Saturday 11th July – Friday 17th July 2020

Intro:

Let’s start with Gulls.

Gulls and Terns:

Mediterranean Gull is the most recent addition to the species of seabird breeding in the UK, having undergone a significant range expansion over the last 60 years.  A westward expansion started in Hungary, where it was breeding regularly by 1953, then into Germany and Belgium during the 1960s and the Netherlands by 1970.  The first breeding occurrence in Britain was in 1968, at Needs Ore Point (Hampshire). Thereafter, a pair bred at Dungeness (Kent), in 1979, increasing to two pairs by 1985. On Anglesey, there have been several breeding attempts at the Black-headed Gull and Tern colony at Cemlyn from 2009 onwards (Source: JNCC ).

Mediterranean Gull, Penrhos Coastal Park - 07/08/18 - Photo by Martin Jones

In addition to the birds over-summering and attempting to breed, there is a movement of birds through Anglesey in the early summer.  Some may be bound for the likes of Dublin Bay where there is a good wintering population.  Others will stay and winter on the Inland Sea and Beddmanarch Bay, whilst smaller numbers can be found at other sites where smaller gulls congregate such as Cemlyn, Traeth Dulas etc.  A number of these gulls are ringed with colour coded Dravic rings, which show that they originate from colonies across Europe including those in France, Belgium and Germany. For details on colour ringed schemes, see http://medgull.free.fr/pages/codes.php

This week has seen a marked increase in the number of Mediterranean Gulls being seen, with 71 on the Alaw estuary (15^th), 39 on the Inland Sea (14^th), 44 on the Alaw estuary (13^th), 31 on the Inland Sea (13^th) and 17 in Beddmanarch Bay (12^th).  A single adult was off Penrhos Coastal park (13^th) – (this is a good site over the summer for Mediterranean Gulls when several can often be found among the Black-headed Gulls.  The car park makes for good viewing especially for anyone not able to access some of the other sites - It is always worth a quick stop to scan the gulls if you are passing).

Common Gulls are also starting to return with one at Beddmanarch Bay (12^th) and 2 on the Alaw estuary (13^th).  19 Kittiwake were seen during a 1hr sea-watch off the Range (14^th).  A Roseate Tern was at Cemlyn (15^th).

Seabirds:

Puffins continue to be seen around the island with 4 at South Stack (11^th), c.20 from a boat trip between Beaumaris and Llandonna (12^th) and 4 during a sea-watch off the Range (14^th).  Black Guillemots were also reported from several sites including 9 from the aforementioned boat trip, 2 from Porth eilian (12^th) and 1 off Cemlyn (14^th).  A Great Skua (a.k.a. Bonxie) was seen off the Range, South Stack (14^th) and there was a belated report of 2 seen off Point Lynas (6^th).

Waders:

The majority of reports are still coming from the Alaw estuary where there have been daily counts of between 8 and 11 Greenshank (11 on 15^th), up to 16 Redshank (16 on 13^th), up to 3 Whimbrel (3 on 15^th), up to 8 Common Sandpiper (8 on 15^th) and 11 Dunlin (15^th).  There were 6 Bar-tailed Godwit in Beddmanarch Bay (12^th), with possibly the same six birds on the Inland Sea (13^th).  The Inland Sea also held 4 Whimbrel (14^th).

Passerines:

Up to 2 Hooded Crows were around the entrance to Bodwarrren Farm between South Stack and the Range (13^th - 14^th).  Update on sightings around Cors Bodelio included details of three pairs of Grasshopper Warblers on site this year.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great White Egret was reported from RSPB Cors Ddyga (11^th), with another seen flying low over Caergeiliog (15^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

An Eider was off Cemlyn (14^th) and a single Wigeon was on the Alaw estuary (13^th).  8 Common Scoter were seen off the Range, South Stack (14^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

Nothing of note reported.

Raptors:

Little Owls continue to show well at Cemlyn (14^th).  A female Peregrine is still taking tern chicks from the Cemlyn colony (13^th).  Aside from their regular haunts, Marsh Harrier were reported at Llandegfan (17^th) and south of Llyn Trafwll (17^th).

Other:

A Kingfisher was on the Alaw estuary (13^th).

Species – year to date:

There were no new species this week, with the running total for 2020 remaining at 197.

The forthcoming week 18^th July – 24^th July?:

A very quiet time of year for scarce and rare birds, with only two records of note; a Corn Crake at Tregele (19^th) in 2012 and a Pectoral sandpiper (24^th) at Llyn Alaw in 1980.

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