tysilio (19th).
Green Sandpiper
4, at Valley Tidal Doors (25th).
Wood Sandpiper
1, at Llyn Llywenan (22nd).
1, at Valley Tidal Doors (25th).
Spotted Redshank
Up to 4, at Llyn Cefni (4 on 22nd, 3 on 24th).
Redshank
8, at Foel Ferry (19th).
14, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).
Greenshank
2, at the lagoon at Cemlyn (19th).
2, at Church Island / Ynys Tysilio (19th).
2, at Pont Cadnant (19th).
12, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).
Turnstone
20+, at Foel Ferry (19th).
16, at Moelfre (23rd).
25, at Nant Bychan (25th)
Ruff
3, at Llyn Cefni (22nd & 24th).
Dunlin
10, at the Alaw estuary (22nd).
Seabirds and gulls:
Arctic Skua
2, flew past Cemlyn (19th).
4, flew past Moelfre (20th).
9, flew past Point Lynas (20th).
4, flew past Cemlyn (20th).
1, flew past Moelfre (24th).
Pomarine Skua
1, landed offshore at Moelfre (25th).
Little Tern
1, flew past Point Lynas (20th).
Black Tern
2, flew past Point Lynas (20th).
Sandwich Tern
300, flew past Moelfre over a 1 hour seawatch (20th).
Little Gull
1, 1st winter on the lagoon at Cemlyn (19th, 20th).
4, 1st winter, flew past Point Lynas (20th).
1, flew past Cemlyn (20th).
1, juvenile lingering off Moelfre (25th).
Sabine’s Gull
3, adults, flew past Point Lynas (20th).
Leach’s Storm-petrel
1, flew past Moelfre (20th).
6, flew past Point Lynas (20th).
1, flew past Amlwch Port (20th).
6, flew past Cemlyn (20th).
Shag
70, at least, at Ynys Moelfre (24th).
Grebes & Divers:
Red-throated Diver
9, flew past Cemlyn (20th).
Great Northern Diver
1, in the bay at Cemlyn (24th).
Herons, Egrets & allies:
Great Egret
Up to 2, at Llyn Cefni (2 on 24th, 1 on 22nd).
Grey Heron
3, at Llyn Coron (21st).
Water Rail
1, calling, at Llyn Llywenan (22nd).
Raptors:
Marsh Harrier
2, at Llyn Llywenan (22nd).
Red Kite
1, at Traeth Dulas (19th).
2, over recently cut silage field by B5110, 2km NE of Llangefni (21st).
1, over A55 just NW of junction 5 (21st).
1, over Llangefni near the junction to A55 (23rd).
1, over Brynteg (24th, 25th).
1, over the south end of Talwrn (24th).
Passerines & others:
Wryneck
1, belated report, seen and photographed at The Range, South Stack (15th).
Cetti’s Warbler
2, at Llyn Coron (21st).
1, at Llyn Llywenan (22nd).
Willow Warbler
1, at Wylfa woods (19th).
Chiffchaff
1, at Wylfa woods (19th).
Up to 2, at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (2 on 21st, 1 on 22nd).
Blackcap
1, at Wylfa woods (19th).
Starling
125, at Moelfre (25th).
Rose-coloured Starling
1, juvenile, at Moelfre (23rd, 24th).
Northern Wheatear
1, at Cemlyn (21st).
2, at the headland at Moelfre (25th).
Reports requiring submission to County Recorder - SteCul10@aol.com
Pectoral Sandpiper
1, report of a bird seen and photographed on the beach at Cemlyn (19th).
Bangor Bird Group
The Bangor Bird Group has just published its 2026 - 27 programme.
Established in 1947, the Group provides an extensive programme of talks. Zoom technology was adopted as part of its response to the Covid pandemic, which allowed members to keep in touch during a time when face to face meetings were not possible. Meetings on zoom continue to be utilised as part of a mixed programme of virtual and physical meetings, with the virtual meetings both enabling participation by local members who may have access issues and those further afield - distance is no longer a barrier to participation! Talks are recorded and posted a few weeks later on Youtube. Bangor Bird Group’s YouTube channel now has an extensive collection of VIDEOS - 79 at the present time - a collection that they should justifiably be proud of.
Looking for a new pair of binoculars?
Having had my Swarovski SLC 7 X 42B binoculars for over 28 years (and they are still working exceptionally well), I wanted to try something else / have a spare and didn’t want to make the outlay associated with some of the major brands.
I had been interested in the GPO Passion ED 8 X 42 Binoculars by German Precision Optics and had a chance to hold a pair while visiting Cambrian Photography. They are on their website at £379, although I initially left their store believing incorrectly that they were £415.
Rother Valley Optics have them very marginally cheaper at £376 and I got mine from there by placing an order via their website.
They are about ¾ the weight of my Swarovski binoculars, which certainly makes it easier on the neck. While I have only had them for a week or so, I have been really pleased with them and a number of birding friends have commented on how bright and clear the view is and how light they are. I have had several requests for details and thought it might be worth posting something here for a wider audience.
Birdguides have a WRITTEN and YOUTUBE review of them, plus there are other reviews on-line.
Normal caveats apply - do your own research etc - but if you are looking at options then this is one that you might want to consider.
