Saturday 13th June – Friday 19th June 2020

Intro:

Last week’s look at previous records for this week suggested that it was good for rare terns with previous records of both White-winged Black and Whiskered, but this year it wasn’t to be a rare marsh tern!

Gulls and Terns:

The headline bird was undoubtedly the Sooty Tern that was found at Cemlyn (13^th), which was seen by at least 2 observers and photographed.  It was looked for during the course of the remainder of the day – and subsequently, but it hasn’t been relocated; neither on the island nor elsewhere.

This is Anglesey’s 2^nd Sooty Tern following a bird initially found at Rhosneigr on the 5^th July 2005.  That bird was initially reported as either Bridled /Sooty Tern and was seen on one of the offshore islands by the wardens.  It was briefly seen in flight by one other observer, but not seen again that evening.  On the 7^th July, news broke of a Sooty Tern on the Skerries and that evening several local birders made the roughly one-hour trip by boat from the Mackenzie Pier at Holyhead.  Other birders from further afield had chartered boats from other Anglesey ports and there was a surreal sight of boats converging on the Skerries from a number of directions.  Good views were had by all of the bird both in flight and perched on rocks.  On Sunday the 10^th, the bird relocated to Cemlyn. A number of boats laden with birders – who had that morning sailed across to the Skerries – quickly relocated to the bay at Cemlyn with the birders aboard desperately trying to look over the shingle ridge to see the bird in flight.

Over the past few years there have been 1 – 2 pairs of Roseate Terns on the Skerries together with Roseate x Common Tern hybrids.  The recent displacement of the Arctic and Common Terns off the Skerries has also led to regular reports of Roseate Terns from Cemlyn with sightings each day between the 13^th – 17th.  It is thought that at least 2 birds are involved, one bearing a ring on its right leg and the other being un-ringed.   If and when travel restrictions are lifted, these are likely to be popular birds as it has been some years since Roseate Terns were regular at Cemlyn.

Seabirds:

An Arctic Skua was seen at Cemlyn (14^th).  An incredible count of 44 Black Guillemot in the Holyhead outer harbour (18^th) was unprecedented and there is speculation as to whether the foggy conditions had disorientated birds from further North as this number of adults in considerably greater than those known to breed in the area.  

Passerines:

At least 1 and possibly 2 adult summer-plumaged Rose-coloured Starling were about Anglesey with reports of a bird near Parys mountain (15^th), then another report of a bird at Cemaes Bay (17^th).  A Spotted Flycatcher was at Henborth, near Cemlyn (14^th) and a Cetti’s Warbler was at Carreglwyd marsh, near Rhydwyn (19^th).  A Cuckoo was heard calling at Penrhos woods (15^th) and another seen well near Caergeiliog (17^th).  Yellowhammer continue to be seen at Llandyfrydog (13^th, 17^th) and a female Northern Wheatear was near Caergeiliog (15^th).  Siskin started to re-appear at a garden feeding station in Benllech (18th).

Waders:

No records of note.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Bittern was seen in flight at Valley Wetlands RSPB (14^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A pair of Wigeon on the Alaw estuary was unexpected (13^th); late leaving, early back or just decided to ‘Stay Local’?  Pochard were seen with young at Valley Lakes RSPB (14^th) and a 1^st summer drake Common Eider was at Cemlyn (16^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

No records of note.

Raptors:

A female Marsh Harrier was seen at Valley Lakes RSPB (14^th).  Red Kites continue to be reported from several locations.

Other:

A Common Kingfisher was seen at Cors Ddyga (15^th).

Species – year to date:

The number of species seen on Anglesey has ticked up by 2 to 195 with the addition Sooty Tern and Arctic Skua.

The forthcoming week 20^th June – 27^h June?:

A quiet week, but some good wader records with Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Cemlyn (20^th) in 2013, a Stone Curlew at Penmon (21^st) in 1997 and a Terek Sandpiper at Cemlyn (21^st) in 2005.  A Black Stork was at Carmel Head (22^nd) in 1999, whilst a Black-crowned Night Heron was at Malltraeth (23^rd) in 2005.  There is a historical record of an American Wigeon at Llyn Llywenan (21^st) in 1910 and a Red-footed Falcon was at South Stack (21^st) in 1986.  There was a Common Rosefinch at Porth Eilian (21^st) in 2013 and 2 European Bee-eaters flew over Mariandyrys (26^th) in 2015.

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