Saturday 20th November - Friday 26th November 2021

 Intro:

 … scarce seabirds keep on coming …

Seabirds:

Whilst Storm Arwen hasn’t yet delivered anything of interest (there is still time in the forthcoming days), the northerly bias to the wind in the early part of the week produced some late skua action with 3 species seen from Point Lynas (21^st) – a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, a Great Skua and a Pomarine Skua.  A single Fulmar flew past Point Lynas (25^th) and 4 Black Guillemots were in Holyhead Harbour (22^nd). There have been 2 reports of Brϋnnich’s Guillemot elsewhere in the UK today, so perhaps it would be worth brushing up on the finer identification features!

Passerines and others:

It was another good week for Black Redstarts with a male at the former Octel site, Amlwch Port (20^th), 2 female / immature birds on the rooftop of Plas Newydd (21^st) and 1 at St Cybi’s, Holyhead (22^nd).  The Snow Bunting was still at the Trwyn, Cemlyn (22^nd), with another at South Stack (22^nd).  Chiffchaffs showing characteristics of the tristis sub-species were seen at The Range, Holyhead (20^th) and at Octel water treatment plant, Amlwch (22^nd) – the latter was heard to call on two occasions.  A collybita Chiffchaff was at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (22^nd).  Up to 2 Water Pipits were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 20^th, 23^rd, 1 on 21^st) and a Brambling was seen to fly over Amlwch Port (24^th).  Up to 4 Barn Swallows at Tregele (4 on 20^th, 1 on 22^nd-23^rd) were a little unseasonal, as was a singing Dipper on the Afon Cefni, near the Council Offices, Llangefni (20^th).  2 Dippers were also on the upper reaches of the Afon Cefni at the road bridge at Bodffordd (22^nd).

Waders:

The most intriguing feature of the wader sightings were just how many Black-tailed Godwits were seen.  The flooded fields at RSPB Cors Ddyga seem to be providing good conditions and held 200+ birds (200+ on 24^th, 170 on 21^st, 107 on 20^th), while up to 80 birds were on the Gorad flood, Valley (80 on 25^th, 46 on 23^rd) with smaller numbers on the flood off Lon Spencer.  Last week’s Common Sandpiper was seen again at Holyhead Harbour (22^nd) and up to 7 Purple Sandpipers were at Trearddur Bay (7 on 23^rd, 3 on 21^st).  There were 2 Greenshank at Llyn Penrhyn (25^th) and 22 Redshank at Traeth Dulas (25^th).  A Jack Snipe was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th) and 2 Woodcock were flushed from the steps down to Elin’s Tower, RSPB South Stack (22^nd).

Divers & Grebes:

Sightings of Great Northern Diver included 1 past Cemlyn (21^st), 1 past Point Lynas (21^st), 1 past Point Lynas (25^th) and 1 in Holyhead Bay (23^rd).  There were good numbers of Red-throated Divers to be had during sea-watching sessions with 35 past Point Lynas (21^st), 32 past Point Lynas (25^th) and 6 birds past Cemlyn (21^st).  Others were seen in Holyhead Harbour (20^th) and Holyhead Bay (20^th).  3 Slavonian Grebes were at Beddmanarch Bay (22^nd-23^rd), with 2 birds at the Inland Sea (21^st, 23^rd).

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

2 Whooper Swans were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th-22^nd), while 2 Barnacle Geese were on the flooded fields north of Lon Spencer, Valley together with a Barnacle x Snow hybrid (23^rd-24^th).  c.30 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at 4 mile bridge (24^th).  3 Eider were in Holyhead Bay (23^rd) and 1 was seen to fly past Point Lynas (25^th).  84 Pintail were on the Inland Sea (21^st) and c.80 Wigeon were on the Lon Spencer flood (26^th).

Gulls and Terns:

2 Little Gulls flew past Point Lynas (25^th), while 2 Mediterranean Gulls were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th).

Raptors:

Up to 6 Marsh Harriers were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (6 on 23^rd, 5 on 21^st, 3 on 20^th), which also had 2 reports of a Hen Harrier (21^st, 23^rd).  Sightings of Merlin included 1 at Traeth Dulas (24^th) and 1 hunting coastal fields near Bodorgan (25^th).  A Red Kite was seen to glide over the High Street, Llangefni (22^nd) – unthinkable even 30 years ago, how the fortune of Red Kites have changed for the better.

Herons, Egrets and allies:

6 Great Egrets were at the east end of Llyn Alaw and the surrounding fields (22^nd), with up to 2 birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 21^st, 1 on 22^nd).  21 Little Egrets were at the Inland Sea, Holyhead (21^st).  Up to 2 Great Bitterns were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (2 on 20^th, 1 on 21^st).

 

Forthcoming week – 27^th November  – 3^rd December?

There was a Richard’s Pipit at the Braint estuary (27^th) in 2000 and a Rose-coloured Starling at Llangristiolus (30^th) in 2005.  There was a Long-billed Dowitcher on the Inland Sea and Alaw estuary (28^th) in 2006 and two records of Green-winged Teal – a bird at RSPB Cors Ddyga (29^th) in 2006 and a bird at Llyn Trafwll (2^nd) in 1990.