Saturday 27th June – Friday 3rd July 2020

Intro:

A further week where returning waders are the stars of the show.

Before getting on to the news, a big thanks to all those who have shared details of their sightings over what has been the 3 ½ months of lockdown.  I know that many have been appreciative of news being shared and reported, even if the constraints of daily walks or more latterly the 5-mile travel allowance hasn’t allowed most to catch up with the birds.  Hopefully, the removal of restrictions on Monday – whilst still practicing common sense on social distancing – will allow many more hours to be spent in the field.  Please share details of what you see.

Waders:

The main news is coming from the Alaw estuary and Cemlyn where there are birders living close by.  The number of Common Sandpiper on the Alaw estuary has increased from 3 (30^th) to an impressive count of 17 (2^nd).  Black-tailed Godwits have also been returning, with 2 on the Alaw estuary (30^th), 4 on the Alaw estuary (2^nd) and 10 at Cemlyn (2^nd) – including a colour ringed bird.  The Alaw estuary (30^th) also had 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 138 Oystercatcher and 102 Curlew.

Passerines:

Belated news of a Ring-necked Parakeet (aka Ring-necked Parakeet) at Penmynydd on the 26^th June.  A Hooded Crow was on the Range (1^st), with 2 Chough families of 3 and 4 fledged birds.

Gulls and Terns:

A Roseate Tern was at Cemlyn (1^st), with a report of a pair having flown in earlier in the week.  12 Mediterranean Gulls were on the Alaw estuary (30^th).

Seabirds:

34 Manx Shearwater,11 Gannets, 36 Kittiwake and 2 Puffin were seen during a 1hr sea-watch off the Range (1^st).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

No records of note.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A Long-tailed Duck was at Cemlyn (27^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

No records of note.

Raptors:

A Little Owl was in the Range (1^st).

Species – year to date:

The addition of Rose-ringed Parakeet takes the running total for the year to date to 196.

The forthcoming week 4^th July – 10^th July?:

A Black-winged Pratincole was at Mona airfield (4^th) in 2001, with Anglesey’s first Sooty Tern being found at Rhosneigr (5th) in 2005, before relocating to the Skerries and then to Cemlyn.  South Stack has had a Cory’s Shearwater (6^th) in 1991, a Black Kite (6^th) in 2019 and the Snowy Owl (6^th) made a reappearance in 2018 after disappearing for several weeks having been seen by many near Amlwch Port.  Cemlyn had an Isabelline Shrike (7^th) which has now been split into Turkestan Shrike Lanius phoenicuroides, whist a Common Rosefinch was nearby at Cemaes Bay (7^th) in 2009.

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