Saturday 18th September – Friday 24th September 2021

Intro:

Once upon a time many, many years ago - or at least it feels that way - Llyn Alaw was one of Anglesey’s best birding sites.  Car parking was available at a number of access points and there was a trail through a conifer plantation to an elevated hide which gave great views across the north-eastern end of the reservoir.  Water levels were regularly low over summer months which drew in rare and scarce waders.  Through misfortune or other means the site - which is Anglesey’s biggest body of fresh water - has almost become impenetrable to birders and water levels have remained high.  The aforementioned trail is blocked by fallen conifers that defy even herculean efforts to pass.  Whilst the reservoir has undoubtedly maintained its power to pull in birds, very few have ventured there and it is fair to say that the site has become under-watched.  That is, until this week when news was shared on Wednesday that the water levels had been allowed to fall to facilitate engineering work on the dam such that there was now a wide muddy shoreline around the reservoir.  That was a more than sufficient invitation for birders to visit, particularly in the hope of finding a rare or scarce American wader given that there have been good numbers of Pectoral Sandpipers across the UK and a smattering of both Baird’s and Buff-breasted Sandpipers.  It didn’t take long to deliver.

Waders:

First up in the wader fest was a Pectoral Sandpiper found at Llyn Alaw (24^th) on just the 3^rd day following notification of the lower water levels.  Other scarce waders included 2 Little Stint also at Llyn Alaw (23^rd), with 3 Curlew Sandpiper at Malltraeth cob pool (21^st) and 1 on the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (23^rd).  A Green Sandpiper was on the flooded field at Tyn Llan, Cemlyn (20^th) and a Common Sandpiper was at Holyhead Harbour (23^rd).

6 Purple Sandpiper were on rocky islands off Trearddur Bay - opposite the Cliff Hotel - (22^nd) and up to 20+ Turnstone were between Cemlyn and Henborth (20+ on 18^th, 2 on 19^th).  Sightings of Knot included 14 on the Alaw estuary (21^st), 4 off the Penrhos Coastal Park (22^nd) and 1 at Llyn Alaw (22^nd).  8 Sanderling were at the Alaw estuary (21^st), while sightings of Dunlin included up to 70 at Llyn Alaw (70 on 22^nd, 6 on 23^rd), 20 at the Alaw estuary (21^st) and 2 at Traeth Dulas (22^nd).

Reports of Grey Plover included 4 on the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (22^nd) and 2 on the Alaw estuary (21^st).  Up to 9 Golden Plover were seen at Cemlyn (9 on 18^th, 3 on 19^th), with 1 at Llyn Alaw (22^nd).  2 Ringed Plover were on the Alaw estuary (21^st), with 1 at Llyn Alaw (23^rd).

24 Bar-tailed Godwit were on the Alaw estuary (21^st), with 13 at Cemlyn (18^th) and 9 at Malltraeth (22^nd).  Up to 30 Black-tailed Godwit were at Llyn Alaw (30 on 22^nd, 11 on 23^rd), 16 at Malltraeth (22^nd), 6 at Malltraeth cob pool (21^st) and 1 was on the Alaw estuary (21^st).  There was a very good count of up to 16 Ruff at Llyn Alaw (16 on 22^nd, 6 on 23^rd), with 2 at Cemlyn (18^th) and 2 at the Alaw estuary (18^th, 23^rd).  13 Greenshank were on the Alaw estuary (21^st), with 12 at Llyn Penrhyn (21^st) and up to 4 at Traeth Dulas (4 on 23^rd, 2 on 21^st).  There were up to 15 Redshank at Traeth Dulas (15 on 23^rd, 12 on 21^st) and 10 on the Alaw estuary (21^st).

2 Whimbrel were seen at Cemlyn (18^th), with counts of Curlew including 170 birds on the Alaw estuary (21^st) and 43 at Cymyran (21^st).  215 Oystercatcher were on the Alaw estuary (21^st) and 36 were at Cymyran (21^st).  Reports of Common Snipe included 4 at Llyn Llywenan (20^th), 4 at Parys Mountain (20^th), 5 at Plas Bog (21^st), 4 at Cors Bodeilio and 4 at Llyn Alaw (23^rd).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

23 Mute Swans were at the dam at Llyn Alaw (22^nd).  7 Pink-footed Geese flew over Malltraeth cob pool (21^st) – the 1^st of the autumn.  11 Barnacle Geese were at Llyn Alaw (23^rd-24^th), with 2 at Llyn Llywenan (20^th, 24^th).  The presumed Lesser Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid was also at Llyn Llywenan (20^th).  A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was at the Inland Sea (19^th), then the same or another off Penrhos Coastal Park (22^nd).  Up to 23 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were off Penrhos Coastal Park (23 on 24^th, 10 on 22^nd), with 4 at the Inland Sea (19^th) and 2 at Cemlyn (23^rd).  Llyn Alaw also held 436 Greylag Geese (23^rd) and 83 Canada Geese (23^rd).

A single Garganey was at Llyn Alaw (23^rd), while there were up to 421 Teal at Llyn Alaw (421 on 23^rd, 230 on 22^nd) and 165 Teal on the Alaw estuary (21^st).  Counts of Wigeon included 122 at Llyn Alaw (23^rd), 95 at Cymyran (21^st), 6 at Traeth Dulas (21^st) and 2 on the Alaw estuary (21^st).  Up to 50 Pintail were at Llyn Alaw (50 on 22^nd, 5 on 23^rd), with 14 on the Inland Sea (19^th) and 7 at the Alaw estuary (23^rd).  Llyn Alaw also held up to 45 Shoveler (45 on 22^nd, 11 on 23^rd), up to 30 Gadwall (30 on 22^nd, 12 on 23^rd), up to 20 Pochard (20 on 22^nd, 7 on 23^rd), 73 Mallard (23^rd), 607 Tufted Duck (23^rd) and 213 Coot (23^rd).  4 Goosander were at Llyn Alaw (22^nd) and 27 Red-breasted Merganser were at the Inland Sea (19^th).

Passerines and others:

A European Turtle Dove was found in Cemaes Bay on the evening of the 17^th and was seen on most days subsequently (18^th-19^th, 21^st, 23^rd-24^th).  This is still a scarce sighting on Anglesey, but the last 3 years have been particularly good with at least 3 sightings in each year.  It is interesting to speculate whether the September sighting is the same or a different bird to that photographed in a garden at Cemaes Bay on the 6^th March 2021.  Have we had a resident bird and if so where has it been hiding?

Northern Wheatears continue to be seen with 8 at The Range, South Stack (19^th), up to 6 at South Stack (6 on 18^th, 4 on 21^st), 1 at Gadfa (22^nd) and 1 at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (23^rd).

There were a number of late Common Whitethroats with 1 at Capel Gwyn (18^th), 2 at South Stack (18^th, 20^th) and 1 at The Range, Holyhead (19^th).  Up to 2 Blackcaps were at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (2 on 23^rd, 1 on 22^nd), with 2 at South Stack (20^th).  Reports of Chiffchaffs included 1 at Capel Gwyn (18^th), up to 3 at South Stack (3 on 18^th, 2 on 19^th), 1 at The Range, Holyhead (19^th) and 1 at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (22^nd).  Away from their main sites, there was a Cetti’s Warbler at Cemlyn (23^rd) – a 1^st for this site, with another at Llyn Alaw (23^rd).

Some autumnal migration with 6 Redwing over Llanfechell (21^st) – the 1^st for the autumn, up to 9 Siskin at South Stack (9 on 20^th, 4 on 23^rd), 100+ Meadow Pipits past South Stack (18^th), a Goldcrest at South Stack (19^th) and several Grey Wagtail around the Holyhead area with 8 over South Stack (18^th), up to 3 at Soldiers Point, Holyhead (3 on 18^th, 1 on 22^nd) and 1 at South Stack (23^rd).

On the Corvid front, a Jay was seen to fly over South Stack (21^st) – the 1^st for the autumn.  Up to 4 Hooded Crows were at The Range (4 on 24^th, 3 on 22^nd, 2 on 19^th & 21^st), with 1 at Hen Borth (18^th). 

A Kingfisher was at Llanfachraeth end of Alaw estuary (21^st - 23^rd) and a Dipper was under the bridge by the Town Hall, Llangefni (18^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Up to 11 Great Egrets were at Llyn Alaw (11 on 24^th, 7 on 22^nd, 6 on 23^rd), with 1 on the Inland Sea (19^th).  There were 23 Little Egrets on mitigation pool, Inland Sea (21^st), with 6 at Traeth Dulas (18^th).

Gulls and Terns:

7 Mediterranean Gulls were at the Alaw estuary (21^st), with 4 over fields close to Llyn Penrhyn (21^st).  3 Sandwich Terns flew past Point Lynas (20^th).

Raptors:

Either a Long-eared or Short-eared Owl was seen by moonlight at South Stack (19^th).  A Little Owl was seen at South Stack (18^th, 21^st), while a Red Kite was over Talwrn (24^th).

Seabirds:

5 Arctic Skua flew past Cemlyn (23^rd), with 1 past The Range (24^th).   A Great Skua flew past South Stack (23^rd).

Divers & Grebes:

3 Red-throated Divers flew past Cemlyn (23^rd), with 3 also past South Stack (23^rd).

 

Forthcoming week – 25^th September – 1^st October?

It is a good week for rare pipits and wagtails with 2 Tawny Pipits at Hen Borth, Cemlyn (25^th) in 2006, a Richard’s Pipit at Mynachdy (28^th) in 2011, a Richard’s Pipit at South Stack (1^st) in 1987 and an Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Cemlyn (25^th) in 2019.  Other passerines have included a Bluethroat at The Range (27^th) in 1997, an Ortolan Bunting at Malltraeth (29^th) in 1966, a Melodious Warbler at Holyhead (29^th) in 1980, a Barred Warbler at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (29^th) in 2012 and a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Llyn Alaw (28^th) in 1986.

The good spell for Pectoral Sandpipers continues with birds at Llyn Alaw (26^th) in 1994 and at Cemlyn (29^th) in 2018.  A Temminck’s Stint was at Malltraeth (26^th) in 1965, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Cemlyn (30^th) in 2006 and a Stone Curlew was on The Range (1^st) in 2013.

In terms of gulls and terns, there was a Bonaparte’s Gull at Traeth Dulas (27^th) in 2009 and a Forster’s Tern near Penmon (30^th) in 1984. 

A Glossy Ibis was at Cemlyn (26^th) in 2009, a Common Crane at Llantrisant / Carmel (28^th) in 1997, a Taiga Bean Goose at RSPB Cors Ddyga (27^th) in 2020 and a Black Kite at Talwrn (25^th) in 2019.