Friday, 22 August 2025

Week: Saturday 16th August 2025 - Friday 22nd August 2025.

White-rumped Sandpiper has always been a glaring gap on the Anglesey list, but it now looks like there is a chance that this will be filled subject to acceptance by the Welsh Birds Rarity Committee of a submission which should be made shortly.  Rarer still on a UK basis were two separate reports of Iberian Chiffchaff.  It is understood that neither were photographed and no sound recording was taken of at least 1 of the 2 birds.  Given difficulties with ‘mixed singers’ - Chiffchaff x Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff x Iberian Chiffchaff hybrids, it may be that both records will find it hard to pass scrutiny by the British Birds Rarity Committee.  So for now, White-rumped Sandpiper is added to the 2025 cumulative year list but Iberian Chiffchaff is not.  The addition of White-rumped Sandpiper takes the cumulative year list for 2025 up to 214 (LISTS). 


Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Mute Swan

45, at Llyn Cefni (19th).

Tufted Duck

13, at Llyn Cefni (19th).

Mallard

110, at Llyn Cefni (19th).

Gadwall

8, at Llyn Cefni (19th).

Eurasian Teal

Up to 15, at the Alaw estuary (15 on 20th, 7 on 18th).

25, at Cors Ddyga (19th).


Waders:

White-rumped Sandpiper

1, at Malltraeth cob pool - 1st for Anglesey if accepted by the Welsh Birds Rarity Committee (19th).

Wood Sandpiper

1, at Cors Ddyga - south end of reserve (19th).

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (21st, 22nd).

Green Sandpiper

1, at the ‘clapper bridge’ field at the Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (18th).

1, at the east end of Llyn Cefni (19th).

Common Sandpiper

Up to 3, at Malltraeth cob pool (3 on 22nd, 1 on 19th).

1, at Bodorgan headland (20th).

2, at Valley doors (22nd).

Sanderling

1, at the Alaw estuary (18th).

2, on the Cefi estuary, Malltraeth (21st).

Dunlin

Up to 20, at the Alaw estuary (20 on 18th, 18 on 20th, 6 on 17th).

13, at Malltraeth cob pool (19th).

6, at Traeth Dulas (21st).

Knot

Up to 6, at Malltraeth cob pool (6 on 21st, 5 on 22nd, 2 on 19th, 1 on 17th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (20th).

1, between Aberffraw and Porth Cwyfan (21st).

Common Ringed Plover

6, on the Cymyran at Rhoscolyn (16th).

Up to 111, at the Alaw estuary (111 on 20th, 74 on 17th, 64 on 18th).

Lapwing

1, at Llyn Cefni (19th).

Common Snipe

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (17th).

2, at Cors Ddyga (19th).

Ruff

Up to 5, at the Alaw estuary (5 on 20th, 4 on 18th).

Up to 5, at Malltraeth cob pool (5 on 21st & 22nd, 5 on 20th, 3 on 19th).

Common Redshank

2, on the Cymyran at Rhoscolyn (16th).

Up to 16, at Traeth Dulas (16 on 21st, 8 on 16th).

32, at the Alaw estuary (32 on 18th, 20 on 20th).

Greenshank

6, at Traeth Dulas (6 on 16th, 5 on 21st).

15, at the Alaw estuary (18th & 20th).

1, flew over Cors Ddyga (19th).

1, at the east end of Llyn Cefni (19th).

1, at Valley doors (22nd).

Bar-tailed Godwit

Up to 3, at the Alaw estuary (3 on 20th, 1 on 18th).

Black-tailed Godwit

Up to 2, at Traeth Dulas (2 on 16th, 1 on 21st).

12, at Malltraeth cob pool (17th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (20th).

Oystercatcher

Up to 255, at the Alaw estuary (255 on 17th, 228 on 20th, 215 on 18th).

Whimbrel

Up to 3, at the Alaw estuary (3 on 18th, 2 on 20th, 1 on 17th).

1, on spit at Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (19th).

Curlew

Up to 197, at the Alaw estuary (197 on 20th, 95 on 18th, 62 on 17th).

Seabirds and gulls:

Arctic Skua

1, seen distantly from Point Lynas (20th).

Little Gull

1, 2nd calendar year at Traeth Dulas (16th, 21st).

Mediterranean Gull

1, on the Cymyran at Rhoscolyn (16th).

2, adult winter birds - 1 with red darvic ring at Traeth Dulas (21st).

Divers & Grebes:

Little Grebe

45, at Llyn Cefni - 36 adults and 9 juveniles (19th).

Great Crested Grebe

2, at Llyn Cefni (19th).

Passerines & others:

Iberian Chiffchaff

1, reported in the sallow bushes at the north end of Malltraeth cob pool (20th) - with 1 also reported at Llyn Llywenan (15th) - either would be a 1st for Anglesey if accepted by the British Birds Rarity Committee

Yellow Wagtail

1, at Cors Ddyga (19th).

Willow Warbler

3, at the Range, Holyhead (21st).

Northern Wheatear

2, on the headland at Rhoscolyn (16th).

2, at South Stack (21st).

5, at the Range, Holyhead (21st).

Kingfisher

1, at the Alaw estuary (18th, 20th).

1, at the Afon Cefni, Malltraeth (21st).

1, at Valley doors (22nd).

Raptors:

Osprey

1, seen fishing at the Braint estuary (21st).

1, at Malltraeth cob pool & Cefni estuary (22nd).

Red Kite

1, over Gadfa (16th, 21st).

1, seen from the Penmynydd Road, near Pili Palas (19th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

White Stork

1, landed near Newborough Warren before flying off to the south (18th).

Great Egret

1, on the Cymyran at Rhoscolyn (16th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (20th).

8, confirmation that 2 pairs fledged 4 young Cors Ddyga (Date of confirmation - 20th).

Cattle Egret

6, at Cors Ddyga (21st).

Little Egret

16, at the Alaw estuary (18th).

Water Rail

1, at Malltraeth cob pool (20th & 21st).

Moorhen

22, at Llyn Cefni (19th).

Coot

136, at Llyn Cefni (19th).

Other wildlife:

Clouded Yellow

4, clouded yellow butterflies were at Cors Ddyga (20th).

2, were at the Range, Holyhead (21st).

3, were between Aberffraw and Port Cwyfan (21st).


Friday, 15 August 2025

Week: Saturday 9th August 2025 - Friday 15th August 2025.

A few rare warblers have started to appear across the UK, but alas only a few common warblers were reported on Anglesey this week.  Wader numbers have built up slightly, but there are still few small waders such as Dunlin - 5 Sanderling being the best.  It was a quiet week for seawatching, but a night ringing session produced a notable haul of European Storm-Petrels, including one that wore a Portuguese ring.  Hobby is still a scarce raptor on the island, so the 2nd and 3rd reports for the year were most welcome.  There were no new additions to the cumulative year list for 2025, which remains at 213 (LISTS). 

Swans, Geese and Ducks:

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

1, belated report of bird off Penrhos Coastal Park car park (8th).

Shoveler

5, at the Inland Sea (12th).

Eurasian Wigeon

1, at the Inland Sea (12th).

Eurasian Teal

7, at Cors Ddyga (15th).


Waders:

Green Sandpiper

1, at Cemlyn (11th).

1, at the Alaw estuary (11th).

Common Sandpiper

1, at Traeth Dulas (10th, 13th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (15th).

1, on the Cymryran side of Valley doors (15th).

Sanderling

5, at the Alaw estuary (9th).

Dunlin

4, at the Alaw estuary (13th).

Knot

1, at the Alaw estuary (9th).

Turnstone

6, at the Alaw estuary (9th).

Common Ringed Plover

Up to 20, at the Alaw estuary (20 on 13th, 15 on 9th).

Common Snipe

8, at Cemlyn (11th).

1, at Cors Ddyga (15th).

Common Redshank

Up to 10, at Traeth Dulas (10 on 13th, 8 on 10th, 5 on 9th).

32, at the Alaw estuary (13th).

Greenshank

4, at Traeth Dulas (9th, 10th, 13th).

13, at the Alaw estuary (13th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

5, at the Alaw estuary (11th).

Black-tailed Godwit

11, at Malltraeth cob pool (15th).

Oystercatcher

30, at Traeth Dulas (10th).

Up to 348, at the Alaw estuary (348 on 13th, 286 on 11th).

Whimbrel

1, at Traeth Dulas (9th).

Up to 11, at the Alaw estuary (11 on 9th, 1 on 13th).

Curlew

61, at Traeth Dulas (10th).

Up to 106, at the Alaw estuary (106 on 13th, 59 on 11th).

Seabirds and gulls:

European Storm Petrel

12, caught and ringed at Point Lynas including 1 Portuguese control (9th).

Mediterranean Gull

3, at Traeth Dulas (3 on 9th, 2 on 13th).

Divers & Grebes:

Black-necked Grebe

1, on Menai Strait as viewed from Aber Oger - started to moult - and may also be viewable from the likes of Gallows Point (15th).

Passerines & others:

Yellow Wagtail

1, at Hen Borth, near Cemlyn (11th).

1, at Cemlyn (11th).

Grasshopper Warbler

1, showed well in low scrub from the boardwalk at Cors Bodeilio (12th).

Chiffchaff

1, at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (14th).

Willow Warbler

3, at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (14th).

4, at South Stack (15th).

Blackcap

2, at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (14th).

Common Whitethroat

2 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (14th).

8, at South Stack (15th).

Goldcrest

1, at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (14th).

Northern Wheatear

1, near Aberffraw (12th).

3, at The Range, Holyhead (15th).

Linnet

50+, at Traeth Dulas (10th).

Raptors:

Hobby

1, chasing hirundines at Cors Bodeilio. Photographed (11th).

1, flew through Brynteg and headed in the direction of Cors Erddreiniog (14th).

Osprey

1, seen to catch a fish at the north shore of Llyn Alaw (10th).

Marsh Harrier

1, female between Aberffraw and Llyn Coron (12th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Great Egret

1, at Llyn Coron (12th).

Little Egret

14, at Traeth Dulas (10th).