Saturday 21st August – Friday 27th August.

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 28^th September – 11^th October 1997 … approaching 24 years ago.  It was, therefore, very welcome when news emerged during the early evening of the 24^th 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 (26^th) and a Spoonbill was seen to fly over Holyhead and Beddmanarch Bays in direction of the Inland Sea (23^rd).  Up to 2 Great Egrets were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 22^nd, 1 on 24^th, 1 on 25^th, 1 on 27^th), with another at the east end of Cemlyn (27^th).  15 Little Egrets were at Traeth Dulas (21^st).  A Bittern was seen in flight at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th) and 2 ‘squealing’ Water Rails were heard at the reserve (25^th).

Waders:

Another good week for waders, with a Wood Sandpiper seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (22^nd-23^rd) and a Spotted Redshank at the Braint Estuary (24^th & 27^th) being the two highlights.  Up to 3 Common Sandpiper were seen on the Alaw estuary (3 on 22^nd, 1 on 27^th) and up to 2 birds were at Traeth Dulas (2 on 21^st, 1 on 22^nd).  There were 74 Dunlin on the Alaw estuary (23^rd) and up to 47 Dunlin at Traeth Dulas (47 on 23^rd).  There were also good numbers of Ringed Plover at Traeth Dulas with up to 62 birds (26^th & 27^th).  Up to 32 Knot were on the Alaw estuary (32 on 23^rd, 10 then 29 on 27^th) with up to 2 birds at Traeth Dulas (1 on 23^rd, 2 from 25^th-27^th).  3 Sanderling at the Alaw estuary (23^rd) and 1 bird was at Traeth Dulas (22^nd).  There was a juvenile Ruff at RSPB Cors Ddyga (24^th-25^th), 2 Ruff at the Alaw estuary (27^th), while Cemlyn had up to 7 Golden Plover (7 on 27^th, 5 on 24^th).

Sightings of Bar-tailed Godwits continue to be concentrated around the Holyhead area with up to 22 birds at the Alaw estuary (22 on 23^rd, 16 then 20 on 27^th) and 1 bird at Holyhead breakwater (26^th).  Black-tailed Godwits were more widely distributed with up to 10 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (10 on 23^rd, 8 on 26^th), 3 birds at the Alaw estuary (27^th), up to 2 birds at Traeth Dulas (2 from 21^st-22^nd, 1 on 25^th) and 1 bird at Penmon pool (22^nd).  Up to 15 Greenshank were on the Alaw estuary (15 on 27^th, 13 on 22^nd), with 7 birds at Llyn Penrhyn (24^th), 4 birds at the Braint estuary (24^th & 27^th), 1 at Traeth Dulas (22^nd), 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (25^th) and 2 at Cemlyn (27^th).  10 Redshank were on the Alaw estuary (22^nd) and 6 Redshank were at Traeth Dulas (22^nd).  There were 3 Whimbrel at Traeth Dulas (21^st), with 1 bird on the Alaw estuary (23^rd & 27^th).  233 Curlew were on the Alaw estuary (23^rd), 138 Curlew at Traeth Dulas (23^rd) and 217 Oystercatcher at the Alaw estuary (23^rd).

Passerines and others:

A Melodious Warbler was reported at Soldier’s Point, Holyhead (25^th), 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 (23^rd) and 2 others at South Stack (22^nd - 23^rd).  Sightings of Common Whitethroats included 2 birds at South Stack (2 on 22^nd & 24^th, 1 on 23^rd), 5 birds at The Range, Holyhead (22^nd), 1 bird at Parys Mountain (23^rd), 1 bird at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (26^th) and 2 birds at the Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (26^th).  There were 2 Garden Warblers at the Plantation, South Stack (24^th), a Blackcap at South Stack (24^th) and another Blackcap at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (24^th).  Up to 8 Chiffchaff were at South Stack (8 on 22^nd, 3 on 23^rd, 1 on 24^th), with 1 bird at The Range, Holyhead (22^nd), up to 2 birds at the Breakwater Country Park (2 on 24^th, 1 on 26^th), 1 bird at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (26^th) and 2 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (26^th).  There were 2 Willow Warblers at South Stack (23^rd), with a further 2 birds at the Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead (26^th).  Sightings of Northern Wheatear included a bird at Traeth Dulas (22^nd), 4 birds at The Range, Holyhead (22^nd) and 3 birds at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (24^th).  A Hooded Crow was at RSPB South Stack (24^th).  Kingfishers were seen at a number of sites including 1 on the old brickworks pool, Traeth Dulas (22^nd), 2 on the Afon Cefni, adjacent to RSPB Cors Ddyga (24^th), 1 at Cemlyn (27^th) and 1 at the Inland Sea (27^th).

Gulls and Terns:

Sightings of Mediterranean Gulls included 2 adults and a juvenile at Traeth Dulas (22^nd- 23^rd), a German ringed adult at Beddmanarch Bay and a 2^nd calendar year bird at Braint Estuary (24^th).

Raptors:

Marsh Harriers were seen at Cemlyn (23^rd) and RSPB Cors Ddyga (23^rd & 24^th).  A Red Kite was seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (27^th).

Seabirds:

2 Great Skuas were seen off Cemlyn (27^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

8 Wigeon and 3 Pintail were seen on the Inland Sea (27^th) and are further evidence of returning waterfowl.

Divers & Grebes:

Nothing of particular note.

 

The forthcoming week – 28^thAugust – 3^rd September?

A good week for Pectoral Sandpiper with birds at Llyn Llaethdy (1^st) in 1984, at Malltraeth (3^rd) in 1961 and at Malltraeth (3^rd) in 1999.  Seabirds have included a Great Shearwater past Point Lynas and Soldiers Point (30^th) in 1982 and a Cory’s Shearwater past Point Lynas (30^th) in 1999.  A Barred Warbler was at South Stack (28^th) in 2004, a Melodious Warbler at Cemlyn (30^th) in 2005 and a Melodious Warbler at the Plantation, South Stack (31^st) in 2014.