Saturday 23rd October – Friday 29th October 2021

Intro:

… the Slavs are back …

Divers & Grebes:

One of the winter highlights of birding on Anglesey is the Slavonian Grebes that can be found around the Inland Sea and Beddmanarach Bay areas.  This week marked their return, with 2 birds on the Inland Sea (23^rd) – the first sightings of the autumn.  Elsewhere, a Black-throated Diver was reported off Moelfre (23^rd), 2 Red-throated Divers were off Penrhos Coastal Park (23^rd), while sightings of Great Northern Diver included 1 past Hen Borth, Cemlyn (23^rd), 1 past Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (23^rd) and a summer plumaged bird in the bay at Cemlyn (25^th).

Passerines and others:

The first Fieldfare of the autumn was seen over Cemaes (25^th), with 4 seen subsequently at Tregele (26^th).  5 Redwing were at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (28^th) and a Black Redstart was seen again in private gardens at Beaumaris (29^th).  A tristis - type Chiffchaff was seen near the Coffee-cups car park, Penrhos Coastal Park (29^th), while a Blackcap was at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (28^th).  It was a good week for finches with sightings of Brambling including 27 over Hen Felin, Cemlyn (23^rd), 1 on a garden feeder at Benllech (26^th) and 30 in a field of Sunflowers at a site in the SW of the island (26^th).  222 Siskin and 2870 Chaffinch also flew over Hen Felin, Cemlyn (23^rd), as did 168 Skylark (23^rd).  A Hooded Crow was at The Range (26^th), whilst sightings of Jays continues with 11 at South Stack (26^th) and 4 at The Range (26^th).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

2 Whooper Swans were at Llyn Trafwll (24^th) and 220 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Beddmanarch Bay (28^th).  A drake Eider was in the bay at Cemlyn (28^th), 580 Wigeon were at Beddmanarch Bay (28^th) as were 40 Teal (28^th).

Gulls and Terns:

A Little Gull was seen to fly past Cemlyn (25^th), while sightings of Mediterranean Gulls included 4 birds between Dulas & Lligwy (24^th) and 8 past Cemlyn (25^th).  Two late records of tern species, with a Common Tern seen between Dulas & Lligwy (24^th) and an Arctic Tern past Cemlyn (25^th).

Waders:

40 Sanderling were seen between Dulas & Lligwy (24^th), while 11 Purple Sandpipers were seen at Trearddur Bay (24^th).  A Jack Snipe was seen at The Range (26^th), together with 8 Common Snipe (28^th).

Raptors:

3 Red Kites were at Dolmeinir on the Llangefni – Llanerchymedd road (29^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

Nothing of note this week.

Seabirds:

Nothing of note this week.

 

Forthcoming week – 30^th October – 5^th November?

Just the one scarce wader, a Pectoral Sandpiper at Llyn Alaw (31^st) in 1980.  Two more Richard’s Pipits with a bird at Point Lynas (31^st) in 2004 and another at the Cefni estuary (5^th) in 1969.  Three scarce warblers with a Dusky Warbler at Soldier’s Point (31^st) in 1996, a Marsh Warbler at Soldier’s Point (31^st) in 2002 and a Pallas’s Warbler at Penmon Point (2^nd) in 1991.  Following on from last week’s Wood Lark, another was at Carmel Head (1^st) in 2008 and there was a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at Penysarn (5^th) in 2018.  And 2 megas to finish with – the well watched Green Heron at Red Wharf Bay (30^th) in 2005 and finally a highly desirable Chimney Swift at Penmon (2^nd) in 2005 – another would do nicely.