Saturday 1st May - Friday 7th May 2021.

Intro:

Although it has seemed a little quiet this week, there were nonetheless 5 new addition to the 2021-year list courtesy of Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Curlew Sandpiper, Arctic Skua and Pomarine Skua.

Passerines:

There were 2 reports of Garden Warblers, with a bird at the Braint estuary (2^nd) and another at the Cefni reservoir (7^th).  A Spotted Flycatcher was at South Stack (2^nd).

The good run of Yellow Wagtail sightings continued with a Blue-headed Wagtail at Hen Borth and then Cemlyn (1^st) and a ‘British’ Yellow Wagtail at Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (1^st).

The 1^st also proved to be a good day for Whinchat with 1 at Rhoscolyn (1^st), 3 from the approach road to South Stack and one field beyond Twr Reservoir (1^st) and 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st).  A single Tree Pipit was seen between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (1^st), as was the only Cuckoo to be reported during the week.

Grasshopper Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroats were reported from multiple sites.  The number of Swifts continue to increase with the largest single count being 15 over Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (7^th).  Wheatears are still being seen in good numbers with 31 Wheatear between Hen Borth and Carmel Head (1^st) and 6 ‘Greenland’ type at South Stack (6^th).

3 Stock Doves were on a recently harrowed field at Gadfa (3^rd).  Sightings of Hooded Crows included 1 at Cemlyn (1^st), 1 between Hen Borth to Carmel Head (1^st), 1 on The Range (2^nd, 5^th) and 2 at Hen Borth (6^th-7^th).  A late Redwing was at South Stack (2^nd).

Waders:

There are relatively few spring sightings of Curlew Sandpiper on Anglesey, so a bird found south of Four-mile Bridge (1^st) was both a good find and a new addition to the year list.

There were 2 Purple Sandpiper at Cemlyn (2^nd), 1 Grey Plover on the Alaw estuary (6^th), up to 2 Little Ringed Plover at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1 on 1^st, 2 on 5^th) and a Ruff at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st).  May is always a good month for Sanderling and this week proved to be so with 7 on the Alaw estuary (1^st), 1 at Traeth Dulas (1^st) and 5 Traeth Lligwy (4^th).  There were good counts of Dunlin and Common Ringed Plover, with 170 Dunlin on the Alaw estuary (1^st), 43 Dunlin on the Alaw estuary (6^th), 45 Common Ringed Plover on the Alaw estuary (1^st) and 54 Common Ringed Plover on the Alaw estuary (6^th).  There was a mixed flock of c.100 at Traeth Dulas (1^st).

Redshank can be a difficult bird to see on Anglesey during the month of May as many ‘big day / bird race’ teams have found to their cost; 1 was on the Alaw estuary (6^th).  Sightings of Greenshank included 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st) and 2 on the Alaw estuary (1^st, 6^th).  Reports of Bar-tailed Godwits included 15 on the Alaw estuary (1^st), 10 at Cymyran (1^st) and 9 on the Alaw estuary (6^th).  Whimbrel are still being seen in flocks of double digit and included 17 birds at Braint estuary (2^nd), 19 birds at Cymyran (1^st), 26 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (1^st) and 30 birds feeding in a field south of Llyn Trafwll (5^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was seen to fly over Cemlyn (6^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Due to sensitivities over potential breeding of Bitterns and (at a stretch) Great Egret, no further reports of sightings will be shared for the next few months.

Seabirds:

Two more species of Skua to add to the previous reports of Great Skua.  4 Arctic Skuas were seen off Llanddwyn Island (2^nd) and another 2 were seen to pass South Stack (4^th).  Also passing South Stack was a Pomarine Skua (4^th) and a Great Skua (4^th).

A 6hr sea-watch (4^th) also produced 873 Manx Shearwater, 171 Gannet and 83 Fulmar.  A Black Guillemot was off Moelfre (2^nd).

Gulls and Terns:

Tern numbers at Cemlyn continue to grow and included 120 Arctic Terns (2^nd).  222 Kittiwake were seen off South Stack (4^th).

Divers & Grebes:

6 summer plumaged Great Northern Divers past Llanddwyn Island (2^nd), with another past South Stack (6^th).  2 Red-throated Divers flew past South Stack (6^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Brent Geese continue to hang on with 20 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Traeth Lleiniog (4^th) and another off Moelfre (1^st).  The Pink-footed Goose was still at Penmon Pool (4^th), with 3 Eider at Braint Estuary (2^nd) and a late drake Wigeon on the Alaw estuary (6^th).

The forthcoming week 8^th May – 14^th May?

A distinctly summer feel to rare and scarce birds this week with a Woodchat Shrike at Henborth (8^th) in 2016, a Tawny Pipit on The Range(10^th) in 2008, a Red-rumped Swallow at South Stack (11^th) in 2004, Golden Oriole at Penmon (13^th) in 1994, a Bluethroat at South Stack (14^th) in 2004 and a European Bee-eater at Cemlyn (14^th) in 2017.  Waders included a Pectoral Sandpiper at Cemlyn (9^th) in 1999, a Stone Curlew at Fedw Fawr (10^th) in 1971 and a Kentish Plover at Ynys Feurig, Rhosneigr (13^th) in 1994.  Egrets and crakes have included a Cattle Egret at Llanfachraeth (12^th) in 2013, a Spotted Crake at Rhoscolyn (10^th) in 2009 and Corn Crakes at South Stack (13^th) in 2011 and 2012.  Just a single raptor of note, a Black Kite at The Range, Holyhead (10^th) in 2016.