Friday 25 September 2020

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 & 15th 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 (19th), news then broke of 2 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga.  The Cemlyn bird was to stay until the 20th, but the RSPB Cors Ddyga birds were more obliging and stayed until the 25th (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 (19th – 22nd, 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 (19th – 25th) and there was a belated report of a Black Redstart at Cemaes (18th).  Migrant birds included a Yellow Wagtail at Holyhead Breakwater Country park (21st), a Common Redstart at the Range, South Stack (23rd), up to 2 Whinchat at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1 on 21st, 2 on 24th) and up to 36 Wheatear at the Range, South Stack (36 on 23rd, 7 on 21st).  Either late local migratory breeders or migrants from elsewhere included a number of Blackcap – including 4 at Breakwater Country Park (19th) and 2 at South Stack (21st), a Spotted Flycatcher at Breakwater Country Park (19th), together with sightings of Common Crossbill over South Stack, Penrhos Business Park and Breakwater County Park (19th).  Late Common Whitethroats were seen at South Stack (21st), Cemlyn (23rd) and the Holyhead Breakwater County Park (24th).  2 Hooded Crow were seen between South Stack and the Range (21st), with another on the stubble field between Cemlyn and Hen Borth (19th).

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 (19th), up to 15 Ruff (c.15 on 25th, 12 on 19th & 20th) and 300 Snipe (19th).  An early Jack Snipe was seen at Hen Borth (20th) and there were up to 50 Lapwing seen at Caergeiliog (22nd).  There was a Ruff and 3 Grey Plover at Cymyran (20th), 7 Sanderling at Porth Forllwyd, 500m east of Traeth Lligwy (23rd) and 5 Green Sandpiper on the Alaw estuary (23rd).

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

Gulls and Terns:

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

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

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

Divers & Grebes: 

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

Raptors:

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


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 26th September – 2nd October?

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

 

 

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