Saturday 6th June – Friday 12th June 2020

Intro:

The week started off rather breezy and an early summer sea-watch proved fruitful.

Seabirds:

2 European Storm-Petrel were seen off Octel, Amlwch (6^th), with good numbers of Manx Shearwater, Gannet and other seabirds passing.

Gulls and Terns:

A Roseate Tern was seen at Cemlyn (6^th).  It understood that most of the Arctic and Common Terns have abandoned their nesting sites on the Skerries, with many relocating to Cemlyn.

Passerines:

A Red-backed Shrike was seen near Malltraeth cob pool (12th).  2 Hooded Crows were on the fields between Holyhead and South Stack (9^th).  5 Crossbills flew over Cestyll gardens (8^th), with further birds heard over South Stack (9^th).  Lesser Whitethroat were still singing at Octel, Amlwch (6^th) and Gadfa (9^th).  A Common Cuckoo was at Octel, Amlwch (10^th - 12^th).

Waders:

No records of note.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

3 Great Egrets were near Caergeiliog (7^th). The Quail was heard again in a field on the outskirts of Tregele (7^th,10^th &11^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

No records of note.

Divers & Grebes: 

No records of note.

Raptors:

An Osprey was over Cemlyn (8^th), with another bird being seen over the Menai Straits between the two bridges (11^th).  A Marsh Harrier was near Caergeiliog (9^th), whilst Red Kite continue to be reported across the island.

Species – year to date:

The number of species seen on Anglesey has ticked up by 1 to 193 with the addition of European Storm-Petrel.

The forthcoming week 13^th June – 19^th June?:

A good week for rare warblers with Savi’s Warbler at RSPB Cors Ddyga (14^th) in 2019, a Marsh Warbler at Llanfachraeth (15^th) in 1986, a Great Reed Warbler at RSPB Cors Ddyga (15^th) in 2010 and a Blyth’s Reed Warbler (15^th) at Cestyll, near Cemlyn in 2019.  A splash of colour has been provided by Rose-coloured Starlings at Church Bay (13^th) in 2011, and another at Valley (19^th) in 2012, a European Bee-eater at Cemlyn (13^th) in 2010 and a Golden Oriole at Llanfairynghornwy (18^th) in 2013.  Rare waders have included a Wilson’s Phalarope at Malltraeth (15^th) in 1958, a Stone Curlew at Rhoscolyn (18^th) in 1986 and a Kentish Plover at Rhosneigr (19^th) in 1984.  It has also been a good week for rare terns, with White-winged Black Tern at Cemlyn (16^th) in 2014 and a Whiskered Tern first at Llyn Trafwll (18^th) in 1993 before relocating to Cemlyn.

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