Saturday 16th January – Friday 22nd January 2021.

Intro:

3 species of Egret in just the 1 day – few would have thought that possible even a few years ago.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

The 21^st January provided a ‘trio’ of Egret species with a Cattle Egret sharing a field with 29 Little Egret approximately 1 mile north-east of Valley and north of the A5025.  Not too far away, a Great Egret was in a roadside field with 2 Little Egret at the Rhosgoch turning off the B5111 (21^st). 

The Cattle Egret was still present today (22^nd).  Other sightings of Great Egret included birds at Llyn Llygerian (16^th) and Llyn Trafwll (21^st).  There was an unconfirmed report of 2 Common Crane over Menai Bridge (17^th).  The County Recorder continues his efforts to identify and speak to the observer.

50 Red-legged Partridge, including one complete albino individual, were also at the Llanddyfan estate (16^th).

Passerines:

The wintering adult Rose-coloured Starling continued to be seen at Amlwch Port (16^th- 22^nd).  Snow Buntings continue to be seen at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (17^th, 22^nd) and Cemlyn (16^th & 17^th), but numbers have fallen to just 2 birds at both sites.  A Black Redstart was again at Beaumaris (19^th) and the Lesser Whitethroat of presumed eastern origin was still at Carreglefn (17^th).  A male Blackcap was at garden feeders at Benllech (17^th), with others being disclosed as part of a survey on Facebook.  3 Chiffchaff were at the water treatment plant at Octel Amlwch (22^nd), with a further 2 birds at Tregele (22^nd).  23 Chough were south of Llyn Trafwll (21^st) and 4 Stock Dove were at Rhosgoch  (22^nd).

Confirmation was received during the week that Anglesey’s small population of Tree Sparrows continues to hold on, with sightings every other day at a private garden.  The BTO publication ‘The State of the UK’s birds’ highlights that there has been a reduction of 10.7million pairs of House Sparrow in the UK between 1966 and 2017.  It also highlighted that Wales bucked that trend, with the Breeding Bird Survey showing an increase in the number of House Sparrow in Wales.  100 House Sparrow on Llanddyfan estate (17^th) was a healthy count. 

Waders:

Up to 2 Green Sandpiper are being seen once more between Valley cemetery and A55 (2 on 22^nd).  Sightings of Purple Sandpiper included 15 birds at Cemlyn (16^th) and 1 on the rocks at Octel, Amlwch (17^th).  There were 8 Grey Plover at Cemlyn (16^th), a Jack Snipe at Octel, Amlwch (21^st) and 2 Woodcock in a plantation north of Talwrn (16^th).  Sightings of Black-tailed Godwit included 4 birds on the Inland Sea (18^th) and 1 on the gorad flood, Valley (21^st).  Sightings of Bar-tailed Godwit at Beddmanarch Bay included 8 birds (16^th) and 1 (22^nd). 

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

9 Whooper Swans (6 adults and 3 juveniles) were north east of Bodedern (21^st).  3 Barnacle Geese were with Greylags in upper reaches of Alaw estuary (17^th) and 4 Pink-footed Geese were on the north-east bank of Llyn Alaw (22^nd).  The Long-tailed Duck was still on Inland Sea from 4 mile bridge (18^th).  There was an impressive count of 550 Eurasian Teal on a small pool between Talwrn and Cors Goch (16^th).

Divers & Grebes: 

Sightings of Great Northern Diver included 1 off Holyhead fish quay (16^th), 2 on the Inland Sea from the cob (18^th) and 1 in Beddmanarch Bay (17^th, 21^st).  The Red-throated Diver continues to be seen in Holyhead harbour (16^th).  Up to 3 Slavonian Grebe were seen on Inland Sea from the cob (18^th, 22^nd), with up to 3 birds also at Beddmanarch Bay (3 on 21^st).

Raptors:

2 Short-eared Owls were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th), with another south of Llyn Trafwll (21^st).

Gulls and Terns:

After a rather quiet spell for sightings of Mediterranean Gulls, there was a marked increase in reports this week with 10 birds on the Inland Sea from the cob (18^th), up to 3 birds at the gorad flood, Valley (3 on 17^th), 2 on roadside fields at Llanfairynghornwy (16^th), an adult winter in Beddmanarch Bay (18^th, 21^st, 22^nd) and an adult winter bird on fields at Gadfa (17^th – 19^th).

Seabirds:

Sightings of Black Guillemot included up to 3 birds in Holyhead harbour (3 on 21^st), up to 2 birds off Holyhead fish quay (2 on 17^th) and 1 in Beddmanarch Bay (18^th).

Other:

A Common Kingfisher was in Holyhead harbour (17^th).

 

Species – year to date:

The 2021 Cumulative year list has ticked up by 2 to 140 with the addition of Cattle Egret and Tree Sparrow.  The reported sighting of 2 Common Crane will not be added to the Year List unless further information is received and accepted by the County Recorder.

 

2020 Annual Report of Bird Sightings:

A big thank you to those of you who have requested a copy of the 2020 Annual Report and made donations to the Bangor Bird Group’s Just Giving Page.  Donations, both for the report and more generally, now stand at £888 which will aid the Group in continuing to run a full program of lectures via zoom until such time as physical meetings can resume.  Recent virtual meetings have been recorded and can be found at the Bangor Bird Group YouTube channel.

If you want a copy of the report, please email angleseybirdnews@gmail.com so that a PDF copy can be provided by return. 

Donations to the Bangor Bird Group – for the report, in recognition of the programme of lectures or more generally can be made at: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bangorbirdgroup.

 

The forthcoming week 23^rd – 29^th January?

The quiet period for scarce and rare birds continues, with just the one record – a Rough-legged Buzzard (24^th) at Lligwy in 2002.