Saturday 24th April - Friday 30th April 2021.

Intro:

Five new addition to the 2021-year list courtesy of Hoopoe, Common Swift, Black Kite, Spoonbill and Great Skua.

Passerines:

It proved to be a good week for Yellow Wagtails, with the coastal area from Cemlyn to Hen Borth again being the best area. 

The Cemlyn-Hen Borth area has previously recorded Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava, British Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flavissima, Grey-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava thunbergi and Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava feldegg.  In total some 10 sub-species are recognised and further details can be found in a BBRC e-article on subspecies (https://www.bbrc.org.uk/subspecies-information/last-lot). The article highlights that ‘each subspecies is individually variable and there is extensive intergradation involving most, sometimes producing intergrades of relatively consistent appearance, for example ‘Channel Wagtail’ (flava x flavissima) and others’.

It is understood that ‘Channel Wagtail’ is not an intergrade previously claimed on Anglesey, but it turns out that 1 of the 3 birds at Caim last week was considered to be one and 1 was subsequently seen by several observers at Henborth (24^th-25^th).  Both birds showed a powder-blue head, a prominent pale supercilium, palish sub ocular patch and white throat.

Presumed 'Channel Wagtail', Caim 23/04/21 - photo by John Harold

Presumed 'Channel Wagtail', Hen Borth 24/04/21 - photo by Tony White

In addition to the ‘Channel Wagtail’, a Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava was at Cemlyn (26^th), whilst 3 ‘British Yellow Wagtails’ Motacilla flava flavissima were seen at Hen Borth (24^th), 1 at Carmel Head (24^th),1 at Cemlyn (26^th) and 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (29^th). 

Tree Pipits were again reported with 3 at Carmel Head (24^th), 1 between Cemlyn and Carmel Head (26^th), 2 at South Stack (30^th) and 1 at The Range (30^th).

Albeit that there have been sightings earlier this year, an adult male Lapland Bunting (found by Mark Sutton) in near full summer plumage at Hen Borth proved both confiding and very popular (24^th).

Lapland Bunting, Hen Borth 24/04/21 Photo by J Martin Jones

Grasshopper Warblers were seen at a number of sites including 4 at Rhydwyn reedbed (24^th), 2 at Carmel Head (24^th), up to 3 at The Range, Holyhead (3 on 26^th, 2 on 30^th), 1 at Cefni reservoir (26^th) and 1 at Malltraeth cob embankment (30^th).  14 Common Whitethroat were at The Range, Holyhead (26^th), whilst 1 was seen to be nest building at Cefni reservoir (26^th).  A Cetti’s Warbler was at Llyn Llywenan (27^th), while a Lesser Whitethroat was singing by the roadside at Llyn Cerrig Bach (27^th, 30^th).

Reports of Lesser Redpoll included 18 between Cemlyn and Carmel Head (26^th) and 14 at The Range, Holyhead (26^th).  2 Crossbill were seen between Cemlyn and Carmel Head (26^th).  A male Whinchat was at Cemlyn (25^th) and up to 33 Northern Wheatear were seen at The Range, Holyhead (33 on 30^th, 26 on 26^th).

There was a late report of a Common Swift at RSPB Valley Wetlands (23^rd), with subsequent sightings of birds at South Stack (25^th), up to 2 at Cors Ddyga (2 on 30^th, 1 on 28^th) and 3 at RSPB Valley wetlands (30^th).  Common Cuckoos were heard calling at Llanrhyddlan, Plas Bog and Wylfa (29^th).

A Hoopoe was seen briefly in a horse paddock at Llanerchymedd (24^th), but could not be found subsequently.  Hooded Crows were seen at Carmel Head (24^th), The Range, Holyhead (26^th, 30^th), South Stack, Holyhead (27^th, 30^th) and Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (28^th).

Waders:

There was a late report of a possible Collared Pratincole at RSPB Cors Ddyga (17^th), with a subsequent UK sighting of this species at Leasowe, Cheshire (22^nd). 

Whimbrel were reported from many locations across the week with many double figure counts including 48 at Llyn Llywenan (27^th), 41 at Traeth Llydan, Rhoscolyn (27^th), 18 at Henborth (24^th), 14 at Abermenai point (24^th) and 14 at the Braint estuary (25^th).  Likewise, sightings of Common Sandpiper increased with reports including 3 birds at Church Island, Menai Bridge (24^th), 2 at Henborth (24^th), 2 at Traeth Llydan (24^th), 1 at Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (25^th), 1 at Red Wharf Bay (24^th), 1 at Llyn Llywenan (27^th) and 2 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th).

Sightings of Purple Sandpiper included 3 birds at Cemlyn, 2 at South Stack (27^th) and 3 at The Range (30^th).  A single Little Ringed Plover continued to be seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (26^th, 29^th), with 2 Grey Plover at Cemlyn (24^th, 29^th), c. 50-100 Golden Plover at Cemlyn (24^th) and a further 90 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (26^th).  A single Sanderling was at the Alaw estuary (30^th) and 7 Turnstone were at Cemlyn (24^th). 

Sightings of Bar-tailed Godwits out-numbered that of Black-tailed, with 6 birds at the Alaw estuary (30^th), 2 birds at Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (25^th) and up to 2 further birds at Cemlyn (2 on 25^th, 1 on 24^th).  There was just the 1 report of Black-tailed Godwits, of 2 birds at Cemlyn (24^th).

RSPB Cors Ddyga also produced a Ruff (30^th), a Greenshank (27^th, 29^th) and 2 Common Snipe (29^th).  A Jack Snipe was at Cemlyn (25^th).

Raptors:

A Black Kite was seen and photographed at The Range, Holyhead (26^th) with a possible earlier sighting at Aberffraw dunes (25^th); note 6 primaries or 'fingers', predominately squared off tail.  

Black Kite, The Range, Holyhead 26/04/21 - Photo by Ed Betteridge

Up to 2 Ospreys were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 28^th, 1 on 25^th) and 1 was seen at Henborth & Cemlyn (25^th).  Away from RSPB Cors Ddyga, female Marsh Harriers were seen at Abermenai Point (24^th) and Traeth Llydan (25^th).  A Red Kite was seen near Llyn Coron (29^th), with Merlins seen at Porth Llydan, nr. Rhoscolyn (26^th) and The Range, Holyhead (30^th).  A Short-eared Owl was seen at the Trwyn, Cemlyn (25^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

2 Spoonbills were seen in flight over RSPB Cors Ddyga before landing close to Llangaffo (29^th).

Seabirds:

As predicted in last week’s blog, the first skua sightings were made this week.  4 Great Skuas were seen, with 1 past South Stack (27^th), 2 past Cemlyn (27^th) and 1 past Cemlyn (29^th).  There was a possible sighting of a Pomarine Skua past Bull Bay (30^th).

Aside from the skuas, birds past South Stack (27^th) also included 41 Manx Shearwaters, 16 Fulmar, 47 Gannet and 2 Black Guillemot.  There were several reports of Puffin from RSPB South Stack.

Gulls and Terns:

There were up to 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Cemlyn (2 on 27^th, 1 on 29^th).  140 Kittiwake passed South Stack (27^th).

Sandwich Terns are back in good numbers and are now being joined by Common and Arctic Terns.  There were 2 Common Terns in the Menai Strait (25^th) and 9 at Cemlyn (29^th).  A single Arctic Tern was at Cemlyn (29^th).

Divers & Grebes:

Sightings of Great Northern Divers included 2 past South Stack (27^th), 1 past South Stack (30^th) and 2 past The Range (30^th).  Reports of Red-throated Diver included 13 past South Stack (27^th) and 1 past The Range (30^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

There were still a few winter swans and geese about, with a Whooper Swan flying north past The Range (26^th), a Pink-footed Goose at Penmon Pool (27^th) and a Brent Goose at Red-Wharf Bay (28^th).

A drake Garganey was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (29^th) and a drake Wigeon was at Llyn Llywenan (27^th).  In terms of sea-duck there were c. 40 Eider at Penmon Point (27^th), 1 Eider off Cemlyn (25^th) and 72 Common Scoter flew past The Range, Holyhead (27^th).

 

The forthcoming week 1^st May – 7^th May?

A significant increase in the sightings of rare and scarce birds.  Waders included a Broad-billed Sandpiper at the Alaw estuary (1^st) in 2017, a Pectoral Sandpiper at Cemlyn (3^rd) in 2015 and a Lesser Yellowlegs at Cemlyn (7^th) in 1999.  Raptors included a Montague’s Harrier on the approach to South Stack (2^nd) in 2011, a Snowy Owl at Mynachdy (3^rd) in 1972, a Black Kite at Carmel Head (4^th) in 2008 and a Red-footed Falcon at the Alaw estuary (6^th) in 2017.  Egrets and Crakes included a Purple Heron at Dwyran (4^th) in 2011, a Spotted Crake at Malltraeth (6^th) in 2011 and a Corn Crake at Dulas Bay (6^th) in 2013.  Passerines included a Short-toed Lark at Trewan Common (2^nd) in 2012, a Red-rumped Swallow at Porth Wen (4^th) in 2008 and a Golden Oriole at Cemlyn (5^th) in 2014.

Aside from the previous Rare and Scarce on Anglesey, there have been good numbers of both Wood Sandpipers and Black Terns in the UK during this past week; one or both would be most welcome.