Saturday 19th December– Friday 25th December 2020.

Intro:

Nadolig Llawen, Merry Christmas.  9 Snow Bunting add to the festive feel.

Passerines:

Snow Bunting were seen at 3 different locations, with 3 birds on the shingle ridge, Cemlyn (20^th, 22^nd, 25^th), up to 4 birds at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead on the rough ground at the start of the breakwater (4 on 25^th) and 2 birds at the east end of Red Wharf Bay (20^th).  Likewise, Black Redstart were reported from 3 locations with birds at the former Octel factory site (20^th), Cadnant Court, Beaumaris (25^th) and near the memorial bench on the headland at Moelfre (25^th).  The adult Rose-coloured Starling continues to be seen in a private garden at Amlwch Port (19^th – 25^th), whilst nearby there was a Water Pipit at the Octel water treatment plant, Amlwch (20^th).  A Hooded Crow was near the Roadchef, Holyhead (22^nd) and c. 30 Fieldfare were at a marsh 1km NE of RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th).

Waders:

28 Black-tailed Godwit were on the flooded field off Gorad Road, Valley (24^th), whilst at least 1 Green Sandpiper was still on the flooded field between the Valley Cemetery and the A55.  2 Jack Snipe were at the east end of Red Wharf Bay (20^th), with c. 40 Common Snipe at the east end of Red Wharf Bay (20^th) and c. 40 Common Snipe at a marsh 1km NE of RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th).  A Woodcock flew over a field off Gorad Road, Valley (20^th), with another at Rhosgoch (25^th).  Cemlyn held an assortment of common waders (25^th) with 17 Grey Plover, 11 Dunlin, 7 Turnstone and 4 Common Ringed Plover.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

The Long-tailed Duck was seen again on the Inland Sea, with between 5 and 7 Up to 7 Greater Scaup being viewed from the Anchorage Inn (7 on 19^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

Great Northern Diver were seen at several locations including 2 birds on the Inland Sea (2 on the 20^th & 25^th), 1 in Holyhead Bay (21^st) and 1 in Beddmanarch Bay (21^st).  Up to 3 Slavonian Grebe were seen on the Inland Sea (3 on the 20^th), with 4 Slavonian Grebe at Beddmanarch Bay (4 on 21^st).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Egret flew over the east end of Cors Goch (19^th).  2 Water Rail were on a marsh 1km NE of RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th).

Raptors:

The upper Cefni valley, 1km NE of RSPB Cors Ddyga produced a good haul of raptors (20^th) which included up to 2 male Marsh Harriers, 1 ring-tailed Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin, up to 2 Kestrel and a Common Buzzard.  A Merlin was seen on the Inland Sea (25^th).  

Gulls and Terns:

Sightings of Mediterranean Gull included up to 7 birds on the Inland Sea (7 on 25^th) and 1 on the flooded field off Gorad Road, Valley (19^th).

Seabirds:

The Inland Sea continues to hold a number of Razorbill with 3 birds seen (21^st)

Other:

A Common Kingfisher was on the Inland Sea (21^st).

 

Species – year to date:

The 2020 Cumulative year remains on 220.

 

The forthcoming week 26^th December – 1^st January?

The discovery of a Killdeer at Holyhead (30^th) in 1993 illustrates just how rare birds can turn up just when we might think that the birding year has run its course.

My personal records show that I was contacted on the evening of the 30^th by Alan Davies of birdwatching trips who at that time was one of the owners and operators of Birdline Wales and Birdline NorthWest.  There had been a report of a Killdeer having been seen on the small beach to the North of the Holyhead breakwater.  There wasn’t much in way of details about the sighting at a time which clearly pre-dated the immediacy that now comes with social media and digital photography.  I agreed to join in with a few local birders to search for the bird the following morning, but initial efforts around the breakwater area came to nothing.  After a few hours of searching, on what was a cold December morning, news broke of the bird having been relocated on some sheltered fields alongside the approach road to South Stack.  I arrived to successfully see the bird and watched it for all of a minute or so before it was flushed by a Sparrowhawk.  A search of suitable habitat across Holy Island then followed, but the bird eventually returned to the same area this time in a field just beyond that on which it was initially seen that morning.  The bird became more settled and I enjoyed a second view between 3.30pm to 4pm approx.  Whilst most of the local birders paid a further visit to see the bird on the 1st January for their 1994 year list, I bravely opted instead to pick my wife up from her night shift as a nurse and travel up to see a Kentish Plover at Fleetwood.  Nonetheless, the Kildeer did the decent thing and stayed allowing me to catch up with the bird for my ‘94 year list on the 2nd January – the last day of its brief stay.

 

For those who didn’t see the Killdeer, or for those who want a trip down memory lane, there is a short video of the Killdeer which I have recently found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_qt-dJMpRc

 

Going back a little further in time, there is a record of a Cirl Bunting at Moelfre (31^st) in 1968.  I guess that for those of us who have the Killdeer safely tucked away on our Anglesey life list, a Cirl Bunting might be even more welcome than another Kildeer. Albeit that Killdeer is still a very rare bird in the UK, there is probably more chance of another one than a Cirl Bunting on Anglesey.  Having put that out there, I look forward to being proved wrong.

 

2020 Annual Report of Bird Sightings

It is said that the ‘Devil makes work for Idle Hands’ so some spare hours during lockdown provided the opportunity to consider the idea of producing an annual report from the details of the weekly reports that might then be published at the start of the subsequent year.  It is not looking to replace established reports and I know that it will be used by Anglesey’s County recorder as part of wider submission material.

As you might imagine, pulling a report together has taken a reasonable amount of time and work.  I’m appreciative of all those that have shared details of their sightings and those who have shared their photographs and images to be included within the report.  It would be good if a worthy cause were to get something out of this and I will, therefore, be asking those who receive a copy of the report to consider making a minimum donation of £4 to the Bangor Bird Group’s Just Giving Page to support their programme of talks.  The Just Giving Page can be found at:

https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bangorbirdgroup

The Bangor Bird Group is the UK’s longest running University Bird Group which for 75 years has offered, to both the University and general public alike a wide range of talks, primarily on birds but also covering other wildlife and many topics of conservation interest.  Meetings are held on a weekly basis between October and March.

During the restrictions resulting from the Covid 19 pandemic, talks have been held over Zoom with recordings posted to a Bangor Bird Group YouTube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs5-z7CNbNSbeQdvJMv1ENA

If you are interested in a copy of the annual report, please e-mail angleseybirdnews@gmail.com and a PDF copy of the report will be sent to you on or after the 1^st January 2021.  Perhaps the most-timely annual bird report in the World?

 

Saturday 12th December– Friday 18th December 2020.

Intro:

Frohe Weihnachten! – Merry Christmas!

Waders:

Why the German I hear you ask?  Well, it provides a link into an account of a German ringed Eurasian Curlew seen and photographed by Tony White in fields around the east car park at Cemlyn on the 8^th December.  The colour-ringed bird was 1 of 54 birds feeding in adjacent fields.  Details of the ringing only emerged this week, where the ringing scheme coordinator advised that the bird had been ringed as a hand raised chick on the 04/07/2012 by his father – Manfred Kipp – at the zoo in Nordhorn, Germany.  The bird was subsequently released into the wild at Hestrup, Germany.  There had been no previous sightings of the bird until that at Cemlyn.  An amazing account.

Photo: Colour-ringed Eurasian Curlew, Cemlyn, 8th December by Tony White.

Up to 2 Green Sandpiper continue to be seen on the flooded field between the Valley cemetery and the A55 (2 on 14^th).  9 Purple Sandpiper were seen from the lifeboat slipway at Trearddur Bay (14^th), with 6 Purple Sandpiper at Cemlyn (17^th).  Sightings of Greenshank included 11 birds recorded during the WeBS count that took place at the Inland Sea / Beddmanarch Bay / Alaw estuary and Cymyran (12^th), 4 at Red Wharf Bay (17^th), 2 at the old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (17^th) and 1 at Malltraeth (12^th).  Sightings of Godwits included 11 Black-tailed Godwit at RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th) and 61 Bar-tailed Godwit on the Alaw estuary (12^th).  Grey Plover sightings included 19 birds at the Alaw estuary (12^th), 15 birds between Cymyran and Four mile bridge (12^th), 9 at Cemlyn (12^th) and 1 at Red Wharf Bay (12^th & 17^th).   Sightings of Knot included 94 at the Alaw estuary (12th) and 45+ at Red Wharf Bay (12^th).  Jack Snipe were seen at a marsh north of Talwrn (12^th), at Red Wharf Bay (15^th) and at the former Octel site, Amlwch (17^th).  5 Woodcock were at the aforementioned marsh north of Talwrn (12^th), as well 50 Common Snipe (16^th).  A further 60 Snipe were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th).  The overwintering Whimbrel was again at Red-Wharf Bay (17^th).

The WeBS count data for the past 4 months for the Inland Sea / Beddmanarch Bay / Alaw Estuary / Cymyran area shows some interesting variation in the number of particular species seen.  Lapwing wasn’t recorded during September, numbers rose to 126 in October, more than doubled to 280 in November before a whooping rise to 1434 in December.  Likewise, Dunlin numbers have were fairly steady at 120 in September and 117 in October before more than doubling to 352 in November and more than doubling again to 794 in December. 

Passerines:

The adult Rose-coloured Starling continues to be seen in a private garden at Amlwch Port (12^th – 18^h).  Also holding on are the 3-4 Snow Bunting at Soldiers Point that favour the rough ground at start of breakwater (12^th – 14^th), with a further 3 Snow Bunting on the beach at Llandonna (15^th).  Red Wharf Bay also held 2 Water Pipit (15^th) and a Twite (15^th), the latter being a new bird for the Anglesey 2020 year list.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

4 Whooper Swan were near Rhosgoch (12^th), while the 3 Barnacle Geese continued to be seen at Llyn Llywenan (12^th).  14 Brent Geese were at Red Wharf Bay (12^th).  Up to 7 Greater Scaup remain on Inland Sea (7 on the 12^th).  The Long-tailed Duck was reported again at Four-mile bridge (17^th), with 7 Greater Scaup on the Inland Sea (12^th).  Llyn Maelog held 14 Goldeneye (12^th), 14 Pochard (12^th) and 2 Goosander (12^th).  There were 34 Pintail on the Alaw estuary (12^th), 400 Wigeon between Cymyran and Four mile bridge (12^th) and 146 Tufted Duck on Llyn Cefni (15^th).  52 Red-breasted Merganser were recorded during the WeBS count that took in the Inland Sea / Beddmanarch Bay / Alaw estuary and Cymyran (12^th). 

Divers & Grebes: 

Great Northern Diver continue to be seen at various sites around the coast with 1 at Cemlyn (12^th & 17^th), 1 on the Inland Sea (12^th) and 1 at Red Wharf Bay (15^th). There were 3 Red-throated Diver on Inland Sea (12^th) and 1 at Cemlyn (12^th & 17^th).  3 Slavonian Grebe were at the Inland Sea (14^th).  Little Grebe numbers have been in double figures at Llyn Cefni with 10 (12^th) and 17 (15^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Egret was in fields at the Rhosgoch turnoff (15^th), with another bird at Llyn Llywenan (17^th).

Raptors:

A male and a female Marsh Harrier were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th).  RSPB Cors Ddyga also produced a Merlin (12^th), a Short-eared Owl (12^th) and a Barn Owl (12^th).  Another Barn Owl was seen north of Talwrn (16^th).

Gulls and Terns:

No particular sightings of note.

Seabirds:

No particular sightings of note.

Other:

A Common Kingfisher was at the mouth of the Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (12^th).

 

Species – year to date:

The Twite at Red Wharf Bay (15^th) was a new addition to the Anglesey 2020 year list, taking the cumulative total to 220.

 

The forthcoming week 19^th December – 25^th December?

5 Cattle Egret were near Pont Marquis (25^th) in 2016.

 

Saturday 5th December– Friday 11th December 2020.

Intro:

A belated addition to the year list …

Passerines:

The male and female / immature Black Redstarts were still at the former Octel factory site at Amlwch Port (5^th – 9^th), whilst the adult Rose-coloured Starling was nearby in private gardens (6^th-11^th).  Up to 4 Snow Buntings continued to be seen at Soldiers Point on rough ground at the start of the breakwater (5^th, 7^th).  A late Barn Swallow at Llangoed (6^th) caused some speculation as to whether it was something rarer, but alas it was not.  There was a sighting of a possible Common Rosefinch over Holyhead mountain (6^th), but unfortunately the identification was not confirmed.  News was received during the week of a belated confirmed identification of an Icterine Warbler at Newbough Forest on the 18/08/20.  

Photo: Paul French, Newborough Forest 18/08/20.

10 Siskin were seen at Llangefni (10^th).  3 Dipper were on the Afon Cefni at Llangefni, two of which were singing.  Other birds in song included a Song Thrush at Talwrn (10^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

5 Whooper Swans flew over Cemlyn (7^th), with a single Whooper being seen with 3 Mute Swan at Capel Coch (8^th).  3 Barnacle Geese were seen at Llyn Llywenan (6^th, 10^th).  3 Barnacle Geese were also seen north of Llyn Trafwll (7^th) in a mixed flock of mainly Greylag Geese that also held a single Pink-footed Goose.

The number of Greater Scaup on Inland Sea increased to 8 birds (8 on 7^th).  The Long-tailed Duck was still at Four mile bridge (5^th – 6^th) with another off Benllech (9^th).  There were several reports of Common Eider with 5 birds off Moelfre (5^th), 4 off Benllech (6^th), 1 off Beaumaris (6^th) and 6 birds off Benllech (9^th).  There were 5 Goldeneye at Cemlyn (7^th) and 2 at Llyn Llygerian (7^th).  A female / immature Goosander was at Llyn Llywenan (6^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

There were several reports of Great Northern Diver with up to 2 birds at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 5^th), 2 off Moelfre (2 on 5^th, 7^th), up to 2 on the Inland Sea (2 on 6^th) and 2 off Beaumaris (6^th).  There were 6 Red-throated Diver off Benllech (6^th) and 1 off Moelfre (7^th).

Up to 3 Slavonian Grebe were seen at Beddmanarch Bay (3 on 5^th) and up to 3 Slavonian Grebe were seen on Inland Sea (3 on 6th, 7^th).  Clearly, there is the possibility of movement of birds between the two sites.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Great Egret were seen at a number of sites including 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (5^th), 4 east of Llyn Alaw (7^th) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (11^th).

Waders:

At least 1 Green Sandpiper continues to be seen between Valley cemetery and A55 (1 on 5^th, 6^th, 8^th).  Nearby, 2 Black-tailed Godwit were on the flooded field off Gorad Road, Valley (8^th).  4 Greenshank were on the old brickworks pool at Traeth Dulas (5^th) and there were 3 Jack Snipe on The Range, Holyhead (7^th).  Grey Plover were seen at Cemlyn (7^th) and Red Wharf Bay (7^th), whilst 1500 Golden Plover were seen at Aberffraw (6^th).  20 Knot were seen at Red Wharf Bay (10^th) and 750 Northern Lapwing were at Aberffraw (6^th).  Keep checking Lapwing flocks for the long shot of a Sociable Lapwing!  

Raptors:

RSPB Cors Ddyga held up to 2 Hen Harrier (2 on 5^th), up to 4 Marsh Harriers (4 on 5^th), 2 Peregrine (5^th) and a Merlin (6^th).  A Merlin was also seen on the The Range, Holyhead (7^th), as was a Little Owl (7^th).  A Barn Owl was seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (6^th).

Gulls and Terns:

An adult winter plumage Mediterranean Gull was at Traeth Dulas (5^th), as were 36 Great Black-backed Gull – an impressive count for the site.

Seabirds:

Nothing of particular note.

Other:

A Common Kingfisher on was seen on the old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (5^th).

 

Species – year to date:

The belated addition of Icterine Warbler takes the cumulative Anglesey 2020 year list to 2019.

Can we take it to 220; possible candidates include Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull and what about the possibility of a Ring-necked Duck given the number being recorded across the UK?

 

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

A Rough-legged Buzzard was at Cemaes (12^th) in 2012 and a Pallas’s Warbler was at Soldier’s Point (17^th) in 2006.

 

Saturday 28th November – Friday 4th December 2020.

Intro:

Unprecedented numbers of Black Redstart.

Passerines:

Black Redstart is usually a scarce species on Anglesey with Anglesey birders often having to travel to the Great or Little Orme to catch up with it.  The tables have very much been turned this autumn with the bulk of the records coming from Anglesey.  Regular readers of the blog will have noted sightings of Black Redstart at the tail end of last week with 1 between Trearddur Bay and The Range (26^th – 27^th) and 2 (male and juvenile / female) just south of Porthdafarch (27th); let’s suppose that there was no overlap and that there were 3 birds.  This week there have been sightings of both a male and a juvenile /female at Octel, Amlwch Port (29^th), 1 near Pete’s eats / then coastguard’s station at Holyhead (29^th) and another female / immature at the start of Holyhead breakwater (29^th) – believed to have involved 2 separate birds, another at Point Lynas (1^st) and then a further bird around at Moelfre head (1^st – 3rd).  That’s 9 separate birds in just over a week, with no birding reports from the Carmel Head or Penmon areas which have regularly held birds in the past.  Quite remarkable.

Added to the above, we have been fortunate to still have up to 4 Snow Buntings still at Soldiers Point on rough ground at the start of the breakwater (28^th-30^th) and another at Cemlyn (1^st).  The Rose-coloured Starling continued to be seen in private gardens in Amlwch Port (28^th – 4^th), whilst a Firecrest was at Porth Eilian (1^st).  Warbler interests included a Siberian Tristis race Chiffchaff at the Braint estuary (1^st) and a Cetti’s Warbler at RSPB Cors Ddyga (28^th).  The Starling murmuration at RSPB Cors Ddyga (29^th) involved an estimated 1- 1.5 million birds.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Up to 17 Greenland White-fronted Geese were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (28^th). 28 Brent Geese were at the mouth of the Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (30^th).  The 7 Greater Scaup remain on the Inland Sea (28^th- 3^rd) as does the Long-tailed Duck at Four mile bridge (28^th – 4^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

Sightings of Great Northern Diver included up to 2 birds at Beddmanarch Bay (2 on 28^th) and up to 2 birds at Four mile bridge (2 on 2^nd).  The Red Throated Diver remains in Holyhead Harbour (4^th).  Up to 3 Slavonian Grebe were at Beddmanarch Bay (3 on 3^rd), with up to 2 Slavonian Grebe on Inland Sea (2 on 1^st).

Seabirds:

A Black Guillemot was in Beddmanarch Bay (3rd), with 3 in Holyhead Harbour (3^rd).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

No reports this week, though a Great Egret or more will no doubt be at one of the regular haunts.

Waders:

3 Green Sandpiper were still to be seen between Valley cemetery and the A55 (28^th – 4^th, 3 on 28^th), a Jack Snipe was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (29^th) and a Greenshank was at the mouth of the Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (30^th).  4 Purple Sandpiper were at Trearddur Bay (1^st), as was a German ringed Common Ringed Plover (29^th – 1^st).

Raptors:

A Hen Harrier was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (28^th, 29^th, 1^st), up to 4 Marsh Harriers were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4 on 30th) and a Merlin was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (28^th, 1^st).

Gulls and Terns:

No reports of any scarce or rare gulls this week.

Other:

A Common Kingfisher was at the mouth of the Afon Nodwydd, Red Wharf Bay (30^th)

Species – year to date:

Remains stubbornly stuck at 218.

 

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

There is a historical record of a Little Bustard at Llanabo (9^th) in 1884, whilst more recently there was the Royal Tern at Traeth Dulas (10^th) in 2018.