Saturday 29th May – 4th June 2021.

Intro:

… the month of June arrived and it all kicked off …

Passerines:

One of the glaring gaps in the Anglesey County Bird list was that there had never been a Subalpine Warbler of any form even though they have been fairly regular at sites as close as Bardsey Island.  Now recognised as three distinct species of Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler and Moltoni’s Warbler, we are now part of the way to filling the gap by the finding of a male Eastern Subalpine Warbler at a small conifer plantation at Mynachdy (1^st).

Eastern Sub-alpine Warbler, Mynachdy, 1st June Photo: Mark Sutton (finder)

Following last week’s prediction of a Common Rosefinch, a 2nd calendar year bird was duly found at Cemlyn (2^nd).  Initially in the walled garden at Bryn Aber (click for a little bit of Bryn Aber’s history), the bird helpfully moved out into Tyn Llan scrub before commuting between the scrub and Tyn Llan farm until mid-afternoon at least.  

Common Rosefinch, Tyn Llan farm, 2nd June Photo: Mark Sutton (finder)

Common Rosefinch, Tyn Llan scrub, 2nd June Photo: Tony White

Whilst the Cemlyn bird wasn’t there the following day, another bird heard calling at a private garden at Holyhead (3^rd) was presumably a second bird. There was a belated report of a Golden Oriole singing for 20 minutes at Llanfairynghornwy (3^rd).

Next week’s prediction was to be a summer plumaged Rose-coloured Starling, given that there had been 3 in previous years (see later) and there having been a good movement of birds across Europe over the past few weeks.  That plan was blown completely out of the water by the arrival of adult birds a little earlier than would have been predicted for Anglesey, with 3 at Holyhead (2^nd), 1 at Valley (2^nd), 1 at Cemaes Bay (3^rd-4^th) and 1 at Beaumaris (3^rd).

Aside from these headline birds, there was a Yellow Wagtail at Cemlyn (30^th), 9 Lesser Redpoll at RSPB South Stack (29^th), 12 Siskin at RSPB South Stack (29^th) and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler at RSPB Plas Bog (29^th).  Notable local counts included 54 House Martin that flew north past RSPB South Stack (29^th) and 12 Swifts over Holyhead (2^nd).  Records of Cuckoo included 1 at Plas Bog (29^th), 2 at Carmel Head (29^th) and 1 probably 2 at Cemlyn (30^th).  Hooded Crows were reported from Hen Borth (30^th) and Newborough beach car park (30^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A drake Mandarin was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (31^st - 2^nd) and is a very scarce bird on the island.  A late Wigeon on the Alaw estuary (29^th) and 20 Common Scoter flew past RSPB South Stack (29^th).

Waders:

Sightings of Sanderling included 1 bird at Beddmanarch Bay (29^th) and 35 birds at the Alaw estuary (30^th).  There were 7 Bar-tailed Godwit on the Alaw estuary (29^th) and 6 Black-tailed Godwit at RSPB Cors Ddyga (31^st).  Greenshank were seen at the Alaw estuary (29^th & 30^th) and at RSPB Cors Ddyga (30^th).  35 Common Ringed Plover were at the Alaw estuary (29^th) and a Whimbrel was at Cymyran (3^rd).

Seabirds:

Sightings of Puffins included 2 birds at South Stack (29^th) and 6 which flew past Cemlyn (30^th).  2 Black Guillemot were seen at Bull Bay (29^th) and 10-12 birds were at Holyhead harbour and Fish Quay (30^th).

Divers & Grebes:

Summer plumage Great Northern Divers were off the Trwyn, Cemlyn (29^th) and at Beddmanarach Bay (29^th).

Raptors:

Sightings of Osprey included birds over Penysarn (30^th), Cemlyn (1^st) and over the Alaw estuary (3^rd). Reports of Red Kite included 1 south of Llyn Trafwll (2^nd), 1 over fields near Llanfachraeth (2^nd), 1 over Tyddyn Isaf caravan park (2^nd & 3^rd) and  2 over Port Eilian (3^rd).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

2 Spoonbills reported south of 4 mile Bridge (30^th).

Gulls and Terns:

Up to 3 Mediterranean Gulls were at Cemlyn (2^nd).

The forthcoming week 5^th June – 11^th June?

Another good week for Common Rosefinch, with birds at Cemlyn (5^th) in 2010 and at Carmel Head (10^th) in 2012.  It has also been a good week, as previously mentioned above, for Rose-coloured Starling with birds at Cemlyn (9^th) in 2001 and near Valley (9^th).  Other rare or scarce passerines include a Savi’s Warbler at RSPB Cors Ddyga (8^th) in 1999, an Alpine Swift at Fedw Fawr (5^th) in 2003, a Golden Oriole at Cemlyn (9^th) in 2007 and a Woodchat Shrike at Porth Dafarch (6^th) in 1928.

Waders include a Red-necked Phalaropes at Penmon Park (5^th) in 1902 and more recently at Cemlyn (8^th) in 2006.  A Collared Pratincole was at Rhosneigr (6^th) in 1983.

Rare and scarce Herons and Egrets include a Squacco Heron at Cemlyn (11^th) in 1988.