Saturday 14th November – Friday 20th November 2020.

Intro:

Let’s start with the raptors, where eight species were seen during the week.

Raptors:

RSPB Cors Ddyga has been the premier location, with up to 2 Hen Harrier (2 on 16^th), up to 4 Marsh Harrier (4 on 16^th), a Red Kite (19^th) and a Merlin (16^th, 19^th).  There was also a Merlin at the Cefni Saltmarsh (19^th), with the wider Malltraeth cob area also producing a Peregrine (19^th), 2 Sparrowhawk (19^th) and a Kestel (19^th).  Peregrine were also seen at Traeth Dulas (16^th), where 2 young birds were pitting their aerial skills against the waders and gulls on the estuary.  c. 20 separate Buzzard were seen during one outing by two local birders (19^th), whilst a very pale bird near Cemaes (19^th) caused questions as to whether it might have been something scarcer.  If the weather settles, perhaps some better images might be had.

Passerines:

An adult Rose-coloured Starling was seen in a garden at Amlwch Port (14^th, 15^th, 17^th, 19^th); possibly the Bull Bay bird having made its way a little further around the coast.  Firecrest were reported at by the gates of the sewage works at Benllech (14^th) and in the woods on the approach to Church Island, Menai Bridge (15^th).  2 Cetti’s Warbler were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th) as was a Water Pipit (15^th, 16^th, 19^th).  2 Snow Bunting were at the start of Holyhead breakwater (14^th), with another at Red Wharf Bay, Llandonna (15^th). 6 Siskin were at Llyn Parc Mawr, Newborough (19^th), a Dipper was singing from the Afon Cefni at Llangefni (16^th) and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker was in the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (16^th).   A Hooded Crow was at Henborth (16^th, 19^th) and 30 Chough were near Caergeiliog (19^th).  The Starling roost at the south end of RSPB Cors Ddyga involved an estimated 100,000 birds.

Seabirds:

Some late skua action with 2 Great Skua and 2 Arctic Skua  flying past Point Lynas (19^th), with another Arctic Skua seen at Penmon (20^th).  Earlier in the week, a late Manx Shearwater flew past Cemlyn (16th).  Black Guillemot were reported from several locations including 1 off Benllech (14^th), 2 at Holyhead Fish Quay (15^th), 1 in Holyhead Harbour (16^th), 1 in Beddmanarch Bay (19^th) and 3 at Penmon (20^th).  2 Razorbill were on the Inland Sea (19^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

5 Whooper Swans were between Llangefni and Llanerchymedd (16^th), with a further 2 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (19^th).  125 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were on the Alaw estuary (15^th).  Up to 6 Greater Scaup were on the Inland Sea (6 on 19^th), 2 Greater Scaup were on Llyn Penrhyn/ RSPB Valley wetlands (16th) and 4 Eider were off Benllech (14^th).  Sightings of Goldeneye included 4 birds at Llyn Maelog (14^th), 2 birds on the Alaw estuary (15^th) and 2 on the Inland Sea (15^th).  Llyn Maelog also held 2 Goosander (14^th) and 2 Pochard (14^th).  100+ Common Scoter were off Benllech (14^th), 19 Shoveler were on Llyn Penrhyn/ RSPB Valley wetlands (16th) and 133 Wigeon were on the Alaw estuary (15^th).  Counts of Pintail included 62 birds on the Alaw estuary (15^th) and c.200 birds on the Malltraeth Estuary and Cob Pool (19^th).  300 Shelduck were on the Cefni Estuary (19^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

Great Northern Diver were reported from a number of locations which included 1 off Benllech (14^th),1 in Holyhead Harbour (16^th), 1 in Beddmanarch Bay (19^th), 3 past Point Lynas (19^th) and up to 4 on Inland Sea (4 on 19^th).  Sightings of Red-throated Diver included 1 in Holyhead Harbour (16^th), 2 at Penmon (20^th), 9 past Cemlyn (16^th) and 42 past Point Lynas (19^th).  Up to 2 Slavonian Grebe were seen on the Inland Sea (2 on 16^th) and up to were seen in Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 19^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Up to 2 Great Bittern have been seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 16^th), while up to 5 Great Egret continue to be seen east of Llyn Alaw (5 on 15^th).   15 Little Egret were counted at RSPB Cors Ddyga (19^th).  2 Water Rail were heard calling down to 2m away from 2 observers at Malltraeth Cob Pool (19^th).

Waders:

Green Sandpiper has become a scarce wintering species on Anglesey and it was good to hear that 2 had been seen on a flooded field between Valley cemetery and A55 (19^th).  Sightings of Purple Sandpiper included 22 birds at Cemlyn (16^th) and 7 at Trearddur Bay (16^th).  There were 19 Bar-tailed Godwit at the Alaw estuary (15^th) and 7 Black-tailed Godwit at Malltraeth Cob (19^th).  Sightings of Greenshank included 6 birds on the Alaw estuary (15^th), 5 birds on the old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (16^th) and 3 birds at the Inland Sea (19^th).  98 Grey Plover were on the Alaw estuary (15^th), 300 Golden Plover were near Caergeiliog (19^th), 36 Knot were at the Alaw estuary (15^th) and 310 Dunlin were counted on the Alaw estuary (15^th).  Sightings of Lapwing included 1500 birds on fields inland of the Malltraeth Cob Pool (19^th) and 300 near Caergeiliog (19^th).  25 Common Snipe were on the upper foreshore by Malltraeth Cob Pool at high tide (19^th) and a Jack Snipe was at Red Wharf Bay (15^th).

Gulls and Terns:

Scarcity or the spectacle of numbers?  A Little Gull past Cemlyn (19^th) was the scarcest gull, but c. 2000 Kittiwake past Point Lynas (19^th) during a 2 ½ hour sea-watch was impressive.  23 Kittiwake were fishing off Soldiers Point (16^th).  Sightings of Mediterranean Gull included 6 birds on the Alaw estuary (15^th), 1 off Soldiers Point (16^th) and 1 in Beddmanarch Bay (19^th).

 

Species – year to date:

No new species were seen during the week, with the cumulative Anglesey 2020 year list remaining at 218.

 

The forthcoming week 21st November – 27^th November?

Just the one record of a rare or scarce bird on Anglesey; a Desert Wheatear at North Stack (26^th) in 2011.