Saturday 3rd April - Friday 9th April 2021.

 Intro:

Passerines:

Following last week’s request for late records of Redwing and Fieldfare, a late Redwing of the Icelandic sub-species was at Cemaes (8^th).

 

 Photo: Steve Culley, Cemaes – 8^th April.

The headline warbler was a singing Sedge Warbler at RSPB Cors Ddyga (8^th) which was new for the year, with 2 singing Cetti’s Warbler reported from Llyn Maelog (3^rd).  There were good number of hirundines including 100 Sand Martin at RSPB Cors Ddyga (3^rd), 50 Sand Martin at Llyn Cefni (6^th), 4 House Martin at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4^th) and 30+ Swallows at RSPB Cors Ddyga (9^th).  There were 2 Crossbill at South Stack (4^th), up to 20 White Wagtails at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20 on 4^th, 15+ on 9^th), 2 Hooded Crow by the steps to the lighthouse, South Stack (9^th) and 1 Hooded Crow at The Range, South Stack (3^rd-4^th).

Waders:

Up to 4 Little Ringed Plover were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4 on 3^rd, 1 still on the 9^th), 200+ Golden Plover were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4^th) and 2 Grey Plover were at the Inland Sea (3^rd).  There were up to 2 Green Sandpiper on the Alaw estuary (2 on 8^th, 1 on 5^th & 9^th), while a Common Sandpiper was near the west car park, Cemlyn (4^th) and another was at Church Island, Menai Bridge (9^th).  A Spotted Redshank was reported at Penmon pool (3^rd) – another new bird for the year – and there were 2 Whimbrel at Penmon (3^rd).  Greenshank were reported from the Alaw estuary (5^th), Red Wharf Bay (7^th) and at Traeth Dulas (7^th).  A Jack Snipe was at The Range, Holyhead (3^rd).

Seabirds:

Sightings of Puffin from Penmon Point included 7+ birds (3^rd), 9+ birds (7^th) and 3 birds (7^th).  There were also 5 Puffins at South Stack (9^th).  There were 13 Black Guillemot in the inner habour, Holyhead (7^th), 9 were seen from Penmon Point (7^th) and 2 were at Point Lynas (9^th).

182 Manx Shearwater passed South Stack (6^th). Also on the 6^th, 125 Gannets flew past Point Lynas and 59 past South Stack.  Fulmars numbered 25 past Point Lynas (6^th) and 12 past South Stack (6^th).

Gulls and Terns:

The number of Sandwich Terns continues to grow, with 75 birds at Penmon (4^th), c. 70 on a sandbank in the Menai Strait (5^th), c.30 birds on the Inland Sea (3^rd, 7^th), 30 birds at Gallows Point, Beaumaris (7^th) and 30 birds at Cemlyn (9^th).  44 Kittiwake flew past South Stack (6^th) and 50 past Point Lynas (6^th).

Divers & Grebes:

A Great Northern Diver was off Penmon Point (4^th, 9^th), while 2 Red-throated Diver flew past South Stack (6^th).  Up to 3 Slavonian Grebe were on the Inland Sea (3 on 3^rd, 2 on 9^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A Pink-footed Goose was on the fields beyond Penmon pool (3^rd-9^th), while there are still good numbers of Brent Geese about including 38 birds at Traeth Lleiniog (7^th), 90 birds off Penrhos Coastal Park, Holy Island (9^th), 1 was at Penmon Pool (7^th) and 2 flew past Penmon point (7^th).

A ‘stonking’ adult drake Long-tailed Duck was in the bay at Cemlyn (7^th), but spent most of its time in the middle of the bay.  The drake Ring-necked Duck is still at Llyn Maelog (9^th).

Eiderfest continues with at least 182 Common Eider at Penmon Point (7^th, 172+ on 3^rd), with a further 18 birds at Gallows Point, Beaumaris (7^th). Ducks on Llyn Maelog on the 3^rd included 7 Pochard, 9 Gadwall, 40 Tufted Duck and 2 Shoveler.  2 Common Scoter flew past South Stack (6^th).  Despite recent cold weather, a pair of Coot have hatched 7 young on Lon Spencer pond, Valley (9^th) – a much earlier date than last year. 

Herons, Egrets and allies:

2 Great Egret at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4^th), while 2 Bitterns were also heard booming (1 on 4^th, 2 on 9^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was seen over Menai Bridge (9^th) – a new addition to the 2021 list, while sightings of Red Kite included birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (4^th) and between Brynteg and Talwrn (6^th). A Merlin was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (9^th), as were 3 Marsh Harriers (9^th).  A Short-eared Owl was seen hunting fields east of Borthwen, Rhoscolyn (7^th).

The forthcoming week 10^th April – 16^th April?

A little busier in terms of rare and scarce birds, with records including 3 Black-winged Stilt at Cemlyn (10^th) in 1993, a Green-winged Teal at Malltraeth cob pool (10^th) in 2004, a Blue-winged Teal at Malltraeth cob pool (12^th) in 2005, a Spotted Crake at Malltraeth (14^th) in 2006, 2 White Storks at Wylfa (15^th) in 2019 and a Black-crowned Night Heron (16^th) at Pentre Berw in 1998.