Saturday 23rd May - Friday 29th May 2020

Intro:

A quiet start to the week, but a flurry of activity towards the end that would in ‘normal’ times have drawn local birders hoping the catch up with 3 scarce migrant passerines.  For those reading this blog and residing outside of Wales, please note that discretionary travel for leisure purposes is still not permitted in Wales.

Passerines:

Wood Warbler is a scarce bird on Anglesey with less than annual records, so one found at Wylfa (26^th) was an excellent record.  At the same site, a Reed Warbler sang from a hedge nearby (26^th) – no doubt on passage to a more suitable reedbed.  Birds seen feeding young included both Skylark and Meadow Pipit at Caergeiliog.  Northern Wheatear continue to move through the island; some of which have been of the Greenland race, Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa, which breed in Greenland, Iceland and north-east Canada.  There were 10+ Wheatear at Wylfa head (26^th), 3 at South Stack (26^th) and 1 at Caergeiliog (28^th).  Spotted Flycatcher were seen at Holyhead Bay (28^th) and Soldier’s Point (29^th), whilst a Crossbill was at Wylfa wood (26^th).  A Lesser Whitethroat was at Holyhead Bay (28^th) and a Grasshopper Warbler was ‘reeling’ at Cors Efail Newydd, Benllech (28^th).  The week then ended with what would have been 2 sought after birds, a Golden Oriole at Cors Ddyga (28^th) and a Red-backed Shrike (29^th) at Cemaes.

Waders:

Late May always includes a few waders sporting their finest summer plumage.  This usually involves a scattering of Turnstones and Sanderling and this proved to the case again this year.  Cemlyn held 2 Turnstones and 2 Sanderling (23^rd), whilst 5 Sanderling were briefly at Holyhead Bay (28^th).  In terms of our breeding waders, Northern Lapwing were seen feeding chicks at Caergeiliog.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Cattle Egret was seen at Cemlyn (26^th), whilst up to 3 Great Bittern have recently been seen or heard at RSPB Cors Ddyga and a further ‘booming’ male is at another Anglesey site.

Gulls & Terns: 

A Roseate Tern was at Cemlyn (23^rd). 

Seabirds:

3 Puffins were seen on the sea off South Stack, with Razorbill, Common Guillemot and Fulmar on the coastal cliffs (26^th).  Several Manx Shearwater were seen off the Range (24^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The Brent Goose continued its extended stay at Cemlyn (23^rd)

Raptors:

A belated report has been received of a Hobby at RSPB Cors Ddyga, though the exact date hasn’t yet been established.  Red Kite were reported from several locations over the past few week, with the largest count at any location being 8.      

Divers & Grebes: 

No scarce Divers or Grebes were reported.

Species – year to date:

The details of the record of Golden Oriole and Hobby will be followed up by the County recorder in due course, but for the purpose of this blog they will be added to the list of Anglesey birds for the year to date.  These, along with Wood Warbler and Red-backed Shrike, take the list up 4 species to a running total of 190.

The forthcoming week 30^th May – 5^th June?:

Black-crowned Night Heron has been recorded twice in this week, the first being a historical record of a bird at Rhosneigr (30^th) in 1919 and little more recently a bird at Cefni reservoir (2^nd) in 1994.  Waders have included an American Golden Plover at Cemlyn (30^th) in 2008, a Spotted Sandpiper at Malltraeth (2^nd) in 2009, a Broad-billed Sandpiper at Malltraeth (4^th) in 1984 and a Red-necked Phalarope (5^th) at Penmon Park in 1902.  A Corncrake was seen at Penmon Priory (1^st) in 2015, a Common Crane was on the Alaw Estuary (4^th) in 2007 and an Alpine Swift was at Fedw Fawr (5^th) in 2003.  There have been 2 records of Common Rosefinch; a bird at Cemaes (31^st) in 2008 and another at Cemlyn (5^th) in 2010.  Other scarce passerines have included a Bluethroat at South Stack (30^th) in 1991 and a Red-breasted Flycatcher (1^st) on the Skerries in 1998.  Whilst there are some good birds mentioned above, these were outshone by a Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush at Llyn Alaw (4^th) in 1986 and the Black Lark found at South Stack (1^st) in 2003.

An abstract of an article on the finding of the Black Lark can be found at: https://britishbirds.co.uk/article/black-lark-new-to-britain/ Click in the hyperlink at the bottom of the abstract for the full article.

Want to know more about historical birding records in North Wales - see: Scarce and Rare Birds in North Wales by Robin Sandham @birdsandbike  ISBN: 978-0-9957428-0-2

Saturday 16th - Friday 22nd May 2020

Intro:

A quiet week for news, albeit that two of the species mentioned last week as having ‘been expected’ were promptly seen or heard the following day.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

The highlight of the week was probably a Spoonbill seen and photographed at Valley (16^th).  There have been no reports since, but there have been several reports of birds on the Wirral so there is hope of either the bird from the 16^th being relocated or another wandering over to Anglesey over the summer.  Once a rare sighting, it is now expected that there should be 1 or 2 sightings each year.  A Common Quail was heard calling in a cereal field at Llandyfrydog (16^th).  Again, this is a bird which we expect to get and once the wind dies down it is worth listening out for their distinctive call.

Quail call: https://www.xeno-canto.org/27535

Source: Xeno-Canto

Passerines:

There were sightings of Common Cuckoo between Cemaes and Cemlyn (16^th) and another at Cemlyn (17^th).  Fewer Northern Wheatears are being reported, with just the 1 bird at Henborth (16^th).  Adding some colour was a Yellow Wagtail on Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (17^th).  There was a belated report of a Common Redstart  at Cestyll gardens near Cemlyn.

Waders:

A Sanderling was at Holyhead Bay (17^th), with c.150 Dunlin and c.50 Common Ringed Plover on the Alaw Estuary (16^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

No scarce Divers or Grebes were reported.

Gulls & Terns: 

There were 450 Arctic Terns at Cemlyn (16^th) – a good count and presumed to be birds amassing before moving on to the Skerries.

Seabirds:

21 Manx Shearwater ventured into Holyhead Bay in the murk and drizzle (17^th). 

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A single Brent Goose was still at Cemlyn (16^th).

Raptors:

There were a number of reports of Red Kite, including 4 birds over one site.  Location details aren’t being shared, but it certainly looks like Red Kites are colonising the island which is tremendously good news.

Species – year to date:

The number of species seen on Anglesey has ticked up by 3 to 186 with the addition of Spoonbill, Common Quail and Common Redstart.

The forthcoming week 23^rd – 29^th May?:

Rare Gulls and Terns include a White-winged Black Tern at Llyn Alaw (23^rd) in 1985 and a Caspian Tern at Cemlyn (26^th) in 1980. European Bee-eaters were seen at Penysarn (25^th) in 1993 and at Cemlyn (27^th) in 2012.  A good week for shrikes also, with Lesser Grey Shrike at South Stack (26^th) in 1961 and a Woodchat Shrike at Cemlyn (26^th) in 2019.  A Short-toed Lark was at South Stack (25^th) in 1993, a Marsh Warbler at Cadnan, Cemlyn (28^th) in 2018 and a Common Rosefinch at Cerrig-Man (29^th) in 2011.  Waders have included a Red-necked Phalarope at Llyn Trafwll (27^th) in 1994 and a Kentish Plover on the Alaw Estuary (29^th) in 2007.

Want to know more about historical birding records in North Wales - see: Scarce and Rare Birds in North Wales by Robin Sandham @birdsandbike  ISBN: 978-0-9957428-0-2

Saturday 9th May - Friday 15th May 2020

Intro:

Firstly, a big thank you for all who continue to share their sightings.  It is understandable that some are reluctant to share news during the lockdown, perhaps driven by a concern that others may either travel to see the birds or get frustrated at not being able to do so.  On the flip side, I know that others find some comfort and interest in the continuing exchange of information.

Despite the limited reports, there were still some interesting news.  To mix it up a little, I’ll start with Gulls and Terns.

Gulls & Terns: 

Perhaps the most interesting piece of news on Gulls came from the Northern Ireland branch of the British Trust for Ornithology @BT_NIreland who have been tracking a Lesser Black-backed Gull named Europa. 

  

Image - BTO - How to join the BTO

Europa was GPS tagged on the Europa Hotel in Belfast on the 15/05/19.  She overwintered in Cádiz, Spain and started her return journey on the 11/03/20.  She visited the cities of Huelva, Lisbon, Póvoa de Varzim & A Coruña on her journey north, before heading off across the Bay of Biscay, spending some time on the Channel Islands of Jersey & Guernsey in late April.  She left the Channel Islands on the 29/04/20, travelled across England and Wales, before embarking on a crossing of the Irish Sea from Holyhead.  She arrived back in Belfast on the 03/05/20 and it looks like she will once again nest on the Europa Hotel. 

An amazing account, which might cause us to look a little differently at our Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Anglesey during the spring, some of which may have further to travel beyond where we see them.

Concerning Terns, Cemlyn has - as might be expected - Sandwich, Common and Arctic Terns, but has also this spring had sightings of Roseate Tern on at least two occasions.  Common Terns are also visible over Beddmanarch Bay enabling those travelling over the cob for essential shopping trips to add them to their year lists (10^th).

Passerines:

Summer migrants continue to be seen, although there hasn’t been anything new.  A Cuckoo was seen at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (9^th) and another was heard calling at Brynddu woods, Llanfechell (14^th).  Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat and Lesser Whitethroats were all seen at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (9^th).   A Grasshopper Warbler has been ‘reeling’ over the course of the week at Cors Efail Newydd, Benllech.  Northern Wheatear’s continue to move through the island with 5 seen on telegraph poles and wires at Llandyfrydog (9^th). 

Waders:

Wader news has been confined to Cemlyn where there was a summer plumaged Turnstone (12^th), Bar-tailed Godwit (12^th & 13^th) and a Sanderling (13^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

No scarce Divers or Grebes were reported.

Seabirds:

6 Black Guillemots were off Benllech (12^th) with 3 off Wylfa Head (10^th).

Herons, Egrets:

No scarce Herons or Egrets were reported.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A single Brent Goose was still at Cemlyn (12^th).

Raptors:

A Merlin was seen over the mitigation pond, adjacent to the Inland Sea.

Species – year to date:

No new species were seen for this year, leaving the running total for Anglesey for the year to date at 183. 

Some of the species that we might have expected include Dotterel at sites such as the Range – there have been up to 8 birds on the Great Orme in the past week.  The Skua passage should be underway and both Pomarine and Arctic Skuas might be expected off the Range.  Black-necked Grebe might have been a possibility on Valley lakes and given that there have been several reports of Quail in the North West, we might possibly have expected birds around Newborough warren / Braint Estuary.  There have been 13 European Bee-eaters on the Llŷn earlier in the week and its possible that we might have expected them to turn up over Anglesey at some point.  There have also been Hoopoes at Llanfairfechan and Morfa Nefyn – there were 3 sightings on Anglesey last year – so perhaps there is one somewhere on the island.  There has been a Little Bittern on the Isle of Man on the 9^th and 13^th which perhaps passed over us.  What might be lurking in Anglesey’s reed beds – Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Spoonbill? 

The forthcoming week 16 May – 22nd May?:

Back in 1998, the 16^th turned out to be a particularly good birding day with the discovery of 2 Bonaparte’s Gulls just off the car park at Penrhos Coastal Park.  Those looking to relocate the birds later in the day then found a Ring-necked Duck at Holyhead harbour.  By coincidence the 16^th had also produced a Ring-necked Duck 4 years earlier in 1994 at a pond on Mynachdy.

South Stack has done well in this week for scare or rare passerines, with a Black-headed Bunting on the 18^th (2001), a Common Rosefinch on the 18^th (2008) and a Bluethroat on the 19^th (1990).  Still in the Holyhead area, there was a European Bee-eater on the 16^th (2001) at Breakwater Country Park and a Golden Oriole on the 20^th at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (2010).  Cemlyn produced a Citrine Wagtail on the 17^th (2011).

A White-winged Black Tern was at the Aberffraw estuary on the 21^st (1961) and an American Golden Plover at Cemlyn on the 22^nd (2005).  A Corncrake at Bull Bay Golf Club on the 17^th (2001) was enjoyed by many, but perhaps the most unexpected and significant record was that of at least 4 calling male Baillon’s Crake on the 22^nd at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2012).

Want to know more about historical birding records in North Wales - see: Scarce and Rare Birds in North Wales by Robin Sandham @birdsandbike  ISBN: 978-0-9957428-0-2

Saturday 2nd May - Friday 8th May 2020

Intro:

A quiet week in terms of news, but still 2 new additions to the 2020 Anglesey Year list.  Waders once again produced some of the most interesting sightings and this is where I’ll start.

Waders:

 

Short video of Wood Sandpiper on gorad road flood by Norman Rowbotham

The star bird for the week was a Wood Sandpiper found on the ‘gorad’ flood, Valley (6th), which appeared to be part of a mini influx of birds into the UK.  Cemlyn had a good selection of waders including the Norwegian colour-ringed Ruff (2nd^, 4th), Bar-tailed Godwit (3rd, 8th), Black-tailed Godwit (4th), 3 Sanderling (3rd), 200 Dunlin (3rd) and 100 Common Ringed Plover (3rd).  Whimbrel were still on the move across the island with 30+ around the Inland Sea/ Beddmanarch Bay (3rd) and 25 at Cemlyn (3rd).

Passerines:

Scarce passerines included 4 Yellow Wagtails; a male and a female at Cemlyn (3rd), another female on the ‘gorad’ flood, Valley (4th) and another bird between Cemlyn and Cemaes (8th).  Whinchat’s were seen at Henborth (3rd), Cemaes (4th), Cemlyn (7th) and Holyhead Bay (7th).  The first report of a returning Spotted Flycatcher was from Coedana (6th).  A number of Garden Warblers were seen including birds at Cemaes brickworks (2nd) and Newborough (5th).  There were 2 singing Cetti's Warblers at Rhoscolyn (8th).  50 Northern Wheatears were seen in just 1 field at Henborth (3rd) and attracted the attention of a male Merlin.  A Swift was seen at the base of South Stack hill (5th).  A Hooded Crow was at South Stack (8th).

Divers & Grebes: 

No scarce Divers or Grebes were reported.

Seabirds:

3 Puffins was seen at South Stack (8th) and a Black Guillemot was in Holyhead Bay (8th).

Herons, Egrets:

No scarce Herons or Egrets were reported.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A late Brent Goose was at Cemlyn (3rd - 8th) and another at Lleiniog (8th).  The 2 Long-tailed Ducks were still at Cemlyn (2nd).  An Eider was off Aber Lleniog (8th).

Gulls & Terns: 

2 Roseate Terns were at Cemlyn (7th).  Also at Cemlyn, there were c. 100 Arctic Terns and 10 Common Tern (3rd).

Raptors:

A male Merlin was at Henborth near Cemlyn (3rd).  A Short-eared Owl was along the coastal path from Cemlyn (8th), with another on the Range near South Stack (8th).

Species – year to date:

Spotted Flycatcher and Wood Sandpiper were new species for this year, taking the running total for Anglesey for the year to date to 183. 

The forthcoming week 9 May – 15^th May?:
The forthcoming week, has in previous years, been good one for Corncrake, with birds in fields on the approach to South Stack on the 11th (2011 and 2012) and another at Dulas bay on the 15th (2015).  Sticking with crakes, a Spotted Crake was at Rhoscolyn on the 10th (2009).  Sought after scarce finds have included a Tawny Pipit on the Range on the 10th (2008), Red-rumped Swallow at South Stack on the 11th (2004), a Cattle Egret at Llanfachraeth on the 12th (2013), a Bluethroat at South Stack on the 14th (2014) and a European Bee-eater at Cemlyn on the 14th (2017).  A further splash of colour was also added by two Golden Orioles, 1 on the 13th at Penmon (1994) and 1 on the 15th at Malltraeth (2015). Rare and scarce waders included a Pectoral Sandpiper on the 9th at Cemlyn (1999), a Stone Curlew at Fedw Fawr on the 10th (1971) and a Kentish Plover at Ynys Feurig, Rhosneigr on the 13th (1994).

Saturday 25th April - Friday 1st May 2020

Intro:

A quieter week, perhaps reflecting poorer weather and some shutdown fatigue.  Nonetheless, a scattering of reports to keep the interest going.  Waders reports were particularly interesting, so I’ll change the order of the broad bird groupings and start with them.

Waders:

Cemlyn was the wader hotspot, with a Ruff (25^th) – presumably the same bird reported last week – which was found to be colour ringed; with an orange ring above the ankle on its left leg and a green flag on the right leg above the ankle with the letter AJX in black.  

Further investigations showed that the bird was ringed on the 24/08/2019 at Makkevika, Giske, Møre og Romsdal, Norway.  8 days later, on the 1^st September 2019 the bird was at Liddel Loch, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, Scotland where it stayed until the 16/09/2019.  There were no further reports until the sighting at Cemlyn.

Also at Cemlyn were 2 Little-ringed Plover (25^th), which are always good birds for Anglesey – with records probably being less than annual.  Cemlyn also produced a Purple Sandpiper (25^th), 25 Whimbrel (25^th) and 5 Common Sandpipers (25^th).  A Snipe was over Cemaes (25^th). 

Passerines:

Cuckoos were seen or heard calling at the Inland Sea (25^th) and Cemlyn (25^th).  30 Northern Wheatear between Cemaes and Cemlyn (25^th) was a good count.  There was a Grasshopper Warbler on the same stretch of coast (25^th), with 1 or 2 birds at Cors Bodeilio (28^th).  A Stock Dove was seen over Cemaes (26^th), whilst there were 9 Yellowhammers at Brynteg (27^th) and 5 Lesser Redpoll, Brynteg (27^th).  A Siskin was seen on garden feeders at Tregele (29^th). 

Divers & Grebes: 

The Great Northern Diver was still on the Inland Sea (26^th).

Seabirds:

A Black Guillemot were seen off Cemlyn (25^th), with a further 2 birds off Beaumaris pier (27^th).

Herons, Egrets:

No scarce Herons or Egrets were reported.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The 2 Long-tailed Ducks were still at Cemlyn (25^th), whilst there were 5 pairs of Common Eider in the Cadnant estuary on the Menai Straits (28^th).

Gulls & Terns: 

A single Mediterranean Gill was at Cemlyn (25^th). A single Roseate Tern was at Cemlyn (30^th), with 7 Common Terns (25^th) and 2 Arctic Terns (25^th). 

Raptors:

There was a female Merlin at Cemlyn (26^th).  1 or possibly 2 Short-eared Owls were seen at Rhoscolyn (27^th- 28^th).

Species – year to date:

Little-ringed Plover and Roseate Tern were both new species for this year, taking the running total for Anglesey for the year to date to 181. 

The forthcoming week 2 May – 8^th May?:

Spotted Flycatcher is still to be reported from Anglesey this year and must be a candidate for the forthcoming week.

In previous years, this has been a good week for scarce and rare birds.  A Montague’s Harrier was over fields adjacent to South Stack road on the 2^nd in 2001, whilst a Snowy Owl was at Mynachdy on the 3^rd in 1972.   A Woodchat Shrike was at Henborth on the 8^th in 2016 and a Short-toed Lark was at Trwyn trewan common on the 2^nd in 2012.  Waders at Cemlyn included a Pectoral Sandpiper on the 3^rd in 2015 and a Lesser Yellowlegs on the 7^th in 1999.   A Red-rumped Swallow at Porth Wen on the 4th in 2008 was a good find and would today be highly sought after.