Saturday 17th July – Friday 23rd July.

Intro:

Scorching temperatures led to a rather settled week …

Gulls and Terns:

The Elegant Tern continues to delight visitors to Cemlyn and was seen throughout the week (17^th-23^rd), although it has been spending an increasing amount of time away from the tern colony.  This week has seen a marked reduction in the number of terns at Cemlyn and as noted in last week’s blog, the history of long staying rare terns at Cemlyn suggest that it is likely to depart in the next few days (Bridled Tern, 1988, last day 23^rd July; Sooty Tern, 2005, last day 26^th July).  Colour ringed Sandwich Terns read at Cemlyn are starting to appear at other North Wales sites (e.g. Rhos Point) so there is still a good chance that the Elegant Tern will be picked up elsewhere once it decides to leave Cemlyn.  It is understood that over 1700 birders have been to Cemlyn to see the Elegant Tern.  Some have donated generously to the North Wales Wildlife Trust who manage the site.  If you didn’t have any cash on the day, or just wish to make a general donation, then please see the North Wales Wildlife Trust appeal page which details their efforts to raise £30,000 towards the cost of wardening in 2020 and 2021.  

At least 1 Roseate Tern – a ringed bird – was still being seen in the early part of the week (18^th – 20^th).  Just offshore on The Skerries, 1372 Arctic/Common tern fledglings were counted (17^th).  8 Mediterranean Gulls were at the Inland Sea (23^rd), 1 at the Alaw estuary (23^rd) and 1 was seen over a Rhoscolyn garden provided a useful garden tick for the observer (17^th).

Waders:

A continuing trickle of waders, but still nothing out of the ordinary.  Sightings of Common Sandpiper included 7 birds at Cemlyn (18^th), up to 4 birds at the Alaw estuary (4 on 18^th, 2 on 19^th, 3 on 23^rd) and 1 at Llyn Maelog (19^th).  There were 2 Bar-tailed Godwit at the Alaw estuary (19^th) and up to 2 Black-tailed Godwit at Cemlyn (2 on 18^th, 1 on 17^th). 

Up to 13 Greenshank were at the Alaw estuary (13 between 18^th-19^th, 9 on 23^rd), with single birds at the Braint estuary (19^th) and at Cemlyn (23^rd).  The Alaw estuary (19^th) held 17 Redshank (19^th), up to 4 Whimbrel (4 on 19^th, 3 on 23^rd), up to 158 Curlew (158 on 23^rd, 114 on 19^th), and up to 262 Oystercatcher (262 on 23^rd, 186 on 19^th).  The number of small waders remains low with few reports.  The highest counts came from the Braint estuary (19^th), which had 42 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover and 16 Sanderling.  There were 5 Sanderling at Cemlyn (20^th).

Seabirds:

An Arctic Skua flew past the Trwyn, Cemlyn (21^st).  Up to 37 Puffin were seen off the Trwyn, Cemlyn (37 on 17^th, 26 on 18^th, 5 on 23^rd) with up to 29 adult Puffins seen on the sea at South Stack (29 on 20th, 22 on 23^rd).  Up to 3 Black Guillemots were in the bay at Cemlyn (22^nd), while in excess of 2000 Manx Shearwaters flew past Amlwch Port during a 1 hour sea-watch (21^st).

Passerines:

A juvenile Cuckoo was at Cemlyn (17^th), with another not too far away near the marshy field at Pen Carreg (23^rd).  The 1^st Wheatear of the summer / autumn passage was at South Stack (20^th).  A Hooded Crow continues to be reported around South Stack (17^th, 21^st).

Raptors:

A juvenile Marsh Harrier seen over Tyn Llan fields, Cemlyn (17^th) was away from their normal strongholds, while a Red Kites were seen over Cemlyn (21^st) and Pentre Berw (23^rd).  An Osprey was seen over Beaumaris (22^nd).

There was a report of a female / juvenile Montague’s Harrier at Cemlyn (19^th).  As a bird that occurs less than 5 times per annum in Wales, the record will need to be considered by the Welsh Bird Rarity Panel.  The observer is encouraged to make contact with Steve Culley, Anglesey County recorder at: SteCul10@aol.com so that a report might be compiled.  Photographs on social media appear to show a bird with too broad a wing structure for Montague’s, so a fully account of the sighting would be most helpful.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Egret was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (19^th) and up to 21 Little Egret at the Alaw estuary (21 on 23^rd, 14 on 19^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

A Shoveler was at Cemlyn (18^th) and 20 Common Scoter were seen to fly past Cemlyn (23^rd).

Divers & Grebes:

No records of note.

The forthcoming week 24^th July – 30^th July?

Still a quiet time of year with just a Pectoral Sandpiper at Llyn Alaw (24^th) in 1980, a Rose-coloured Starling at Moelfre (26^th) in 1994, a Rose-coloured Starling at Cemaes Bay (29^th) in 2020 and a Spotted Crake at Malltraeth (30^th) in 2014.