Friday 22 March 2024

Week: Saturday 16th March 2024 – Friday 22nd March 2024.

The 20th brought 4 new additions to the year list, with an early European Turtle Dove at South Stack, a Yellowhammer at Brynteg, a Barn Swallow at Llyn Coron and a Sedge Warbler at Cors Ddyga, which takes the cumulative year to date total up to 159.

Perhaps the most widely enjoyed spectacle of the week was the summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe at Beddmanarch Bay (16th-19th), together with up to 8 Slavonian Grebes.  The later are in various states of moult, with some birds close to full breeding plumage.  A pair were noted displaying (16th).

 

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Whooper Swan

·       30+ S of Llyn Hyfodol, near Rhosgoch (19th).

Greenland White-fronted Goose

·       19 on fields south of Cors Ddyga, including the neck collared bird (22nd).

Pink-footed Goose

·       105 on fields south of Cors Ddyga (17th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

·       7 at Traeth Lligwy (16th).

·       12 at Beddmanarch Bay (16th).

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

·       Up to 2 at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 16th, 1 on 19th).

Pochard

·       2 on the gorad flood, Valley were unusual for such a shallow body of water (16th).

Tufted Duck

·       45 at Llyn Cefni (20th).

Gadwall

·       8 at Llyn Cefni (20th).

Wigeon

·       2 at Llyn Cefni (20th).

·       180 at the Alaw estuary (19th).

Pintail

·       5 at the Alaw estuary (19th).

Red-breasted Merganser

·       18 at the Inland Sea (19th).

Waders:

Common Sandpiper

·       1 at Cemaes Bay – possibly a wintering bird (22nd).

Purple Sandpiper

·       Up to 9 at Cemlyn (9 on 20th, 2 on 16th).

Knot

·       189 at the Alaw estuary (19th).

Golden Plover

·       c. 200 at Cemlyn (20th).

Grey Plover

·       22 at the Alaw estuary (19th).

Greenshank

·       1 off beach road, Gorad, Valley (19th).

Redshank

·       145 at the Inland Sea (19th).

Bar-tailed Godwit

·       74 on rocky islets off beach road, gorad, Valley (16th).

·       88 at the Alaw estuary (19th).

Black-tailed Godwit

·       5 at Llangefni marshes – north of the A55 (22nd).

Seabirds & gulls:

Sandwich Tern

·       2 reported flying out to sea at Cemlyn (2 on 19th, 1 on 20th).

·       1 at Beddmanarch Bay (20th).

Puffin

·       1 at South Stack (1 on 19th & 21st).

·       30 at Puffin Island (21st).

Black Guillemot

·       2 at Traeth Lligwy (16th).

Divers & Grebes:

Black-throated Diver

·        1, in winter plumage, flew north past South Stack (16th).

Red-throated Diver

·        3 at Traeth Lligwy (16th).

Black-necked Grebe

·        1, in summer plumage, at Beddmanarch Bay / mouth of the Alaw estuary (16th - 19th).

Slavonian Grebe

·        Up to 8 at Beddmanarch Bay / Gorad (8 on 16th).

Passerines & others:

European Turtle Dove

·       1 flew south over the plantation, South Stack in company of 2 Collared Doves (20th).

Yellowhammer

·       1 at Brynteg (20th).

Barn Swallow

·       1 at Llyn Coron (19th).

Sedge Warbler

·       1 in the hedgerow along the approach road from Pentre Berw (20th).

Northern Wheatear

·       Up to 3 on the Trwyn, Cemlyn (3 on 20th, 1 on 19th).

Sand Martin

·       20+ over the gorad flood, Valley (16th).

·       4 at Llyn Llywenan (16th).

Chiffchaff

·       15, at South Stack & Holyhead mountain and 19 at Soldier’s Point & Holyhead Breakwater Country Park marked a substantial spring arrival (16th).

·       8 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park and 2 at Soldier’s Point (17th).

·       Up to 5 at South Stack (5 on 21st, 3 on 20th).

·       12 around Llyn Cefni (20th).

Blackcap

·       Female at Soldier’s Point (17th).

Goldcrest

·       17, at South Stack, Holyhead mountain,  Soldier’s Point & Holyhead Breakwater Country Park marked a substantial spring arrival (16th).

·       2 at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (17th).

·       Up to 2 at South Stack (2 on 21st, 1 on 20th).

Fieldfare

·       120 flew over Pentraeth automotive (16th).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

·        1 at Llyn Llywenan (17th).

Red Kite

·       2 at Llyn Llywenan (17th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Cattle Egret

·        4 on fields between Valley crossroad and A55 (4 on 17th, 1 on 19th).

Great Egret

·       1 at Llyn Llywenan (16th).

Friday 15 March 2024

Week: Saturday 9th March 2024 – Friday 15th March 2024.

A time of transition, with winter visitors still putting in an appearance – White-fronted Goose, Slavonian Grebe, Snow Bunting, Brambling and Fieldfare etc and summer migrants incoming – Northern Wheatear, Sand Martin, Chiffchaff etc.  Both Northern Wheatear and Sand Martin were new for the year and takes the 2024 cumulative year list for the year to date up to 154.

 

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Greenland White-fronted Goose

·       Up to 19 on fields south of Cors Ddyga (19 on 11th &14th, 16 on 9th, 12 on 12th).  Included a neck-collared bird A4C that was caught and ringed during January ’21 and seen again in ’22.

Pink-footed Goose

·       48 at Cors Ddyga (9th).

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

·       25 at Benllech (9th).

Barnacle Goose

·       2 at Llyn Coron (9th).

·       2 on fields south of Cors Ddyga (12th).

Greater Scaup

·       Drake at Llyn Coron (9th).

Long-tailed Duck

·       Female type off Benllech seafront (12th).

Eider

·       8 off Traeth Bychan (9th).

·       c. 12 off Benllech seafront (12th).

Common Scoter

·       3 off Traeth Bychan (9th).

Shelduck

·       22 at Traeth Dulas (9th).

Red-breasted Merganser

·       6 at Traeth Dulas (9th).

Waders:

Purple Sandpiper

·       Up to 10 at Cemlyn (10 on 11th, 6 on 15th).

·       13 on coastal footpath at Rhoscolyn at high tide (13th).

Knot

·       50 at Beddmanarch Bay (12th).

Turnstone

·       6 on coastal footpath at Rhoscolyn at high tide (13th).

·       47 on the rocks below the lookout at Penrhos CP (14th).

Dunlin

·       4 at Traeth Dulas (9th).

·       4 on the rocks below the lookout at Penrhos CP (14th).

Golden Plover

·       c. 600 at Cemlyn (12th).

·       1000+ in flooded field along cycle track near Cors Ddyga (12th).

Grey Plover

·       Up to 8 at Cemlyn (8 on 15th, 6 on 11th).

Greenshank

·       2 at Traeth Dulas (9th).

Redshank

·       29 at Traeth Dulas (9th).

·       22 on the rocks below the lookout at Penrhos CP (14th).

Jack Snipe

·       1 at Traeth Dulas (9th).

·       1 at Cemlyn (11th).

Common Snipe

·       3 at Traeth Dulas (9th).

·       12 at Cemlyn (11th).

Woodcock

·       1 at South Stack (12th).

Black-tailed Godwit

·       16 at the Gorad flood, Valley (10th).

·       14-15 at Beddmanarch Bay (12th).

Oystercatcher

·       13 at Traeth Dulas (9th).

Seabirds & gulls:

Mediterranean Gull

·       4 at Cemlyn (12th).

Black Guillemot

·       1 at Beddmanarch Bay (15th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver

·        1 off Benllech seafront (12th).

Red-throated Diver

·        6 off Benllech seafront (12th).

Slavonian Grebe

·        Up to 4 at Beddmanarch Bay / Gorad – 3 in summer plumage (11th & 15th).

Passerines & others:

Northern Wheatear

·       Male at South Stack 915th).

Sand Martin

·       2 at South Stack (15th).

·       1 at Llyn Cefni (15th).

Snow Bunting

·       1 photographed at Llanddona (12th).

Brambling

·       1 on garden feeders at Menai Bridge (12th).

Chiffchaff

·       1 at Llyn Cefni (12th).

·       1 at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (12th).

·       1 at South Stack (15th).

Cetti’s Warbler

·       1 at Llyn Llywenan (15th).

Linnet

·       27 on fields opposite the visitor centre, South Stack (11th).

Common Crossbill

·       A number calling at Bodffordd end of Llyn Cefni (12th).

Fieldfare

·       c. 80 flew west over Gadfa (12th).

Hooded Crow

·       2 at South Stack (11th).

·       1 at The Range (12th).

·       1 on the lighthouse island at South Stack (15th).

Raptors:

Marsh Harrier

·        2 at Cors Ddyga (12th).

Red Kite

·       1 over Llyn Llywenan (9th&10th).

Merlin

·        Female, with prey, ¼ mile south of Mynachdy (15th).

Herons, Egrets & allies:

Cattle Egret

·        1 at Cors Ddyga (12th).

·        1 near Llanfwrog (12th).

Great Egret

·       1 at Llyn Llywenan (9th&10th).

·       1 at Cors Ddyga (12th).