Saturday 30th May – Friday 5th June 2020

Intro:

Despite the continuing restrictions on travel, a good array of birds – particularly passerines – were noted.  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:

A Turtle Dove at Wylfa head (30^th) was an excellent find.  Whilst this summer visitor is largely confined to the south and east of England, the past two years have provided a number of records.  There were 3 last year, with birds seen at Holyhead, RSPB Cors Ddyga and in a private garden in the east of the island.   

Another good record involved a male Firecrest that was seen and heard singing at Llandegfan (1^st).  Whilst there are usually wintering birds on Anglesey, this early summer record of a singing male is both noteworthy and intriguing. 

Other summer visitors included a Spotted Flycatcher was at Wylfa woods (30^th), a Grasshopper Warbler was at Cors Efail Newydd, Benllech (30^th) and a female Common Redstart near the west car park, Cemlyn (1^st).  11 Common Crossbill flew west over Cestyll, near Cemlyn (2^nd) and a Lesser Redpoll was near Benllech (2^nd). 

A single Hooded Crow was at Henborth (3^rd) whilst 3 were on a rolled field between Holyhead and South Stack (4^th).  There were 2 Stock Doves at Henborth (3^rd).  There was an unattributed report of a Rose-coloured Starling (aka Rosy Starling) at Trearddur Bay (3^rd).

Scarcity can take many forms.  A Grey Wagtail at a garden pool of one local birder was the first he had had on the ground in 45 years! 

Waders:

A summer plumaged Little Stint and a late European Golden Plover were on the Alaw estuary (4th-5th).  There were 2 Knot, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 18 Dunlin on the main island at Cemlyn (30^th).  17 Sanderling flew past the Range (5th), whilst 1 was on the Alaw estuary (5th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Egret was seen at Beaumaris (4^th).  A Quail was calling from a field on the outskirts of Tregele (31^st)

Divers & Grebes: 

A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was seen off the Range, near Holyhead (4^th).

Gulls and Terns:

28 Kittiwake were seen off the Range (4th), with 38 the following day (5th).   8 Sandwich Terns were seen at the same site (4th) and then 6 (5th).

Seabirds:

204 Manx Shearwater were counted passing the Range (4th) during a 3 hour seawatch , then 490 in a 2 hour seawatch (5th).  Other sightings included 78 Gannet (4th), 132 Gannet (5th), 5 Fulmar (4th), 56 Fulmar (5th), 5 Puffin (4^th) and 6 Puffin (5th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

There was a Sub-adult male Common Eider in the bay at Cestyll, near Cemaes (2^nd).  5 Common Scoter were seen off the Range, near Holyhead (4^th).

Raptors:

Sightings of Red Kite continue.

Species – year to date:

The number of species seen on Anglesey has ticked up by 2 to 192 with the addition of Turtle Dove and Little Stint.

The forthcoming week 6^th June – 12^th June?:

A good week for scarce egrets and herons, with Squacco Heron at Cemlyn (11^th) in 1988, Cattle Egret at Plas Bog (12^th) in 2009, and a Purple Heron firstly at Cors Bodeilio then RSPB Cors Ddyga (12^th) in 2016.  Rare waders include a Collared Pratincole at Llyn Maelog, Rhosneigr (6^th) in 1983 and a Red-necked Phalarope at Cemlyn (8^th) in 2006.  There have been 2 Rose-coloured Starlings, 1 at Cemlyn (9^th) in 2001 and another near Valley (9^th) in 2014.  There is a historical record of a Woodchat Shrike at Porth Dafarch (6^th) in 1928, a Savi’s Warbler at RSPB Cors Ddyga (8^th) in 1999, a Golden Oriole at Cemlyn (9^th) in 2007, a Common Rosefinch at Carmel Head (10^th) in 2012 and a Black-headed Bunting at Cemlyn (12^th) in 1994.

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