Saturday 20th March - Friday 26th March 2021.

Intro:

Three new species for the year, courtesy of two new spring arrivals and a missing winter visitor added just in time.

Seabirds:

Perhaps one of the most keenly anticipated pieces of birding news for Anglesey during the early spring is whether the Puffins are back.  There is now a positive response to that question, with the 1^st returning bird being seen below Elin’s Tower, RSPB South Stack (22^nd).

Puffin - Steve Culley - library photo from 2020

One of the other sought-after auks for those visiting the island is Black Guillemot, 11 of which were seen at Holyhead Fish quay / harbours (25^th), with sightings of single birds at Ynys Moelfre (20^th), Penmon (20^th).

A Manx Shearwater was seen off The Range, Holyhead (21^st).

Gulls and Terns:

Vying with the Puffin question, is that of whether the terns are back?  Once again, some good news with the 1^st returning Sandwich Tern being seen at Cemlyn (20^th).  The North Wales Wildlife Trust are currently seeking to raise £30,000 towards the cost of providing wardens.  If you want to know more, or wish to make a donation, then further details can be found at: https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/cemlyn-appeal.

Up to 7 Mediterranean Gull were at the Inland Sea (7 on 22^nd, 6 on 20^th), with 10 Kittiwake at Ynys Moelfre (20^th). 

Divers & Grebes:

4 Red-throated Divers were off Benllech (24^th), with others seen at Ynys Moelfre (20^th) and off The Range, Holyhead (21^st).  Up to 4 Slavonian Grebe were on the Inland Sea, Holy Island, 2 of which have nearly completed their moult into summer plumage (4 on 20^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Last week’s headline bird – a drake Ring-necked Duck – continued its stay at Llyn Maelog (23^rd, 25^th).  A single Whooper Swan is still in fields off the minor road from Bodedern to Llanddeussant (26^th), while at least 10 Greenland White-fronted Geese remain at Rhosgoch (20^th).  Sightings of Pale-bellied Brent Geese included 41 at Red-Wharf Bay (26^th) and 48 at Benllech (24^th).

Both the long staying Long-tailed Ducks were seen again, with the bird at 4-mile bridge being seen throughout the week (20^th-26^th) and the Cors Erddreiniog bird also being present (24^th).  A noteworthy c.200 Common Eider passed through Penmon (21^st), with c.40 birds at 8am, joined by a significant number that passed through in the subsequent hour of so.  Elsewhere, there 8 Common Eider were seen displaying at Ynys Moelfre (20^th) and 4 were at Benllech (24^th).  RSPB Cors Ddyga held a good array of commoner duck species including 8 Pintail, 20 Shoveler, c.80 Wigeon and c.100 Teal.  2 Pochard were on the mitigation pool, Inland Sea (22^nd).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

The Cattle Egret continues its stay 1-mile NE of valley (20^th-25^th).  Up to 3 Great Egret were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3 on 20^th & 21^st), with 1 at Llyn Llywenan (20^th).  2 Eurasian Bittern were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th, 21^st).  2 Water Rail were seen at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (21^st) with birds heard calling at Llyn Cerrig Bach (20^th).

Raptors:

RSPB Cors Ddyga continues to be the raptor hot-spot, with up to 3 Marsh Harrier (20^th, 21^st), a ring-tailed Hen Harrier (20^th, 21^st) and 2 Short-eared Owls (20^th).  Red Kites were seen over Llanddeusant (22^nd), at Cors Erddreiniog (25^th) and over the A55 near Gaerwen (26^th).

Waders:

A Green Sandpiper was still on the flooded field between Valley cemetery and A55 (22^nd), with a Common Sandpiper at Church Island (21^st).  Sightings of Purple Sandpiper included 5 birds at the Octel shore, Amlwch Port (20^th) and 6 at Trearddur Bay (26^th).  There were 2 Black-tailed Godwit at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th, 21^st) and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit on the Inland Sea (20^th).  The latter site also had 21 Turnstone (21^st).  Greenshank continue to be seen at most suitable habitat with 3 birds at Red Wharf Bay (26^th), 1 at Traeth Dulas (25^th) 1 at the Inland Sea (20^th – 22^nd) and 1 at Church Island (21^st).  Sightings of what are all believed to be wintering Whimbrel, included 2 at Cemlyn (25^th) and 1 at Red Wharf Bay (26^th).  A Sanderling was at Cemlyn (21^st).  RSPB Cors Ddyga had 3 displaying Curlew, c.30 Lapwing – including at least 6 breeding pairs and c. 200 Golden Plover (21^st).  There were also c. 250 Golden Plover at Cemlyn (25^th).

Passerines:

Spring migrants included Northern Wheatear at South Stack (22^nd) & Cemlyn (24^th, 26^th) and Sand Martins at various locations including 12 at Llyn Llywenan (20^th), 4 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th) and 6 at South Stack (22^nd).  It was a good week for scarce Buntings.  Sightings of Snow Bunting included 1 at Traeth Lligwy (23^rd), 2 on the shingle ridge at Cemlyn (24^th) and 1 on the shingle ridge at Llanddona beach car park (26^th).  There was a report of a Lapland Bunting on the high tide line at Llanddona beach (21^st), with another bird associating loosely with Meadow Pipits in fields off the west car park at Cemlyn (24^th-25^th).  Brambling is a bird which hadn’t been reported during 2021, so it was good to finally add this to the year list courtesy of a female bird which came to a garden feeding station near Penysarn (21^st-26^th).  Garden feeders also drew in a number of Siskin, including 1 at Talwrn (21^st) and up to 5 birds at Benllech (23^rd-25^th).  There are still a few Fieldfare about including 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (21^st), 1 at South Stack (22^nd) and 39 near Penysarn (24^th).  A Black Redstart was at South Stack (24^th) and up to 3 Hooded Crows have been in roadside fields at The Range, Holy Island (3 on 26^th, 1 on 21^st).

Brambling - near Penysarn - 25th March 2021

 

The forthcoming week 27^th March – 2^nd April?

Still a quiet time for rare and scarce birds with only 2 notable records; a Snowy Owl at Valley (27^th) in 1959 and a White Stork at Gaerwen (30^th) in 1988.