Saturday 27th February - Friday 5th March 2021.

Intro:

Aderyn y bwn.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

As we look forward to a potential easing of travel restrictions, it is good to know that there are some wonderful wildlife experiences awaiting.  One of the magical experiences we have been fortunate to have access to over recent years has been the sound of ‘booming’ Eurasian Bittern - Aderyn y bwn - at the likes of RSPB Cors Ddyga and RSPB Valley lakes.  Those working or living close to these areas have confirmed that there are 2 males booming at RSPB Cors Ddyga (27^th-5^th) and 1 at Llyn Cerrig Bach (27^th) with as yet unsubstantiated reports of other calling birds at RSPB Valley lakes.  One of the birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga was seen in flight (27^th).

There are still occasional reports of the Cattle Egret which has been in fields approximately 1mile NE of Valley (28^th, 4^th), while sightings of Great Egret continue to hold up with reports from 4 different sites with birds at Llyn Llywenan (27^th, 1^st), Llangefni marshes (27^th), RSPB Cors Ddyga (28^th, 1^st, 5^th) and Cors Erddreiniog (28^th, 1^st).  There were 15 Little Egrets at Malltraeth cob (5^th) and Water Rails were heard at Llyn Llywenan (27^th) and RSPB Cors Ddyga (4^th).

Waders:

A good week, with the highest reported counts of 3 species.  The Alaw estuary led the way with 112 Bar-tailed Godwits (2^nd), 259 Knot (2^nd) and 10 Greenshank (10 on 28^th, 6 on 2^nd over just the seaward end of the estuary).

Following an absence over recent weeks, Common Ringed Plover reappeared on the Alaw estuary with 17 birds (2^nd), accompanied by 42 Dunlin (2^nd).  A Green Sandpiper was seen again on flooded fields between Valley cemetery and A55 (3^rd, 4^th) and a Common Sandpiper at Church Island, Menai Bridge (27^th, 4^th).  There were 21 Black-tailed Godwit at Cors Ddyga (28^th, 1^st) and 30+ Common Snipe at the Alaw estuary (28^th).  Sightings at Malltraeth cob (5th) included 45 Knot, c.50 Golden Plover, c.275 Redshank, c.400 Oystercatcher and c.120 Curlew.  There were c.50 Lapwing at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st), which are starting to display.  A Curlew was also seen displaying at RSPB Cors Ddyga (28^th).

Passerines:

The Rose-coloured Starling that has wintered at Amlwch Port may finally have moved on as it hasn’t been seen for over a week.  Common Starling numbers in the area have fallen, though there are still some sizable flocks around various agricultural buildings on the island.  There was better news in respect of the Yellow-browed Warbler found at Llyn Llywenan on the 2^nd January, which was seen again briefly on two date (27^th, 28^th).  Sightings of Firecrest included a bird at Llyn Llywenan (27^th) and another at Port Eilian (27^th).  Chiffchaff were seen and heard singing at Traeth Lligwy (28^th), Cors Erddreiiog (28^th) and the Pentre Berw water treatment plant (1^st) with 2 ‘silent’ birds at Llyn Llywenan (27^th).  Cetti’s Warblers were reported from 3 locations, with 5 birds at Llyn Cerrig Bach / RSPB Valley lakes (27^th), 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st, 4^th) and 1 singing at Llyn Llywenan (28^th, 2^nd).

Up to 2 Hooded Crows were seen on rooftops and on lamp posts near the McDonald’s restaurant (2 on 3^rd, 1 on 27^th) and there was up to 2 Dipper on the Afon Cefni, Llangefni (5^th) with a singing bird by Market Square in Llangefni (27^th).  A White Wagtail was reported at RSPB Cors Ddyga (27^th), a Stock Dove was seen near the old school, Capel Coch (28^th) and 8 Stonechat were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st).  A Yellowhammer was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (28^th); only the 2^nd record for the reserve, the last being in 2012.

Further signs of spring included 9 Rook’s nests actively being attended to by the Nat West Bank, Llangefni (27^th), an early House Martin at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd) followed by 2 Swallows also at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Whilst spring migrants start to arrive, there are still a few winter migrants holding on.  These included sighting of Whooper Swan, with 1 bird at RSPB Cors Ddyga (27^th, 5^th), 2 on fields near the old school, Capel Coch (28^th), at least 4 birds at Rhosgoch (5^th) and 21 birds east of the road between Llanerchymedd and Llangefni (5^th).  The Capel Coch site also held 6 Pink-footed Geese (28^th), while the Rhosgoch site also held at least 12 Greenland White-fronted Geese (5^th).  The 3 Barnacle Geese reported across the winter were seen again on the Alaw estuary (27^th).  There Alaw estuary also held 172 Pale-bellied Brent Geese (2^nd).

Both Long-tailed Ducks were seen again, with 1 on the Inland Sea (27^th, then at 4 mile bridge 28^th, 4^th, 5^th) and another at Cors Erddreiniog (28^th, 1^st).  There were 2 female Common Eider at Beddmanarch Bay (28^th), c. 170 Common Scoter at Llandonna (28^th) and sightings of female Goosander at both the Afon Cefni, near RSPB Cors Ddyga (28^th) and on the Alaw estuary (28^th).  There were some good counts of wintering ducks with c. 150 Wigeon at Cefni reservoir (28^th), c.200 Wigeon at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st), c. 200 Wigeon at Malltraeth cob (5^th), 15 Pintail at Malltraeth cob (5^th), c. 120 Tufted Duck at Cefni reservoir (28^th), c.200 Teal at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st), c. 250 Teal at Malltraeth cob (5^th), c.50 Shoveler at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st), 12 Pochard at Cefni reservoir (28^th) and 12 Goldeneye at Cefni reservoir (28^th).

Divers & Grebes:

Great Northern Diver were seen at Traeth Lligwy (28^th) and off Gorad beach, Valley (28^th).  There were 9 Red-throated Diver at Traeth Lligwy (28^th).  Sightings of Slavonian Grebe included up to 3 birds on the Inland Sea (3 on 5^th, 2 on 27^th & 4^th) and 2 birds at Beddmanarch Bay (28^th).  There were 6 Little Grebe at Cefni reservoir (28^th).

Raptors:

There were up to 4 Marsh Harriers at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4 on 1^st, 3 on 4^th, 2 on 27^th), a ring-tailed Hen Harrier at Cors Erddreiniog (28^th, 1^st) and a male Hen Harrier at the Cefni estuary (28^th).  Sightings of Red Kite included 2 birds south of Llangefni (27^th), 2 over Llangefni marshes (5^th), 1 over RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st) and 1 over Brynsiencyn (5^th).  A Merlin was seen at Llangefni marshes (28^th) and there were two sightings of Goshawk with 1 bird at Llandonna (28th) and 1 at Llyn Llywenan (1^st).

Gulls and Terns:

Sightings of Mediterranean Gull included 1 on fields near the old school, Capel Coch (28^th) and 3 on the Inland Sea, Holy Island (5^th).

Seabirds:

Sightings of Black Guillemot included 5 birds at Penrhos beach (28^th), 5 birds off the east end of Red Wharf Bay (28^th), 4 birds in the bay at Cemlyn (3^rd) and 1 bird at Traeth Lligwy (28^th).  There were 10 Cormorants at Cefni reservoir (28^th).

The forthcoming week 6^th March – 12^th March?

Still a quiet time for records of rare and scarce birds, but this week includes one of the top birds for Anglesey over the past 20 years – a white phase Gyrfalcon found initially over Penrhos Coastal Park before settling at South Stack (8^th) in 2002.