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). |