Saturday 24th – Friday 30th October 2020.

Intro:

And the 'sibes' still keep coming ….

Passerines:

The headline bird by some way was a Dusky Warbler found at Wylfa woods (25^th) and heard the following day.  There is only 1 previous record for Anglesey on the 31^st October 1996 of a bird at Soldiers Point, Holyhead that was not submitted to the rarity committees.  It is not too late to make a submission and hopefully this will now occur.  

Photo: Dusky Warbler, Wylfa woods, 25th October by Stephen Culley.

Whilst at Wylfa woods, one observer also heard a Yellow-browed Warbler (25^th) – the 6^th or 7^th bird in 2020.  The Yellow-browed Warbler tally was added to further with a bird at Tan Dinas quarry, near Llanddona (30^th).

Video: Yellow-browed Warbler, Tan Dinas Quarry, Llandonna 30th October by Richard Birch.

Other warblers seen this week include Blackcap at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (25^th & 30^th) and up to 2 Chiffchaff at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (2 on 25^th, 1 on 30^th).  Last week’s Snow Bunting was still present at the start of Holyhead breakwater (23^rd – 30^th).  There are still some late Barn Swallow’s about with birds at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (25^th& 30^th) and 3 at Wylfa woods (30^th).  A late Northern Wheatear was at Cemlyn (26^th).  At the ‘patch’ level, a Treecreeper at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (30^th) was only the 2^nd record in 46 years, whilst 1km SE of Parys Mountain (30^th) a rough estimate of 350,000 starling went in to roost in a wetland area that they have used in previous years. The murmuration was said to be pretty spectacular between 1650 and 1715.

Waders:

2 Purple Sandpiper were at Cemlyn (26^th) and 3 Sanderling were at Traeth Lligwy (28^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

3 Barnacle Geese were on fields towards Bodewryd as seen from Llanfechell (26^th).  There was a female Scaup on Inland Sea (25^th & 30^th), 20+ Common Scoter off Benllech (25^th) and 12 Goldeneye on the Inland Sea (30^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

2 Slavonian Grebe were on the Inland Sea (30^th).

Seabirds:

100+ Gannets were seen off Benllech (25^th) and 4 Razorbill were on the Inland Sea (30^th).

Raptors:

A Goshawk was seen near Talwrn (23^rd), a probable late Hobby was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (23^rd) and a Hen Harrier was seen hunting around Mynydd Bodafon (30^th).

Gulls and Terns:

No reports of note.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

No reports of note.

Species – year to date:

The cumulative Anglesey year list for 2020 has increased by 1 with the addition of Dusky Warbler to take the cumulative Anglesey year list to 218 species.

What is there still to get I hear you ask.  It is getting rather late for Dotterel, Pied Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch and Barred Warbler.  Still a chance for Black-necked Grebe, Twite, Pallas’ Warbler, Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull.  And there is still room for some spectacular vagrant to put in an appearance or perhaps we will need to rely on some plastic-fantastic in the form of Mandarin or Egyptian Goose (but not Snow Goose).  So there is still a few to search for – breaching the 220 mark is still possible.

 

The forthcoming week 31^st October – 6^th November?

A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Llyn Alaw (31^st) in 1980, a Marsh Warbler was at Soldiers Point (31^st) in 2002 and a Pallas’s Warbler was at Penmon Point (2^nd) in 1991.  Aside from that, there was the minor matter of a Chimney Swift at Penmon (2^nd) in 2005 – now if there is to be one this year, please let it be after the firebreak lockdown is lifted.