Saturday 28th August – Friday 3rd September.

Intro:

… Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers delight ….

Waders:

Little Stint had over recent years become somewhat of a scarce sighting on Anglesey.  Perhaps the easterly bias to the winds has helped, but whatever the reason they have showed up in good numbers this year.  Whilst there is a potential that some birds may have been seen at multiple sites - Inland Sea – Beddmanarch Bay – Alaw estuary and the Cefni estuary – Malltraeth Cob pool, there must have been a minimum of 7 birds involved.  Sightings included up to 4 birds on Malltraeth cob pool (4 on 1^st, 3 on 2^nd-3^rd), 3 birds at Beddmanarch Bay from Stanley embankment (2^nd), up to 2 birds at the Alaw estuary (2 on 3^rd, 1 on 1^st), 1 bird on the Inland Sea (31^st) and 1 bird on the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (29^th, 31^st).

 

Little Stint, Malltraeth cob pool, 1^st September 2021.  Photo: J Martin Jones

Alongside Little Stint, the other scarce wader to be looked for in late August / early September is Curlew Sandpiper and again birds have turned up.  A juvenile was at Traeth Dulas (28^th – 29^th, 1^st-3^rd), another at the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (29^th) and 2 flew in briefly to join the Little Stints on Malltraeth cob pool (2^nd).

A Green Sandpiper was on the Alaw estuary (1^st), with Common Sandpipers reported from Cemlyn (29^th) and the Alaw estuary (1^st).  The number of Dunlin continues to build, with up to 434 birds at the Alaw estuary (434 on 3^rd, 246 on 1^st, 91 on 29^th), 72 birds at Malltraeth (1^st) and 49 birds at Traeth Dulas (28^th).  Sightings of Ringed Plover included 42 birds at the Alaw estuary (3^rd), 32 birds at Traeth Dulas (28^th) and 32 birds at Malltraeth (30^th).  A bird with a Lime coloured flag / red ring seen last week at Traeth Dulas on the evening of the 23^rd, had just been ringed at Llanfairfechan around lunchtime the previous day.  A Grey Plover was on the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (29^th), with another at the Alaw estuary (1^st).  2 Golden Plover were on The Range, Holyhead (28^th), with up to 8 birds at the Cefni estuary, Malltraeth (5 on 1^st, 8 on 31^st, 2 on 29^th).  Up to 72 Knot were at the Alaw estuary (72 on 3^rd, 32 on 29^th & 31^st, 19 on 1^st), with 2 birds on the Inland Sea (31^st) and up to 2 birds at Traeth Dulas (2 on 29^th & 1^st, 1 on 31^st, 1 on 30^th, 1 on 28^th).  8 Sanderling were at Traeth Crigyll (1^st), with up to 4 birds at the Alaw estuary (4 on 3^rd, 3 on 1^st, 1 on 29^th) and 1 on Malltraeth cob pool (3^rd).  A Ruff was at Malltraeth cob pool (29^th) and reports of Snipe included 2 birds at Traeth Dulas (29^th) and 1 at the Alaw estuary (29^th).

Sightings of Bar-tailed Godwit included up to 34 birds at the Alaw estuary (34 on 3^rd, 24 on 29^th, 23 on 31^st, 19 on 1^st), up to 4 birds at Malltraeth (4 on 30^th, 2 on 1^st), 2 birds at Cemlyn (28^th) and 2 birds at the Inland Sea as seen from Ynys Leurad (31^st).  The largest count of Black-tailed Godwit was 18 birds at Malltraeth cob pool (18 on 1^st, 17 on 31^st, 15 on 30^th), with 13 birds on the Inland Sea (13 on 3^rd, 4 on 31^st), up to 3 birds at Traeth Dulas (3 on 29^th & 31^st, 2 on 28^th, 1 on 3^rd) and up to 2 birds at the Alaw estuary (2 on 3^rd, 1 on 29^th, 1 on 31^st).

Greenshank are now back on many of the island’s estuaries with up to 24 birds at the Alaw estuary (24 on 3^rd, 23 on 1^st, 19 on 31^st, 18 on 29^th), up to 2 birds at Traeth Dulas (2 on 28^th, 1 on 29^th - 3^rd), 2 birds on the Inland Sea (31^st), 1 bird at Cemlyn (29^th) and 1 bird at Malltraeth (30^th).  Up to 59 Redshank were counted at Malltraeth (59 on 30^th, 53 on 1^st), with up to 25 birds at the Alaw estuary (25 on 31^st) and 20 birds at Cemlyn (1^st).

Sightings of Curlew included 104 birds at the Alaw estuary (104 on 29^th, 99 on 3^rd) and 87 birds at Traeth Dulas (29^th).  A colour ringed bird seen at Penrhos Coastal park had been ringed as a breeding adult near Bryn Eglwys, Denbighshire on the 2^nd May 2019.  A single Whimbrel was on the Alaw estuary (1^st), while 3 flew over Talwrn (2^nd).  383 Oystercatcher were at the Alaw estuary (383 on 29^th, 374 on 3^rd).  An Icelandic ringed Oystercatcher seen at Penrhos Coastal Park had been ringed at a site in South West Iceland on the 19^th May 2017.   For more info on Icelandic Ringed Oystercatchers see wadertales.  There was a belated report of an Avocet seen and photographed at Malltraeth cob pool (27^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

A Great Egret was at Cemlyn (28^th-30^th, 1^st-3^rd) and was at times giving excellent views at Tyn Llan pool.  Counts of Little Egrets included 58 birds at the Inland Sea (31^st), 13 birds at Cemlyn (28^th, 2^nd) and 13 birds at Traeth Dulas (29^th).  2 Bitterns were seen in flight at RSPB Valley wetlands (29^th).

Great Egret, Tyn Llan pool, Cemlyn, 2^nd September 2021.  Photo: J Martin Jones

Passerines and others:

A good week for Redstarts with a female bird seen at The Ridge, south of Talwrn (30^th) and a male Redstart in fields opposite the information centre at South Stack (2^nd).  A Yellow Wagtail flew over Cemlyn (3^rd), which also had 2 White Wagtails (3^rd).  There was a notable increase in the number of Northern Wheatear reported with up to 38 birds at The Range, South Stack (38 on 3^rd, 6 on 30^th, 4 on 28^th, 4 on 1^st), 8 birds south of Llyn Trafwll (2^nd), 6 birds at the Inland Sea (31^st), 5 birds at Cemlyn (3^rd), 4 birds on the Alaw estuary (31^st) and 1 bird at Traeth Crigyll (1^st).

2 Swifts were seen over The Range, Holyhead (3^rd), whilst a white ‘albino’ Barn Swallow was again at Malltraeth (2^nd-3^rd).  A Green Woodpecker was seen just behind Ty Dderw Hotel, Moelfre (30^th).  Hooded Crows were seen at a number of locations with birds at South Stack (28^th, 3^rd), The Range, Holyhead (30^th, 1^st) and Cemlyn (30^th); a hybrid was at Bull Bay (2^nd).  Sightings of Kingfishers included up to 2 birds at Cemlyn (2 on 29^th, 1 on 30^th) and 1 on the Alaw estuary (31^st&1^st).

Gulls and Terns:

The scarcest gull was a juvenile Little Gull seen off Octel, Amlwch (28^th).  Sightings of Mediterranean Gulls included up to 84 adults and 5 juvenile birds on the Inland Sea (89 on 2^nd, 19 on 3^rd) 2 adult and 3 juvenile birds at Penrhos Coastal Park, Beddmanarch Bay (30^th), with 5 adults at the same site the following day (31^st).  A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at Traeth Dulas (31^st), with another juvenile at Cemlyn (1^st).  The Yellow darvic ringed Mediterranean Gull ‘AK.AT’ from Germany was seen again at Beddmanarch Bay, whilst a white darvic ringed Mediternnean Gull ‘39JE’ ringed on the 25^th June 2020 in Belgium was seen in the NE corner of the Inland Sea (2^nd).  A juvenile Common Gull was at Traeth Dulas (29^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was seen west of The Range, Holyhead (31^st) and headed south, while another was seen perched on a pylon at Tregele (1^st) before also flying off south.  A Merlin was on The Range, Holyhead (3^rd), while a Red Kite was seen over Talwrn (1^st & 2^nd).  A Barn Owl was seen south of Llyn Trafwll each evening over the week.

Seabirds:

It wasn’t typical sea-watching conditions yet they were sufficient on-shore winds for a few shearwaters and skuas.  The highlight was a Balearic Shearwater that flew past Point Lynas (30^th).  Sightings of Arctic Skuas included a bird seen to fly past Bull Bay (29^th), 3 past Point Lynas (30^th) and 1 past Llam Carw (31^st).  A Great Skua was seen lingering off Bull Bay / Octel, Amlwch Port (2^nd) with another off Cemlyn (3^rd).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

5 Barnacle Geese were seen at Traeth Dulas (29^th), 3 of which had colour rings.  Enquiries showed that the birds had originated from the feral breeding population in Cumbria, with 2 birds having been ringed at Derwentwater and 1 at Ullswater.  2 further birds were seen on the Inland Sea (31^st).

53 Mute Swans were seen at the Cefni reservoir (30^th) and was a very respectable count for the island.  The number of Wigeon reported is increasing, with 13 birds at the Cefni reservoir (30^th), 6 birds on the Inland Sea from Ynys Leurad (31^st) and up to 3 birds at Traeth Dulas (3 on 30^th, 1 on 29^th).  Likewise, the number of Teal continue to increase with up to 165 birds on the Inland Sea (3^rd), 51 birds on the Alaw estuary (51 on 3^rd, 43 on 31^st, 26 on 29^th), 17 at the Cefni reservoir (30^th) and 3 birds at Traeth Dulas (30^th).  A female Pintail was on the Mitigation pond, Inland Sea (31^st).  The Cefni reservoir (30^th) also had 4 Pochard, 7 Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, 27 Tufted Duck, 186 Coot and 216 Mallard.  Up to 4 Goosander were on the Alaw estuary (4 on 1^st, 3 on 31^st).

Divers & Grebes:

A Red-throated Diver flew east at South Stack (3^rd) and was the 1^st reported for the 2^nd part of the year.  52 Little Grebes on the Cefni reservoir was a notable count (30^th).

 

Special thanks:

A special thanks to Dawn Balmer, Bethany Wilson and Peter Wilson for all their contributions to the bird news this week whilst they have been on holiday on the island.  The very best wishes to Dawn for her new role on the British Birds Rarities Committee.

 

The forthcoming week – 4^th September – 10^th September?

A significant ticking up in the number of rare and scarce birds, with 18 records.  Another Temminck’s Stint would very much be appreciated, with 2 now historical records of a bird at Malltraeth (4^th) in 1945 and another – again - at Malltraeth (6^th) in 1959.  Likewise, there are 2 records of Pectoral Sandpiper with birds at Rhosneigr (8^th) in 1998 and a bird at Cemlyn (9^th) in 2020.  Other notable waders included a Baird’s Sandpiper at Traeth Dulas (4^th) in 2009, an American Golden Plover at Malltraeth cob pool (5^th) in 2012, a Lesser Yellowlegs at the Alaw estuary (6^th) in 2016 and a Red-necked Phalarope at Llyn Llywenan (8^th) in 1995.  A Purple Heron was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (6^th) in 2020.

There have been 2 recent records of Rose-coloured Starlings with 1 at Bull Bay (6^th) in 2020 and 1 at Cemlyn (10^th) in 2019.  There have been 2 records of Barred Warbler with 1 at South Stack (8^th) in 2008 and a historical record of 1 on the Skerries (10^th) in 1910.  There have been 2 Bluethroats as well, with 1 on the Skerries (10^th) in 1961 and 1 at Carmel Head (10^th) in 1963.  A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Point Lynas (8^th) in 1972 and a Wryneck was at Cemlyn (10^th) in 2016.

And to round things off, it is not too late for a scarce tern with a White-winged Black Tern at Llyn Trafwll (8^th) in 1998 which was in the company of 8 Black Terns.