Saturday 8th August – Friday 14th August 2020

Intro:

Passage migrant waders are still showing up, but it is perhaps the hope of a scarce migrant warbler that is spurring on many.

Passerines:

Whilst none of the rare or scarce drift migrant that have featured on the east coast of England have yet managed to filter across to Anglesey, there was nonetheless a reasonable array of species to keep interests going.  Heading the cast was a Tree Pipit over South Stack & ‘The Plantation’ (13^th), a Garden Warbler at South Stack (13^th) and 5 Crossbills at Carmel Head (9^th).  ‘The Plantation’ is an area of conifers approximately 1 mile east of South Stack, which can’t be accessed but can be viewed from a public footpath that runs north from South Stack road.

Some of our commoner warblers are starting to be seen at coastal watchpoints.  Blackcaps were well represented with 5 birds at South Stack and The Plantation (13^th), 4 at Holyhead Breakwater Park (13^th) and 1 at Octel, Amlwch (14^th).  There were 5 Whitethroat at Holyhead Breakwater Park (13^th) and 1 at Octel, Amlwch (14^th).  Chiffchaffs included 10 at Holyhead Breakwater Park (13^th), 2 at South Stack and The Plantation (13^th) and 2 at Octel, Amlwch (14^th).  Willow Warblers included 3 at Octel, Amlwch (14^th), 2 at South Stack and The Plantation (13^th) and 1 at Holyhead Breakwater Park (13^th). 

It is still not too late to catch up with a Cuckoo if you missed them during lockdown, as proved by a juvenile bird seen at Henborth – Cemlyn (14^th).  Wheatears are being seen quite widely, with 4 on the Alaw estuary (8^th), 3 at Cemlyn (8^th), 3 at South Stack & The Plantation (13^th), 1 at Trecastell Beach (13^th) and 1 at Point Lynas (13^th).  It appears to have been a good breeding season for Chough, with 48 were seen at Carmel Head (9^th).  Swifts appear to have largely departed for warmer climes, with just the 1 reported at Carmel Head (9^th).  Swallows are starting to congregate before their journey south, with circa. 450 birds seen going to roost in the reed bed at the southern end of RSPB Cors Ddyga (9^th).  A Dipper was on the Afon Cefni near the Council offices, Llangefni 10^th).

Waders:

Wood Sandpiper is a scarce passage migrant to Anglesey, with sightings on average being less than annual.  2020 already goes down as a good year for this species with two records to date; the first being that seen on the ‘gorad flood’, Valley on the 6^th June and now a second bird at Cemlyn (8^th).  Continuing with the sandpiper theme, there was a Green Sandpiper at Carmel Head (9^th) and another at Cemlyn (11^th).  Rounding off with our most commonly seen sandpiper, there were 3 Common Sandpiper at Cemlyn (8^th) and up to 3 birds on the Alaw estuary (1 on 9^th & 12^th, 3 on 14^th).

Ruff is another passage migrant (which occasionally over-winters) and there were 6 on the Alaw estuary (9^th) and 3 at Cemlyn (11^th).  Both species of Godwit were seen with up to 3 Bar-tailed Godwit on the Alaw estuary (2 on 8^th, 14^th, 3 on 12^th), 2 Black-tailed Godwit on the gorad flood, Valley (8^th) and 2 Black-tailed Godwit at Carmel Head (9^th).  There were up to 15 Greenshank on Alaw estuary (15 on 9^th), with a good scattering of Whimbrel around the island with 2 at Carmel Head (9^th), 1 on the Alaw estuary (12^th) and 3 at Malltraeth cob pool (13^th).  The Alaw estuary also held up to 8 Sanderling (4 on 8^th, 8 on 9^th, 7 on 14^th), 5 Knot (14^th) and 3 Golden Plover (9^th).  There were also 3 Golden Plover at Carmel Head (9^th).

Seabirds:

A European Storm Petrel was caught and ringed at Point Lynas (11^th).  A seawatch from Cemlyn produced an Arctic Skua (8^th) and a Puffin (8^th).

Gulls and Terns:

The number of Mediterranean Gulls seems to know no bounds, with what must be a new Anglesey record of 136 on the Alaw estuary (14^th).  Earlier in the week, there had been 40 on Inland Sea (8^th) and 28 on the Alaw estuary (12^th).  A Roseate Tern was still at Cemlyn during the week (11^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

There was a Great Egret at Valley wetlands (9^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

There was evidence of returning Teal with 1 on the Alaw estuary (12^th) and 2 at Malltraeth cob pool (13^th).  The eclipse plumage male Eider was still at Hen Borth (8^th, 14^th ) and 27 Goosander were seen off Beaumaris (10^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

No reports during the week.

Raptors:

There was a female or immature Marsh Harrier over Traeth Crigyll, Rhosneigr (9^th).  There was a Short-eared Owl at Aberffraw (11^th).  Barn Owls were seen at both RSPB Cors Ddyga (9^th at dusk) and at Aberffraw (12^th).

Other:

2 Kingfishers were on the Afon Cefni behind Pet and Garden, Llangefni Industrial estate (10^th).

Species – year to date:

There were no new species for the 2020 Anglesey year list, which remains at 200. 

The forthcoming week 15^th August – 21^th August?

As with last week, previous records suggest that this is a very quiet time for scarce and rare birds, with just the two notable records of a Rose-coloured Starling at Rhosneigr (20^th) in 1997 and a Cory’s Shearwater off Point Lynas (20^th) in 2005.

Whilst not supported by historical records, there will be more than a few birders hoping that one of the east coast’s Icterine or Barred Warbler filters across. 

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