Saturday 20th February - Friday 26th February 2021.

Intro:

Warblers in song.

Passerines:

A little bit of sun and the warblers start to sing.  There was a Blackcap singing at Llanfair PG (22^nd), a Chiffchaff singing near the water treatment plant, Amlwch Port (22^nd), a Chiffchaff singing in Penrhos Coastal Park (26^th), 2 Cetti’s Warblers singing at RSPB Valley wetlands (21^st) and an exceptionally early Willow Warbler singing at Llandeusant (25^th).  The Rose-coloured Starling continued its winter stay at Amlwch Port (21^st, 22^nd, 24^th), while a pair of Lesser Redpoll were seen in Pentraeth forest (20^th).  Holyhead must be able to stake a claim as the most reliable place in Wales to see Hooded Crow, with sightings this week including 1 bird at McDonald’s, Holyhead (21^st), 1 near the Range, South Stack (22^nd) and 2 in fields near the construction site beyond the Road King, Holyhead (26^th).  There was a noteworthy record of 3 Dipper on the Afon Cadnant at Menai Bridge; a site which was once known for winter records but which has been quiet for some years.  Perhaps the particularly cold spell earlier in the month encouraged some movement from the mainland to the island.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

There were 11 Whooper Swans north of road from Valley to Llanynghenedl (21^st) and a Pink-footed Goose at Penmon Pool, Penmon (22^nd).  28 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Benllech (22^nd) and 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese were at Traeth Lligwy (22^nd).  A Long-tailed Duck was at Newlands beach, Valley (22^nd), while 2 Common Eider were at Benllech (22^nd) along with 100+ Common Scoter (22^nd).  Red Wharf Bay held 170 Wigeon and 80 Common Shelduck (21^st).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

The Cattle Egret was still approximately 1mile NE of Valley (21^st, 25^th), while 2 Great Egret were in fields adjacent to the Afon Crigyll (24^th).

21 Grey Heron were counted from Church Island, Menai Bridge (25^th) and included 4 active nest sites on Ynys Welltog with displaying birds and nest maintenance.

Waders:

2 Green Sandpiper continue to be seen on the flooded field between Valley cemetery and A55 (21^st), while a Common Sandpiper was seen again at Church Island, Menai Bridge (22^nd).  Sightings of Purple Sandpiper included 7 birds at Trearddur Bay (26^th), 1 at Octel, Amlwch Port (26^th) and 2 in the more unusual location of Trwyn y Penrhyn, Penmon (22^nd).  The shoreline at the Octel site also held 12 Turnstone (26^th).  4 Greenshank were seen on the Inland Sea (22^nd), with 1 at Church Island (25^th).  A small Marsh 1km north of Talwrn produced a Jack Snipe, c.40 Common Snipe and 2 Woodcock (21^st).

Divers & Grebes: 

Sightings of Great Northern Diver included a bird on the Inland Sea (21^st), 1 flying down the Menai Strait (25^th), 1 in Beddmanarch Bay (26^th) and 1 at Penmon (26^th).  Up to 3 Slavonian Grebe were seen on the Inland Sea (3 on 25^th, 2 on 22^nd, 1 on 21^st).

Raptors:

A female Marsh Harrier was at RSPB Valley lakes (21^st), while a Red Kite was seen south of Llangefni which made its way over the lagoon area by the Sewage works and headed off towards Ceint (26^th).  There have been an increasing number of reports of Tawny Owls calling, including 4 at Talwrn (21^st).

Gulls and Terns:

Mediterranean Gull numbers appear to be on the increase with 11 in the bay at Cemlyn (24^th) and 4 on the Inland Sea (22^nd).  There were 300 Herring Gulls, 22 Great Black-backed Gulls and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls among the evening roost of gulls on Ynys Moelfre (26^th).  The number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls continues to grow, with 5 at Cemlyn (24^th).

Seabirds:

A Razorbill was in Trearddur Bay (26^th) and 3 Black Guillemot were at Penmon (26^th).  Ynys Moelfre held 15 Shag and 20 Cormorant (26^th).

Summer migrants – they are on their way!

It is normally expected that Sand Martin and Northern Wheatear are amongst our earliest arrival of summer migrants.  As noted last week, last year's first Sand Martin was reported at the Gorad flood, Valley on the 17^th March and the first Northern Wheatear was seen at Cemlyn on the 14^th March.  With both species already recorded in Wales, an earlier record must be a possibility.  

The forthcoming week 27^th February – 5^th March?

Still a quiet time for records of rare and scarce birds, the only notable record being last year’s juvenile Rose-coloured Startling (27^th) at Llanfaethlu.