Intro:
… approaching 24 years
since the last real opportunity …
Herons, Egrets and allies:
Common Cranes are a rare sight on Anglesey
with a number of the records relating to birds just seen to ‘fly over’. The last opportunity to catch up with this
species for many was a bird that was present in the Llantrisant area west of
Llyn Alaw from the 28th September – 11th October 1997 …
approaching 24 years ago. It was,
therefore, very welcome when news emerged during the early evening of the 24th
that 2 birds had been seen earlier in the day on wet fields to the west of RSPB Cors Ddyga. Whilst the area the Cranes had chosen was
difficult to view – albeit that some enterprising souls managed to see them
from farm access roads off the Llangaffo road - the pair were obliging enough
to take a pre-roost flight around the western end of the reserve to the delight
of those watching from the cycle track at the west end of the reserve. The birds were reported to have circled over
the southern edge of reserve the following morning before heading off south.
Keeping with ‘fly overs’, there was a report of a probable Purple Heron seen in flight over Beaumaris which headed west (26th) and a Spoonbill was seen to fly over Holyhead and Beddmanarch Bays in direction of the Inland Sea (23rd). Up to 2 Great Egrets were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 22nd, 1 on 24th, 1 on 25th, 1 on 27th), with another at the east end of Cemlyn (27th). 15 Little Egrets were at Traeth Dulas (21st). A Bittern was seen in flight at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25th) and 2 ‘squealing’ Water Rails were heard at the reserve (25th).
Waders:
Another good week for
waders, with a Wood Sandpiper seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (22nd-23rd)
and a Spotted Redshank at the Braint Estuary (24th & 27th)
being the two highlights. Up to 3 Common
Sandpiper were seen on the Alaw estuary (3 on 22nd, 1 on 27th)
and up to 2 birds were at Traeth Dulas (2 on 21st, 1 on 22nd). There were 74 Dunlin on the Alaw estuary (23rd)
and up to 47 Dunlin at Traeth Dulas (47 on 23rd). There were also good numbers of Ringed Plover
at Traeth Dulas with up to 62 birds (26th & 27th). Up to 32 Knot were on the Alaw estuary (32 on
23rd, 10 then 29 on 27th) with up to 2 birds at Traeth
Dulas (1 on 23rd, 2 from 25th-27th). 3 Sanderling at the Alaw estuary (23rd)
and 1 bird was at Traeth Dulas (22nd). There was a juvenile Ruff at RSPB Cors Ddyga
(24th-25th), 2 Ruff at the Alaw estuary (27th),
while Cemlyn had up to 7 Golden Plover (7 on 27th, 5 on 24th).
Sightings of Bar-tailed
Godwits continue to be concentrated around the Holyhead area with up to 22
birds at the Alaw estuary (22 on 23rd, 16 then 20 on 27th)
and 1 bird at Holyhead breakwater (26th). Black-tailed Godwits were more widely
distributed with up to 10 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (10 on 23rd, 8 on
26th), 3 birds at the Alaw estuary (27th), up to 2 birds
at Traeth Dulas (2 from 21st-22nd, 1 on 25th)
and 1 bird at Penmon pool (22nd).
Up to 15 Greenshank were on the Alaw estuary (15 on 27th, 13
on 22nd), with 7 birds at Llyn Penrhyn (24th), 4 birds at
the Braint estuary (24th & 27th), 1 at Traeth Dulas
(22nd), 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25th) and 2 at Cemlyn (27th). 10 Redshank were on the Alaw estuary (22nd)
and 6 Redshank were at Traeth Dulas (22nd). There were 3 Whimbrel at Traeth Dulas (21st),
with 1 bird on the Alaw estuary (23rd & 27th). 233 Curlew were on the Alaw estuary (23rd),
138 Curlew at Traeth Dulas (23rd) and 217 Oystercatcher at the Alaw
estuary (23rd).
Passerines and others:
A Melodious Warbler was reported
at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (25th), but the bird could not be
relocated. It is always difficult at
this time of year to know whether sightings of flycatchers and warblers are of
local breeding birds or birds on passage, but whatever their origins there were
reasonable numbers of commoner summer migrants.
There was a Spotted Flycatcher at RSPB Cors Ddyga (23rd) and
2 others at South Stack (22nd - 23rd). Sightings of Common Whitethroats included 2
birds at South Stack (2 on 22nd & 24th, 1 on 23rd),
5 birds at The Range, Holyhead (22nd), 1 bird at Parys Mountain (23rd),
1 bird at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (26th) and 2 birds at the Breakwater
Country Park, Holyhead (26th).
There were 2 Garden Warblers at the Plantation, South Stack (24th),
a Blackcap at South Stack (24th) and another Blackcap at Soldiers
Point, Holyhead (24th). Up to
8 Chiffchaff were at South Stack (8 on 22nd, 3 on 23rd, 1
on 24th), with 1 bird at The Range, Holyhead (22nd), up
to 2 birds at the Breakwater Country Park (2 on 24th, 1 on 26th),
1 bird at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (26th) and 2 birds at RSPB Cors
Ddyga (26th). There were 2
Willow Warblers at South Stack (23rd), with a further 2 birds at the
Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (26th). Sightings of Northern Wheatear included a
bird at Traeth Dulas (22nd), 4 birds at The Range, Holyhead (22nd)
and 3 birds at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (24th). A Hooded Crow was at RSPB South Stack (24th). Kingfishers were seen at a number of sites
including 1 on the old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (22nd), 2 on
the Afon Cefni, adjacent to RSPB Cors Ddyga (24th), 1 at Cemlyn (27th)
and 1 at the Inland Sea (27th).
Gulls and Terns:
Sightings of Mediterranean
Gulls included 2 adults and a juvenile at Traeth Dulas (22nd- 23rd),
a German ringed adult at Beddmanarch Bay and a 2nd calendar year bird
at Braint Estuary (24th).
Raptors:
Marsh Harriers were seen at Cemlyn (23rd) and RSPB Cors Ddyga (23rd & 24th). A Red Kite was seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (27th).
Seabirds:
2 Great Skuas were seen
off Cemlyn (27th).
Swans, Geese & Ducks:
8 Wigeon and 3 Pintail
were seen on the Inland Sea (27th) and are further evidence of
returning waterfowl.
Divers & Grebes:
Nothing of particular
note.
The forthcoming week – 28thAugust – 3rd September?
A good week for
Pectoral Sandpiper with birds at Llyn Llaethdy (1st) in 1984, at
Malltraeth (3rd) in 1961 and at Malltraeth (3rd) in
1999. Seabirds have included a Great
Shearwater past Point Lynas and Soldiers Point (30th) in 1982 and a Cory’s
Shearwater past Point Lynas (30th) in 1999. A Barred Warbler was at South Stack (28th)
in 2004, a Melodious Warbler at Cemlyn (30th) in 2005 and a
Melodious Warbler at the Plantation, South Stack (31st) in 2014.