Saturday 18th April - Friday 24th April 2020

Intro:

Despite the vast majority of sightings being restricted to patch birding sites within walking distance of home, a good variety of birds were reported nonetheless.  What has gone through our usual migrant hotspots is anyone’s guess!

Passerines:

Having mentioned last week that Lesser Whitethroat was missing from the Anglesey year list, a late report was received of up to 3 birds in the Tregele area (17^th), with birds since being reported from several other locations.  Also, news has emerged of Lesser Redpoll at Llyn Parc Mawr (08/02).  Other new species for the year included Yellow Wagtail at Cemaes (23^rd), a Swift at Holyhead (23^rd) and a Whinchat at Cemlyn (24^th).  A Ring Ouzel was at South Stack (18^th) and a Common Crossbill over Cemaes (22^nd).  Common Whitethroats increased in number and were reported from many sites, as were Grasshopper Warblers.  There were 3 Hooded Crows feeding in the fields approaching the Range, Holyhead (18^th). 

Divers & Grebes: 

The long staying Great Northern Diver continued to be seen on the Inland Sea (19^th, 23^rd), whilst 2 Red-throated Diver were seen in flight past South Stack (20^th). The 2 Slavonian Grebe, which are now in summer plumage, were still on the Inland Sea (last reported on the 19^th).

Seabirds:

A Great Skua was off South Stack (18^th); a good early find.  2 Black Guillemots were off Octel (20^th).

Herons, Egrets:

No scarce Herons or Egrets were reported.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

12 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were still at Beaumaris (20^th) and should start their journey to Arctic Canada before too long.  A drake Garganey was at Cemlyn (23^rd), as were the 2 Long-tailed Ducks (23rd).

Waders:

Whimbrel were reported from multiple sites with the highest counts being 10 at Rhoscolyn (22^nd) and 7 at the Inland Sea (18^th). Reports of Common Sandpiper also increased, which included birds on the Inland Sea (18^th), Cemaes (22^nd) and at Amlwch Port (22^nd).  A Green Sandpiper was at Cemaes (22^nd).  A Ruff was reported from Cemlyn (23^rd).  A Sanderling was at Beddmanarch Bay (24th).

Gulls & Terns: 

The first returning Common Terns were at Cemlyn (20^th), with other sighting at Holyhead Bay (23^rd) and the Inland Sea (23^rd).  The first Arctic Terns (6) were back at Cemlyn (24^th).

Raptors:

Following last week’s report of an Osprey over the Inland Sea, another – or the same bird - was seen over Mona (19^th) and at Llyn Alaw (21^st).  Away from their normal strongholds, a Marsh Harrier was seen over Holyhead Bay (22^nd).  Red Kites were reported from a number of locations, but location details are not being shared in the hope that they might breed undisturbed.

Species – year to date:

Lesser Whitethroat, Lesser Redpoll, Great Skua, Yellow Wagtail, Swift, Ruff, Garganey, Arctic Tern and Whinchat were all new species for this year, taking the running total for Anglesey for the year to date to 179. 

Some of the gaps in this year’s list include Lapland Bunting, Twite  and Common Redstart.  Have you had any?  There have been a number of reports of Green Woodpecker in Conwy and Gwynedd – perhaps a hope that a pair will start to recolonise Anglesey?

Update on Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Cemlyn 25^th – 27^th September 2019:

News emerged this week that the British Birds Rarity Committee had accepted the record of an Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Cemlyn last autumn.

The forthcoming week 25^th April – 1^st May?:

Not the busiest week in previous years for rare and scarce vagrants, but it does include one mega.  Golden Oriole at Penmon on the 29^th in 1984 was a good record and a Broad-billed Sandpiper at the Alaw estuary on the 1^st in 2017 was even better.  The star bird was, however, the Indigo Bunting found on a garden bird table in Llansadwrn on the 30^th in 2013.

Saturday 11th - Friday 17th April 2020

Intro:

Despite entering the 4^th week of lockdown, once daily exercise still provided the opportunity for local birders to add six new species to the Anglesey year list – the best being a scarce egret.

Passerines

Most of the spring migrants have now been reported, with the latest additions being a Garden Warbler on the west side of the harbour at Amlwch Port (15^th), a Common Cuckoo heard calling between Wylfa and Cemaes (15^th) and a Reed Warbler at the Inland Sea (16^th).  A Sedge Warbler at Holyhead (12^th), a Tree Pipit was over Cemaes (11^th), whilst 35 White Wagtails were at the gorad flood, Valley (13^th).  A Yellowhammer at Holyhead mountain (11^th) was well away from its normal stronghold where 10 were seen at Brynteg (14^th).  A Hooded Crow was seen flying east over Holyhead (11^th, 17^th).

Probably two of the most obvious gaps in this year’s list of passerines are Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow Wagtail.  Will they be seen in the forthcoming week?

Divers & Grebes: 

The long staying Great Northern Diver continued to be seen on the Inland Sea (11^th – 17^th).  Also present were the 2 Slavonian Grebe, which are now in summer plumage (11^th - 17^th).

Seabirds:

Nothing of note reported this week.

Herons, Egrets:

After a quite time in respect of scarce Herons and Egrets, 3 Cattle Egrets on the 14^th changed matters considerably.  Initially seen on the Inland Sea, at the Ynys Leurad inlet, the birds then relocated to the gorad flood, Valley.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

8 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Beaumaris (16^th), whilst the 2 Long-tailed Ducks were still at Cemlyn (14^th). We might well have expected a Garganey somewhere, but the best sites seem not to be covered by the routes taken on daily walks.  

Waders:

2 Whimbrel were over Cemaes (11^th), 1 past Amlwch Port (15^th), 4 on the Inland Sea (17^th).  Common Sandpipers were at Holyhead Bay and Inland Sea (16^th). 

Gulls & Terns: 

The first Common Terns were seen over the Inland Sea (15^th) and the same site had earlier had 20 Sandwich Terns (12^th).  2 Mediterranean Gulls were over Cemaes (14^th), with 1 at the Inland Sea (15^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was seen over the Inland Sea (17^th).

Species – year to date:

Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cattle Egret, Common Tern, Common Cuckoo and Osprey were all new species for this year, taking the running total for Anglesey for the year to date to 170. 

The forthcoming week 18^th – 24^th April?:

Previous years have provided a good array of spring overshoots. A Golden Oriole was at Cemlyn & Henborth of the 18^th in 2013, whilst Black Kites were at Llyn Llywenan on the 20^th in 2001 and at Llansadwn on the 24^th in 1987.  A Wodchat Shrike was at Aberffraw estuary on the 22^nd in 1968 and a Bee-eater at Malltraeth on the 22^nd in 1985.  Rare or scarce waders have included a Kentish Plover on Malltraeth cob pool on the 19^th in 1977 and an American Golden Plover at Cemlyn on the 21^st in 2006.  Perhaps one of the birds that was enjoyed by many local birders was a Bluethroat at Cemlyn from the 24^th-25^th in 2009.

Weekly roundup - Saturday 4th April - Friday 10th April 2020

Summary:

Spring migrants continued to arrive, whilst some of the long staying winter visitors were still present.  A scarce wader at Malltraeth would have normally drawn some interest.

Passerines

Perhaps this birding week was all about the warblers.  The first Grasshopper Warbler of the year was found at Cemaes (6^th) and then another west of Octel, Amlwch (8^th).  The first Sedge Warbler was found at RSPB Valley Lakes (9^th), whilst a Common Whitethroat was at Holyhead (9^th).  Sightings of Blackcap are becoming more regular, with reports including 3 at Amlwch Port and 1 at a Holyhead garden (5^th).  A Willow Warbler was at Cors Goch (5^th).  Just behind the warblers in terms of interest were 3 scarce finches.  Firstly, a Snow Bunting was found at Holyhead Bay (7^th), a Crossbill flew over Cemaes (8^th) and a Hawfinch was found between Cemaes & Wylfa (10^th).  In terms of pipits and wagtails, the first Tree Pipits were reported with flyover birds at South Stack (9^th) and Cemaes/Wylfa (10^th).  3 White Wagtails, the continental form of our Pied, were seen at Amlwch Port (5^th).  Swallows and Martins started to arrive in good numbers, with 5 Barn Swallows over Llyn Penrhyn (4^th) and a House Martin over Cemaes (4^th).  Sand Martins were seen widely including one at Moelfre (4^th).  There was a Hooded Crow at Cemaes (7^th) and a Fieldfare at Cemaes (7^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

The Great Northern Diver continued to be seen on the Inland Sea throughout the week.  2 Red-throated Diver were off Moelfre (8^th).  2 Slavonian Grebe were still on the Inland Sea (4^th).

Seabirds:

Gannets were seen off Moelfre (4^th) and Amlwch Port (5^th).  4 Black Guillemot’s were off Moelfre (8^th).

Herons, Egrets:

There were no rare herons or egrets reported during the past week.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

11 Whooper Swans were seen over Tregele (4^th).  38 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen at Benllech (6^th), with 25 off Moelfre (8^th).  The pair of Greater Scaup were still on the Inland Sea (4^th), whilst the 2 Long-tailed Ducks were still on the lagoon at Cemlyn (6^th).  An Eider was reported off Beaumaris (7^th), with up to 6 off Benllech (6^th, 10^th) and up to 8 off Moelfre (8^th, 9th).

Waders:

2 Avocet were at Malltraeth (9^th), together with 2 Snipe.  24 Black-tailed Godwit were on the Inland Sea (5^th).  3 Whimbrel were at Cemaes (7^th), followed by a fly over birds (8^th, 10^th).  3 Grey Plover were at the Inland Sea (5^th).

Gulls & Terns: 

Sandwich Terns continued their return with 7 on the Inland Sea (5^th) and 12 off Amlwch Port (9^th).  There was a Mediterranean Gull on the Gorad flood, Valley (4^th), 1 at  Cemaes (8^th) and 2 at Cemaes (10^th).

Raptors:

Nothing of particular scarcity reported this week.

Species – year to date:

Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Tree Pipit, Avocet and Hawfinch were all new species for this year, taking the running total for Anglesey for the year to date to 164. 

Weekly roundup – Saturday 28th March – Friday 3rd April 2020

Summary:

The continuing restrictions on movement meant that bird sightings were limited to garden birding and that whilst undertaking daily exercise.  Nonetheless, a reasonable number of bird species were seen.

Passerines

There was an ongoing mix of summer migrants, mixed in with some late winter visitors and a few scare residents.  Blackcaps have started to arrive, with a singing male at Treath Lligwy (2^nd).  Both Redwing and Fieldfares were seen at Brynteg (2^nd).  2  Swallows and 3 Sand Martin's were seen flying North over Llyn Penrhyn (3rd). 4 Cetti’s Warblers were at Llyn Penrhyn (30^th) and a Hooded Crow was at the Gorad flood, Valley (3^rd).

Divers & Grebes: 

A Great Northern Diver continued to be seen on the Inland Sea (30^th, 1^st, 2^nd).  Up to 2 Slavonian Grebes were also on the Inland Sea (29^th, 30^th, 1^st, 2^nd ,3^rd).

Seabirds:

There wasn’t much in the way of access to coastal sites, but a Black Guillemot was seen at Benllech (31^st) and 3 Sandwich Terns were seen at Cemlyn (3rd).

Herons, Egrets and Cranes:

No reports of rare or scarce birds in this grouping.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Potentially the most intriguing record of the week was a drake Blue-winged Teal which was photographed and reported on a Facebook site.  No specific site was detailed, other than the bird was seen and photographed on Anglesey on the 30^th.  A significant degree of speculation then followed as to whether the bird was wild or an escapee from a collection.  If it stays to beyond the lifting of travel restrictions - and its location becomes known - it is bound to create some interest.

The 2 Long-tailed Ducks were seen at Cemlyn (28th, 3rd) and the pair of Greater Scaup were seen on the Inland Sea (30^th, 1^st, 3rd).  Common Eider were seen off Beaumaris (1^st).

Waders:

20 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the Inland Sea (3^rd), with 4 Black-tailed Godwit on the Gorad flood, Valley (3rd).

Gulls & Terns: 

Mediterranean Gulls were seen at several locations including 6 + Cemlyn (28^th), up to 4 on the Inland Sea (30^th, 1^st, 3^rd) and 2 at Cemaes Bay (1st).

Raptors:

A Merlin was seen at Octel, Amlwch (2^nd).  Red Kites were reported from two different locations.

Species – year to date:

No new species were reported during the week.  The sightings of Spoonbills last week have been removed from the list following further reflection by the observer.  The running total for Anglesey for the year to date is 158.