Saturday 24th July – Friday 30th July

Intro:

18 species of wader for the week, but just the one that had pulses racing …

Waders:

A number of North Wales birders had to make some rapid changes to plans when news emerged mid-evening on the 27^th of a probable Pacific Golden Plover on the Cefni estuary.  A small group assembled on the estuary with the finders – Morgan and Rhys Jones – to view the bird as it moved along the saltmarsh at the base of the cob.  Despite the fading light, good views were had by all and the identification features noted.  The bird stayed for the next few days (27^th – 29^th at least; weather didn’t help search this morning) allowing a good number to catch up with what will be a 1^st for Anglesey and a 2^nd for Wales following a bird at Oakenholt Marsh, Flintshire from the 2^nd - 4^th August 1990.

Pacific Golden Plover, Cefni estuary, 28th July 2021.  Photo: J Martin Jones

It was a good week for waders with at least 18 species seen.  In addition to the aforementioned Pacific Golden Plover, there were up to 12 Greenshank at the Alaw estuary (12 on 24^th, 8 on 25^th), with 2 birds at Traeth Dulas (28^th).  A Spotted Redshank was reported at Cemlyn (26^th), with 7 Common Redshank at the Alaw estuary (25^th).  4 Bar-tailed Godwit were at the Alaw estuary (24^th - 25^th), with 1 Black-tailed Godwit at the Alaw estuary (24^th) and 2 Black-tailed Godwit on Malltraeth cob pool (28^th).  Up to 3 Whimbrel were at the Alaw estuary (3 on 24^th, 1 on 25^th), with single records at Cemlyn (25^th), Hen Borth (25^th) and Traeth Dulas (26^th).  A Ruff was seen at the Alaw estuary (24^th), while 5 Knot were at the Alaw estuary (24^th) and a further 2 birds at Cemlyn (25^th).  Sightings of Sanderling included 2 birds at Rhoscolyn (27^th) and 1 at Cemlyn (25^th).  39 Turnstones at Cemlyn (25^th) was further evidence of the southward bound return passage of birds being very much underway.  Up to 3 Common Sandpiper were at the Alaw estuary (24^th), with single records at the Inland Sea (24^th), Traeth Dulas (26^th, 30^th) and Rhoscolyn (27^th).  There are still only modest numbers of Dunlin about with 18 seen on the Alaw estuary (24^th), 19 at the Inland Sea (24^th), 4 at Cemlyn (28^th) and 3 at Traeth Dulas (26^th).  The Alaw estuary held 152 Curlew (25^th) and 158 Oystercatcher (25^th).  To round off the 18 species, sightings of Lapwing included a bird at the Cefni estuary (28^th), Common Ringed Plover at Cemlyn (29^th) and a Common Snipe at RSPB Cors Ddyga (28^th).  Any late submissions for Grey Plover, European Golden Plover, Purple Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover or Green Sandpiper?

Gulls and Terns:

The Elegant Tern was still at Cemlyn throughout the week and has held on whilst the number of Sandwich Terns had fallen to a mere 100 or so.  Will it hold on until the 1^st August?  The last report of a Roseate Tern was at Cemlyn (27^th).  There were up to 8 Mediterranean Gulls at Beddmanarch Bay (8 on 27^th, 5 on 24^th) and 4 (including 3 juveniles) at Cemlyn (25^th).  One of the 5 birds seen at Beddmanarch Bay (24^th) had a yellow darvic ring (AKAT).  The bird had been ringed at Pionierinsel Lühe, Steinkirchen, Stade, Niedersachsen Germany on the 29^th May 2021 and had traveled 940 kms before being sighted at Beddmanarch Bay.

Seabirds:

20+ Puffin were seen around Puffin Island (26^th), with 3 birds seen off Cemlyn (25^th).

Passerines:

A juvenile Cuckoo was seen at Beddmanarch Bay (24^th) and a Common Redstart was seen off the minor road between Llanfaelog and Rhosneigr (29^th).  A Hooded Crow was at Hen Borth (25^th).  There was a first report of a Green Woodpecker for the year, with a bird seen just inland of the Newborough beach car park (28^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was seen over the Inland Sea (24^th), with another seen fishing at the Malltraeth Cob pool (28^th).  A Hobby flew over Penysarn (26^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Egret was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (26^th) and up to 10 Little Egret at the Alaw estuary (25^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

3 Teal were on the Inland Sea (24^th) and 78 Common Scoter flew past Cemlyn (25^th).

Divers & Grebes:

No records of note.

 

The forthcoming week 31^st July – 6^th August?

It is still a good time for rare and scarce terns with a Whiskered Tern at Llyn Maelog (3^rd) in 2002, a Caspian Tern at Cemlyn (5^th) in 1988 and a White-winged Black Tern at Ynys Feurig, Rhosneigr (6^th) in 1977.  A Black Stork was at the Alaw estuary (31^st) in 2007, while sea-watching produced 2 records of Cory’s Shearwater – both at South Stack (6^th) in 1981 and 1987.