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.