Saturday 7th August – Friday 13th August.

Intro:

Wader numbers increase by the day …

Waders:

It is always a good week when Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers are all reported, with the former being a scarce bird on Anglesey.  Anglesey’s 2^nd Wood Sandpiper for the year was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (13^th) – the same site as the 1^st – but stayed all too briefly.  There were two sightings of Green Sandpiper with birds at the Alaw estuary (10^th) and RSPB Cors Ddyga (12^th).  Common Sandpipers were more plentiful, with up to 8 birds at the Alaw estuary (3 on 13^th, 6 on 12^th, 8 on 10^th, counts of 5 and 4 on 8^th), up to 3 birds at Traeth Dulas (3 on 10^th, 2 on 7th & 8^th) and 2 birds at Cemlyn (10^th).

Grey Plover are stunning birds in summer plumage and birds on return passage were seen at Cemlyn (7^th), the Alaw estuary (12^th, 13^th) and at Traeth Dulas (12^th).  The number of Ringed Plover have shown a marked increase with up to 42 birds at Traeth Dulas (40 on 13^th, 42 on 12^th, 13 on 11^th, 7 on 9^th) and up to 42 birds at the Alaw estuary (42 on 13^th, 22 on 10^th, counts of 20 & 16 on the 8^th).  The numbers of Dunlin continue to be rather modest, with up to 37 birds at the Alaw estuary (5 on 13^th, counts of 37 and 33 on 8^th) and up to 11 Dunlin at Traeth Dulas (10 on 13^th, 11 on 12^th, 9 on 11^th).  Sanderling were seen at Cemlyn (7^th) and at Traeth Dulas (11^th-12^th).  12 Snipe were in the field with the electrified fence at RSPB Cors Ddyga (13^th).

Up to 16 Greenshank were at the Alaw estuary (13 on 13^th, 16 on 12^th, 14 on 11^th and counts of 12 and 10 on 8^th), with up to 3 birds at Traeth Dulas (2 on 13^th, 2 on 11^th, 3 on 10^th).  A Spotted Redshank was reported from the Alaw Estuary (11^th).  There were 18 Redshank on the Alaw estuary (10^th & 12^th) and up to 10 birds at Treath Dulas (10 on 11^th).  There were up to 12 Bar-tailed Godwit at the Alaw estuary (12 on 13^th, 5 on 12^th, 1 on 10^th , 7 on 8^th), with 2 birds at Beddmanarch Bay (7^th).  Up to 10 Black-tailed Godwits were at Traeth Dulas (10 on 13^th, 1 on 12^th) with up to 4 birds at the Alaw estuary (1 on 13^th, 1 on 10^th, 4 on 8^th).  Sightings of Whimbrel included up to 4 birds at Traeth Dulas (1 on 12^th, 4 on 10^th, 1 on 8^th), 3 birds at the Alaw estuary (2 on 13^th, 3 on 12^th, 2 on 8^th), 1 bird at Cemlyn (7^th) and 1 bird at Holyhead harbour (10^th).  The number of Curlew have increased with up to 154 birds at Traeth Dulas (154 on 12^th, 95 on 8^th) and up to 107 birds on the Alaw estuary (107 on 12^th, 94 on 10^th).  The Alaw estuary also held up to 286 Oystercatcher (201 on 13^th, 286 on 10^th).

Gulls and Terns:

The number of Mediterranean Gulls continues to increase with at least 77 birds at the Alaw estuary (77 on 13^th, at least 63 on 12^th – possibly 90 with birds commuting to nearby fields and counts of 42 & 32 on 8^th and 22 & 10 on 10^th).  1 was seen at Beddmanarch Bay (7^th).

There are still Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns at Cemlyn but the number of birds is now much diminished following the post-breeding dispersal.

Seabirds:

Whilst the winds haven’t been that supportive of sea-watching, a few skuas were nevertheless seen with 3 Arctic Skuas past Cemlyn in a 3-hour sea-watch (7^th), an Arctic Skua past Point Lynas (8^th) and a Great Skua past Point Lynas (8^th).

A European Storm Petrel seen off South Stack (7^th) was an excellent record, with most records of this species over recent years coming from night-time ringing sessions.  A single Puffin was seen off Cemlyn (7^th).

Passerines:

1 possibly 2 albino Swallows were reported from Malltraeth (10^th), with 1 bird subsequent being seen and photographed at a site between Newborough and Llangaffo (11^th).  A Spotted Flycatcher was seen feeding 2 young at Malltraeth (12^th).  A Wheatear was at the Alaw estuary (8^th), a Hooded Crow at South Stack (10^th) and up to c. 250 Linnets were at the Alaw estuary (250 on 13^th, 80 on 12^th).

Raptors:

There was a further sighting of a Hobby at RSPB Cors Ddyga (10^th) and an Osprey was seen at the Alaw estuary (13^th).  Red Kites were reported from several places along the A55 with birds seen over the A55 near Rhosneigr (7^th), 2 Red Kite over the A55 near Gwalchmai (10^th) and 1 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (10^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Some evidence of returning Teal, with 15 birds on the pools in field surrounded by electrified fence at RSPB Cors Ddyga (13^th).  c. 12 Common Scoter flew west past Octel (8^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

No records of note.

Divers & Grebes:

No records of note.

 

The forthcoming week 14^th – 20^th August?

Still in the Doldrums in respect of the number of rare and scarce birds, with just the three records of note.  An Icterine Warbler was found and photographed at Newborough Forest (18^th) in 2020, a Rose-coloured Starling was in Rhosneigr (20^th) in 1997 and a Cory’s Shearwater flew past Point Lynas (20^th) in 2005.