Saturday 3rd October - Friday 9th October 2020

Intro:

One of the quieter weeks, but still a good array of birds. 

Passerines:

As mentioned in a previous blog, Turtle Dove has been a very scarce migrant to Anglesey with sightings over the past 30 years being less than annual.  Last year was exceptional with 3 sightings, but this year has now gone 1 better with 4 sightings in the year to date.  The 4^th sighting involved a Turtle Dove at Capel Coch (2^nd – 7^th), which was in private gardens and was not generally available due to social distancing measures.

 

Turtle Dove, Capel Coch by Peter Jones

Another species which has amassed an unusual number of sightings is Common Redstart.  There are probably only 1 or 2 records reported each year on Anglesey, but this year a total of 5 have been reported – the latest being a female seen in a back garden at Malltraeth (3^rd). 

Warblers reported during the week included a Yellow-browed Warbler in a small willow patch off the coastal path at Tyllau Duon, 1 mile south of Point Lynas (9^th), a Garden Warbler at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (8^th), whilst Blackcaps were seen at multiple sites including up to 7 at South Stack (7^th), 4 at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (8^th), 1 at Portheilian (4^th) and 1 at Cemlyn (7^th).  There were 2 Chiffchaff at South Stack (7^th) and 1 at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (8^th).  There are still a few Northern Wheatear about with 2 at South Stack (3^rd) and 1 at Traeth Dulas (5^th).  Swallows are hanging on in small numbers with 6 at Plas Cymyran near RAF Valley (3^rd) and 4 at Cemlyn (7^th). 

25 Long-tailed Tits at Malltraeth cob pool (4^th) was a good count.  A Hooded Crow was still at The Range, South Stack (7^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A drake Greater Scaup flew past Point Lynas (4^th), whilst another drake was seen on the Inland Sea (6^th).  Other sea ducks included 2 Common Eider past Bull Bay (3^rd)  and 3 Common Eider at Benllech (3^rd).  120 Common Shelduck were counted on the Cefni estuary (4^th), with 40 Pintail at Malltraeth cob pool and surrounding area (4^th).  A Barnacle Goose was at Cemlyn (4^th - 7^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Bittern was seen at Malltraeth cob pool (3^rd).  2 Great White Egrets were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga.

Waders:

7 Purple Sandpipers were seen at Cemlyn (4^th), with 2 Grey Plover (4^th) and 50 Golden Plover (4^th) at the same site.  50 Golden Plover were also seen on the Cefni estuary (3^rd).  5 Greenshank were on the river at Traeth Dulas (3^rd).  There was a belated report of a Little Stint on Malltraeth cob pool (29^th) – only report of the autumn and only the 2^nd for the year.

Seabirds:

Nothing of note reported. 

Gulls and Terns:

Nothing of note reported.

Divers & Grebes: 

2 Red-throated Diver were seen to fly past Bull Bay (3rd), with another bird seen off Benllech (3^rd).  A Great Northern Diver flew past The Range, South Stack (7^th).

Raptors:

A Barn Owl was seen hunting fields near Talwrn (4^th), whilst a Little Owl was seen at The Range, South Stack (7^th).  A Merlin was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (8^th).

Other:

Common Kingfisher were reported from multiple sites including Holyhead Fish quay (3^rd), Malltraeth cob-pool (4^th), Traeth Dulas (5^th) and 2 at Holyhead Harbour (5^th).

 

Species – year to date:

The cumulative Anglesey year list for 2020 remains at 216.

 

The forthcoming week 10^th October – 16^th October?

A good week for scarce passerines with three records of both Barred Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher.  Barred Warblers have been seen at Soldier’s Point (11^th) in 1986, in Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (13^th) in 2013 and again at the Breakwater Country Park (14^th) in 2005.  Red-breasted Flycatchers have been seen at Soldier’s Point (10^th) in 1999, at the South Stack Plantation (12^th) in 2008 and at South Sta (13th) in 1990.  There have been two records of Siberian Stonechat with birds at South Stack (10^th) in 1987 and at Holyhead (11^th) in 2011.  There have also been two relatively early records for Pallas’s Warbler with birds at Carmel Head (16^th) in 2011 and at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (16^th) in 2016.  A Rose-coloured Starling was at Holyhead (11^th) in 2011 and an Isabelline Shrike was at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (15^th) in 2017.  Aside from the passerines, there was an American Golden Plover at Cemlyn (14^th) in 2008, a Foster’s Tern at Penmon (15^th) in 1988 and a Glossy Ibis at Cefnysgwydd Bach, Valley (15^th) in 2010.