Saturday 19th September – Friday 25th September 2020

Intro:

And now for the classified results:

Cemlyn 1, RSPB Cors Ddyga 2

…

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Following a number of sightings in South Wales and a bird at Porthmadog on the 14th & 15^th September, it was Anglesey’s turn to host a Glossy Ibis; and not just one.  Hot on the heels of news emerging of a bird early morning at Cemlyn (19^th), news then broke of 2 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga.  The Cemlyn bird was to stay until the 20^th, but the RSPB Cors Ddyga birds were more obliging and stayed until the 25^th (still present) allowing many local and visiting birder to catch up with these birds.  RSPB Cors Ddyga’s ‘Mediterranean’ feel was added to by two Great White Egrets (19^th – 22^nd, although there is 1 report of 4 birds, date not given) which were often seen in or around the same field as the Glossy Ibis.

Glossy Ibis, RSPB Cors Ddyga, 19th September by Martin Jones

Passerines:

The adult Rose-coloured Starling was still around the Bull Bay Hotel Car Park (19^th – 25^th) and there was a belated report of a Black Redstart at Cemaes (18^th).  Migrant birds included a Yellow Wagtail at Holyhead Breakwater Country park (21^st), a Common Redstart at the Range, South Stack (23^rd), up to 2 Whinchat at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1 on 21^st, 2 on 24^th) and up to 36 Wheatear at the Range, South Stack (36 on 23^rd, 7 on 21^st).  Either late local migratory breeders or migrants from elsewhere included a number of Blackcap – including 4 at Breakwater Country Park (19^th) and 2 at South Stack (21^st), a Spotted Flycatcher at Breakwater Country Park (19^th), together with sightings of Common Crossbill over South Stack, Penrhos Business Park and Breakwater County Park (19^th).  Late Common Whitethroats were seen at South Stack (21^st), Cemlyn (23^rd) and the Holyhead Breakwater County Park (24^th).  2 Hooded Crow were seen between South Stack and the Range (21^st), with another on the stubble field between Cemlyn and Hen Borth (19^th).

Waders:

The water levels at RSPB Cors Ddyga have provided excellent conditions for waders and the birds have dully obliged with up to 40 Black-tailed Godwit at RSPB (40 on (19^th), up to 15 Ruff (c.15 on 25^th, 12 on 19^th & 20^th) and 300 Snipe (19^th).  An early Jack Snipe was seen at Hen Borth (20^th) and there were up to 50 Lapwing seen at Caergeiliog (22^nd).  There was a Ruff and 3 Grey Plover at Cymyran (20^th), 7 Sanderling at Porth Forllwyd, 500m east of Traeth Lligwy (23^rd) and 5 Green Sandpiper on the Alaw estuary (23^rd).

The water levels at RSPB Cors Ddyga are already starting to fall following the commencement of work on clearing the main drain.  It has been great to see so many birds on the reserve whilst we have had the elevated water levels and it is clearly an indication of the tremendous pull the reserve has on migratory birds. 

Digger clearing drain at  RSPB Cors Ddyga, 25th September by Martin Jones

Seabirds:

5 Arctic Skua and 4 Great Skua were seen off Point Lynas (25^th), with another Great Skua past Octel (25^th).  Rather surprisingly, there were 5 Razorbill and a Common Guillemot in the central area of the Inland Sea near 4 Mile bridge (20^th). 

Gulls and Terns:

There were 4 Mediterranean Gulls on the Inland Sea (23^rd).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Garganey were at Llyn Maelog (20^th) and the mitigation pool, Inland Sea (24^th).  75 Coot were counted at Llyn Cefni (19^th) and there were 240 Wigeon on the Inland Sea (23^rd).  A Eider flew past Point Lynas (25^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

A Red-throated Diver was seen off Moelfre (23^rd), then 1 past Point Lynas (25^th) and 1 past Cemaes (25^th).  10 Little Grebe were at Llyn Cefni (19^th).  There was a Great Crested Grebe still in summer plumage off Moelfre (23^rd).

Raptors:

A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (21^st), whilst a number of Marsh Harriers were seen there also.  A Peregrine took a Snipe at Cors Ddyga (19^th), up to 2 Red Kites were over the reserve (1 on 20^th, 2 on 25^th) and a Hobby flew through the reserve heading east (20^th).  An Osprey was seen over the Braint estuary (20^th), with another over the Inland Sea (20^th – 24^th).  2 Merlins were at Cemlyn (25^th).

Species – year to date:

The cumulative Anglesey year list for 2020 has ticked up by another 1 species with the addition of Glossy Ibis.  The 2020 Anglesey year list now stands at 214.

The forthcoming week 26^th September – 2^nd October?

Waders have included a Temminck’s Stint at Malltraeth (26^th) in 1965, a Pectoral Sandpiper at Llyn Alaw (26^th) in 1994, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Cemlyn (30^th) in 2006, a Stone Curlew at The Range (1^st) in 2002 and a Red-necked Phalarope at Penmon pool (2^nd) in 1998.  It is a good week for Glossy Ibis with 3 records; 1 at Cemlyn (26^th) in 2009, 1 at Cors Ddyga (30^th) in 2013 and 1 at Malltraeth (2^nd) in 1945.  There is also 1 record of Common Crane, a bird at Llantrisant (28^th) in 1997.  Records of rare Gulls and Terns include a Bonaparte’s Gull at Traeth Dulas (27^th) in 2009 and a Forster’s Tern near Penmon (30^th) in 1984.  Scarce passerines have included a Bluethroat at The Range (27^th) in 1997, an Ortolan Bunting at Malltraeth (29^th) in 1966, a Melodious Warbler at Holyhead (29^th) in 1980, a Barred Warbler at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (29^th) in 2012 and 2 Red-breasted Flycatchers – 1 at Llyn Alaw (28^th) in 1986 and 1 at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (2^nd) in 2007.

 

 

Saturday 12th September – Friday 18th September 2020

Intro:

A week of scarce passerines and probable record counts of two wader species.

Passerines:

The bird of the week was most probably the European Turtle Dove at Hen Borth which was a life tick for quite a few and a Welsh tick for considerably more.  It has been a scarce bird for Anglesey over the past 30 years, but over the last couple of years we have had a good run of records with 3 sightings last year and 3 this – albeit that it isn’t impossible that all the records this year might involve a single bird with all the records being in a relatively small area stretching from Wylfa Head to Llanfairynghornwy.  The bird was seen regularly in the two small wooden plantations at Hen Borth and the adjoining barley field (12^th – 16^th). 

 Photo: European Turtle Dove, Hen Borth, 15th September - by Martin Jones

Not far away, a Red-backed Shrike was seen from the approach road to Cemlyn near the footpath to Cestyll gardens (14^th) and the adult Rose-coloured Starling was still in Bull Bay often favouring the wires behind the Bull Bay hotel and the blackberry bushes to the right of the footpath to the coast (12^th – 17^th).

 Photo: Red-backed Shrike, near Cestyll, 14th September - by Martin Jones

Lapland Bunting seem to be on the move, with 1 seen on the ground with Meadow Pipits at Carmel Head before flying east towards Hen Borth (12^th), 1 over South Stack (17^th) and 1 on the Range, near South Stack (18^th).  Up to 2 Hooded Crows were at The Range and the surrounding area, near South Stack (2 on 15^th & 18^th, 1 on 17^th) and a late Common Whitethroat was seen on the Range, near South Stack (14^th).  Up to 5 Cetti’s Warbler are still singing at RSPB Cors Ddyga (5 on 13^th, 2 on 16^th) and a Spotted Flycatcher was at the Plantation, South Stack (18^th).

Waders:

Whilst waders didn’t weigh in too heavily in terms of scarcity, they made up for it in terms of numbers.  The fox-fenced field at the North end of RSPB Cors Ddyga held a staggering estimation of c.400 Common Snipe (16^th) only to be followed by any equally staggering count of 30 Ruff at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30 on 17^th, 3 on 15^th - 16^th).  RSPB Cors Ddyga also held up to 25 Black-tailed Godwit (25 on 15^th, 20 on 16^th).  The vast expanse of water that must be contributing to making the birds more visible will not last for long, as it is understood that Natural Resources Wales will soon be working on the main drain after which water levels are expected to subside.  Elsewhere,  there were 6 Bar-tailed Godwits at Cemlyn (15^th) and 5 on the Alaw estuary (18^th).  16 Greenshank continue to be seen on the Alaw estuary (18^th) and the last sighting of Curlew Sandpiper involved 2 birds seen on the Alaw estuary (13^th).  Finally, a Wood Sandpiper flew over the Inland Sea (18^th).

Seabirds:

If there was an award for the most bizarre sighting of the week, it would certainly go to the Common Guillemot – and the bridled form at that – seen among the salt marsh grass at the Braint estuary (12^th).  More conventionally, there were a couple of sightings of Skuas with both a Great Skua and an Arctic Skua past Bull Bay (12^th).

Photo: Common Guillemot, Braint Estuary, 12th September - by Dan Brown.

Gulls and Terns:

Nothing particularly scarce or rare, but a Great Black-backed Gull eating an Octopus at Bull Bay (12^th) made interesting viewing.  12 Mediterranean Gulls were on the Alaw estuary (18^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Up to 2 Great White Egrets were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 15^th, 1 on 17^th), with 1 at the farm end of Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn (12^th); presumably the latter being seen again at Hen Borth and Cemlyn (18th).  There were 25 Little Egret at RSPB Cors Ddyga (13^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Of the returning wildfowl, 5 Pintail at RSPB Cors Ddyga (13^th) were perhaps the most noteworthy.  6 Common Scoter were seen flying past Point Lynas (13^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

A Great Northern Diver was seen from Cemlyn (15^th).

Raptors:

Hot on the heels of the sighting of a Goshawk on the Cefni estuary a few weeks ago and another bird, this time involving an immature female over Pengorffwysfa, near Point Lynas (13^th).  Both Barn Owl (15^th) and a male Marsh Harrier (13^th) were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga, whilst an Osprey was seen over the Menai Strait and then thermalling over Llandegfan (17^th)

Other:

2 Common Kingfisher were on the Alaw estuary (18^th).

Species – year to date:

After two good weeks for additions to the year list, a fallow week with no new species.  The 2020 Anglesey year list remains at 213 although it can’t be long before a Yellow-browed Warbler will be added – here’s hoping!.

 

The forthcoming week 19^h September – 25^th September?

Still a good time for Pectoral Sandpiper with two old records of birds at Llyn Alaw (19^th) in 1981 and at Malltraeth (24^th) in 1963.  A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Cemlyn (21^st) in 1977.

Scarce passerines have included two Ortolan Buntings, one on the Skerries (19^th) in 1961 and another at South Stack (24^th) in 2006.  A Common Rosefinch was at Soldier’s Point (19^th) in 2004, an Isabelline Wheatear at Mynachdy (22^nd) in 2006, a Bluethroat (23^rd) in 2001, a Barred Warbler (23^rd) in 2008, a Little Bunting (25^th) on the Skerries in 1961 and 2 Tawny Pipits (25^th) at Hen Borth in 2006.  A Glossy Ibis was at Llyn Park Mawr (22^nd) in 2009 and a Black Kite at Talwrn (25^th) in 2019.

 

 

Saturday 5th September – Friday 11th September 2020

Intro:

Waders wrestle back control of where this blog starts.

Waders:

The star bird for the week was a Pectoral Sandpiper found in the marshy field between the lane to Tyn Llan farm and the coast (9^th).  Unfortunately, it stayed just the one day.  The surrounding area looks extremely inviting following some improvements to the farmland including 2 wet enclosures that are screaming out for a rare wader.  

Photo: Pectoral Sandpiper at Cemlyn by Steve Culley

Curlew Sandpipers were still showing well on the Alaw estuary with 1 bird was present (5^th – 6^th), followed by what were considered to be 2 new birds (7^th & 8^th), then 3 birds (10^th).  Up to 5 Green Sandpiper were on the Alaw estuary (5 on 6^th, 3 on 7^th), with 1 Common Sandpiper on the Alaw estuary (5^th) and 1 Purple Sandpiper at Cemlyn (5^th).  There were 10 Golden Plover on the Alaw estuary (6^th), 8 Golden Plover at Cemlyn (6^th) and 1 Ruff at RSPB Cors Ddyga (6^th).  Knot included a count of 60 birds at Beddmanarch Bay (6^th) and 32 on the Alaw estuary (6^th), whilst the highest reported count of Dunlin was of 45 at Beddmanarch Bay (6^th).  Bar-tailed Godwit sightings included up to 4 at Beddmanarch Bay (3 on 6^th, 4 on 8^th), 2 at the Alaw estuary (6^th) and 1 at Cemlyn (6^th).  There were up to 16 Black-tailed Godwit at Cors Ddyga (14 on 5^th, 16 on 6^th), 8 at Beddmanarch Bay (8^th) and 1 Whimbrel on the Alaw estuary (6^th – 7^th).

Passerines:

A gap in the year list that was surprising not filled in the first part of the year has now been attended to by the sightings of a Lapland Bunting that flew over Cemlyn (5^th).  A Whinchat was also at Cemlyn (5th) and a Yellow Wagtail flew over Mynydd Bodafon (6th). Up to 2 Hooded Crows were still being seen on The Range (1 on 5^th, 2 on 9^th) and an adult Rose-coloured Starling was at Bull Bay (6^th – 10^th).  The Rose-coloured Starling can range widely, but overhead electricity cables behind the now closed Bull Bay hotel on the headland does seem to be a favoured spot.  

Photo: Rose-coloured  (aka Rosy) Starling at Bull Bay by Martin Jones

Warblers are still providing some interest with a Lesser Whitethroat at Carmel Head (6^th), 2 Common Whitethroat at Cemlyn (6^th), a Blackcap at RSPB Cors Ddyga (6^th) and 6 Cetti’s Warbler at the south end of RSPB Cors Ddyga (9^th).  110 Goldfinch were counted in one feeding flock at the start of the causeway path by the car park at RSPB Cors Ddyga (5^th).

Seabirds:

Those who may have been hoping for Leach’s Petrel following sightings past Blackpool on the Friday were lucky enough to see 5 Leach’s Petrel past Cemlyn (5^th), 1 past Bull Bay(5^th) and 1 past Cemlyn (6^th).  I’ll touch on the gulls later, but other notable seabird sightings included a Balearic Seawater past Point Lynas (5th) – with presumably the same seen past Bull Bay and Cemlyn.  Skua numbers were again back up following last week’s lull.  There were 9 Arctic Skua past Point Lynas (5^th), 6 Arctic Skua past Bull Bay (5^th), 15 Arctic Skua past Cemlyn (5th) and 2 past South Stack (5^th) – though some of the birds will have been logged at multiple sites.  The following day, it was somewhat quieter but there were still 4 Arctic Skua past Cemlyn (6th).  There were fewer sightings of Great Skua, with 2 seen past Point Lynas (5^th), 2 past Cemlyn (5^th) and 1 past Bull Bay (9^th).

Aside from our scarcer species, Razorbills put on a show when c. 12 were seen on the afternoon of the 7^th foraging for whitebait only 1-4 metre from the shore in water <20cm depth off Benllech beach on the receding tide. The observer commented that they were plainly visible swimming submerged, in penguin-like fashion, at speed for the whitebait and making several kills. The experienced observer commented further that he had never seen Razorbill foraging so close to a shallow sandy shore as this. They took no notice of people on the shoreline.

Gulls and Terns:

Alongside the seabirds mentioned above, there were 4 adult Sabine’s Gulls past Point Lynas (5^th) with further sightings of presumably some of the same birds at Bull Bay and Cemlyn.  In addition to the adults, there was a juvenile past Bull Bay (5^th) and another past South Stack (5^th).  The following day, there was another juvenile past Cemlyn (6th).  2 Black Terns were seen off Bull Bay (7^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Purple Heron was flushed at RSPB Cors Ddyga and flew in the direction of Malltraeth (6^th).  Also at RSPB Cors Ddyga, there was up to 2 Great White Egrets (1 on 6^th, 2 on 10^th) and up to 6 Water Rail were heard calling.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

An immature/female Garganey was at the mitigation pool, Inland Sea (5^th – 9^th ).  Pale-bellied Brent Geese are starting to reclaim their wintering grounds around Beddmanarch Bay with 5 at Beddmanarch Bay (6^th) and 10 on the Alaw estuary (6^th).  The first returning Pintail involved 3 birds on the Alaw estuary (5^th), whilst 4 Goosander were on the Alaw estuary (6^th).  RSPB Cors Ddyga had 11 Gadwall (9^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

A Great Northern Diver was seen to fly past Point Lynas (5^h) and Cemlyn (5^h), whilst sightings of Red-throated Divers included 1 past Point Lynas (5^h), 2 past South Stack (5^h) and 2 past Bull Bay (9^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was seen to fly over RSPB Cors Ddyga (6^th) and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier was seen to fly towards Llyn Cefni (9^th).  There were several sightings of Barn Owl during the week at RSPB Cors Ddyga.

Other:

A Common Kingfisher was seen at Llanfachraeth end of the Alaw estuary (6^th, 7^th, 10^th).

 

Species – year to date:

Leach’s Petrel, Lapland Bunting, Purple Heron, Black Tern and Pectoral Sandpiper were all new for the year, taking the Anglesey 2020 year list to 213.

 

The forthcoming week 12^th September – 18^th September?

Rare seabirds included two records of Barolo Shearwater with 4 birds past South Stack (12^th) in 1987 and then 2 past South Stack (15^th) in 1987.  A Cory’s Shearwater was also seen of North Stack (17^th) in 1983.

A particularly good period for Ortolan Bunting with birds at Holyhead Breakwater County Park (13^th) in 2003, Soldier’s Point (15^th) in 2008 and two older records of birds at Brynsiencyn (18^th) in 1968 and at South Stack (18^th) in 1968.  Other scarce passerines included a Red-breasted Flycatcher (13^th) in 2013 and a Barred Warbler at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (14^th) in 2010/

Scarce waders include a Pectoral Sandpiper at Llyn Alaw (12^th) in 2003, a Biuff-breasted Sandpiper (14^th) in 2011, a Baird’s Sandpiper at Rhosneigr (14^th) in 1992 and another Baird’s Sandpiper at the Alaw estuary (15^th) in 2009.

Completing the records, there was a Purple Heron on the Inland Sea (15^th) in 2007 and a Glossy Ibis (17^th) in 2009.

Of the more commonly seen species, there haven’t been any reports of either Dotterel or Pied Flycatcher this year, which must still be a possibility with The Range being the prime location for the former and the plantation at South Stack, Holyhead Breakwater Country Park and Carmel Head all being potential locations for the latter.

 

Saturday 29th August – Friday 4th September 2020

Intro:

A rare Wheatear failed to do the decent thing and wait around for would be admirers.

Passerines:

The headline bird for the week was the discovery of the UK’s earliest Isabelline Wheatear, which was found between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (30^th).  This is Anglesey’s 2^nd county record, following a bird also between Hen Borth and Carmel Head on the 22^nd September 2006.  

Isabelline Wheatear at Hen Borth - Carmel Head by Mark Sutton (finder).

Anglesey’s 2^nd Turtle Dove of the year was found between Hen Borth and Llanfairynghornwy (1^st), whilst the 3^rd Common Redstart of the year - a good year – involved a male along the cob at Malltraeth (30^th).  There was a Spotted Flycatcher at South Stack and Plantation (1^st) and sightings of warblers at South Stack and Plantation included 7 Chiffchaff (1^st), 3 Blackcap (1^st) and 3 Whitethroat (1^st).  A Cetti’s Warbler was singing at RSPB Cors Ddyga (31^st).  Hooded Crows were seen on the Range, near South Stack (30^th & 3^rd) and at Hen Borth (3^rd).  1000+ Swallows went to roost at RSPB Cors Ddyga (31^st) and there were some late sightings of Swift with 1 between Cemlyn – Henborth (31^st) and another in Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (31^st).  Some of our more common birds are starting to form large autumn flocks with a mixed flock of 100+ Linnet and Goldfinch feeding on common knapweed seedheads at Talwrn (31^st), 12 Mistle Thrush in a feeding flock at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th) and 30 Mistle Thrush in a feeding flock at Talwrn (4^th).

Waders:

A Bar-tailed Godwit was at Cemlyn (29^th) and up to 4 at the Alaw estuary (4 on 30^th).  There was a single Black-tailed Godwit at Cemlyn (1^st) and up to 17 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4 on 30^th, 2 on 31^st, 9 on the 2^nd & 3^rd, 17 on 4^th).  Whimbrel numbers were low with up to 3 on the Alaw estuary (3 on 31^st, 2 on 2nd, 1 on 4^th) and 1 on the Inland Sea (29^th).  Greenshank numbers remain high with up to 17 on the Alaw estuary (17 on 29^th) and up to 6 at Traeth Dulas (6 on 29^th, 4 on 30^th - 3^rd,, 3 on 4^th).  There were 6 Ruff at Traeth Dulas (29^th), 3 were on the gorad flood, Valley (30^th) and up to 2 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1 on 31^st & 3^rd, 2 on 4^th).  75 Lapwing were counted at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th), 3 Golden Plover were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4^th) and there was a belated report of a Spotted Redshank on Malltraeth cob pool (27^th).

Curlew Sandpiper showed up at both Malltraeth and the Alaw estuary with 1 at Malltraeth (30^th) and up to 3 juveniles on Alaw estuary (3 on 1^st – 3^rd, 2 29^th – 31^st, 1 on 4^th).  There were good numbers of Knot on passage with 50 at Malltraeth (30^th), 22 on the Inland Sea (29^th), up to 9 at Traeth Dulas (2 on 29^th, 9 on 2^nd) and 4 on the Alaw estuary (31^st).  Sightings of Sanderling included 1 at Traeth Dulas (29^th) and 4 on the Alaw estuary (31^st).  Up to 5 Green Sandpiper were on the Alaw estuary (2 on 1^st, 5 on 4^th) and another was seen to fly over the road at Llanynghenedl and headed in the direction of the Alaw estuary (30^th).  Lone Common Sandpiper were seen at the Alaw estuary (31^st, 1^st, 4^th), RSPB Cors Dyga (3^rd) and Traeth Dulas (4^th).  Whilst Snipe are understood to still breed on the island in small numbers, this week saw a pronounced increase in numbers which must have also involved migrant birds.  24 were seen at Cemlyn (31^st) and an impressive 150 were seen flighting at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th).

Seabirds:

A quieter week when compared with last week’s high numbers, but still 7 Arctic and 5 Great Skuas.  The Arctic Skuas involved 3 past Bull Bay (29^th), 2 past Penmon (4^th), 1 past Point Lynas (29^th) and 1 past Cemlyn (1^st).  Great Skuas were seen off Bull Bay (29^th), 2 past Cemlyn (29^th), 1 past Cemlyn (2^nd) and 1 past South Stack (3^rd).  There are still good numbers of Manx Shearwater with 410 counted past South Stack in 90-minute seawatch (3^rd).

Gulls and Terns:

There were 2 sightings of Little Gull, with one past Point Lynas (29^th) and a juvenile past Cemlyn (2^nd).  Mediterranean Gull numbers are still high with 64 Mediterranean Gulls on Inland Sea (29^th) and a pronounced influx of birds in the Cemlyn area with 30 at Hen Borth (3^rd), 6 at Cemlyn (3^rd) and 24 in fields on the south side of the lagoon (3^rd). Elsewhere, 35 were on the Alaw estuary (4^th), 16 were seen in flight over the road near 4-mile bridge (3^rd) and a juvenile was a juvenile was at Traeth Dulas (2^nd).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

2 Great Egrets were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (31^st), as were 3 squealing Water Rail (31^st).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Autumn cannot be far away when our wintering wildfowl start to return.  3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew past Point Lynas (29^th) and 5 Brent Geese were on the Alaw estuary (30^th).  Wigeon numbers have been building up at RSPB Cors Ddyga from 6 (30^th), to 12 (2^nd) to 50 (3^rd).  Other wildfowl at RSPB Cors Ddyga included 20 Shoveler (30^th) and up to 45 Teal (2^nd).  Our resident geese appear to have had a good breeding season, with 280 Greylag Geese flying into RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th) being a notable count.  On the Alaw estuary, there were 4 Goosander (3^rd).

Divers & Grebes: 

A Red-throated Diver flew past Point Lynas (29^th)

Raptors:

A Hobby was seen south of Llyn Trafwll (29^th), whilst an osprey continues to be seen at the Cefni estuary (30^th & 31^st).  Also, at the Cefni estuary there was a Goshawk that was seen over the marsh on Newborough side of the estuary (31^st) as was a Peregrine.  A Peregrine was also seen north of Talwrn (31^st).  4 Red Kite were over Rhoscoch (30^th) and 1 was at Capel Coch (4^th).  Marsh Harriers were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (31^st) and RSPB Valley lakes (3 on 3^rd).  Barn Owls were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga and in the  Llyn Coron – Aberffraw common area, as was a Short-eared Owl.

Other:

A Common Kingfisher was on the old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (30^th, 4^th)), another over Malltraeth cob pool (31^st) and another over the Alaw estuary (1^st).

 

Species – year to date:

Isabelline Wheatear, Spotted Redshank and Goshawk were all new for the year taking the 2020 Anglesey year list to 208.

 

The forthcoming week 5^th September – 11^th September?

A good week for scarce waders.  Pectoral Sandpiper features strongly with three records, with birds at Rhosneigr (8^th) in 1998, Malltraeth (11^th) in 1960, and Malltraeth (11^th) in 1992.  Other scarce waders include an American Golden Plover on the Malltraeth cob pool (5^th) in 2012, a Temminck’s Stint at Malltraeth (6^th) in 1959, a Lesser Yellowlegs on the Alaw estuary (6^th) in 2016, a Red-necked Phalarope at Llyn Llywenan (8^th) in 1995 and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Cemlyn (11^th) in 2005.

Scarce passerines have included a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Point Lynas (8^th) in 1972, two Barred Warblers – one at South Stack (8^th) in 2008 and an old record on the Skerries (10^th) in 1910, two Bluethroats – one on the Skerrries (10^th) in 1961 and another one close by at Carmel Head (10^th) in 1963 and a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at Cemlyn (10^th) in 2019.  There is a historical record of a Little Bittern at an undocumented location (11^th) in 1882 and a White-winged Black Tern was at Llyn Trafwll (8^th) in 1998.

There have been a number of sightings of Leach’s Petrel off Blackpool today.  If the wind turns to the right direction, we might expect sightings off the north Anglesey coast.

 

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