Saturday 18th December - Friday 24th December 2021

Intro:

… 100 not out; not sure that I thought this through ….

Firstly, I hope you and yours have a peaceful Christmas and New Year.

This is the 100^th consecutive week for the blog and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all those who have contributed news & photographs and provided encouragement along the way.  I believe that the blog has built up into a valuable resource on birding on the island which can be dipped into as necessary.  

The discipline of writing a weekly blog helped enormously in the production of an annual report for 2020 that was well received.  Always a glutton for punishment, I have been working throughout the year on a 2021 report that is finished save for any last-minute additions as we near year end.  Further details on this will be shared next week.  So, without further ado, on to the weekly news.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

Despite their numbers on the Dee estuary, Pink-footed Goose is a scarce bird on Anglesey.  This week brought a number of small flocks to the North Wales coast, with up to 42 birds being found on the fields south of Plas Cemlyn (42 on 20^th, 35+ on 21^st, 5 on 24^th).  The elusive flock of Greenland White-fronted Geese were caught on camera, with 21 birds photographed in flight near at Llyn Coron (18^th) – 3 of which had neck collars.  Sightings of Whooper Swan included singles over Porth Wen (18^th) and South Stack (18^th), with 4 at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th).  5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Benllech (18^th), with 100+ Shelduck and 600 Common Scoter at Red Wharf Bay (18^th).  6 Eider were in Red Wharf Bay (18^th), while 3 flew west past Soldiers Point, Holyhead (18^th).

Divers & Grebes:

A Black-throated Diver was seen at Red Wharf Bay (18^th), while sightings of Red-throated Diver included 90 at Red Wharf Bay (18^th), 17+ off Traeth yr Ora (21^st) and 1 at Holyhead Harbour (18^th).  A Great Northern Diver was in Beddmanarch Bay (21^st), with another at Holyhead Bay (22^nd).  Up to 3 Slavonian Grebes were at Beddmanarch Bay (3 on 20^th&21^st, 1 on 22^nd).

Passerines and others:

A tristis type Chiffchaff was in willow scrub behind the beach at Traeth Lligwy (18^th), with a vocal Common Chiffchaff in the willows at Llyn Coron (20^th).  A Twite was heard at Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (19^th) and a Hooded Crow was at Henborth (24^th).  c. 300,000 Common Starlings were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (18^th).

Herons, Egrets and allies:

No reports of any Spoonbills this week, but up to 2 Great Egrets were at RSPB Cors Ddyga (18^th) with 1 at Llyn Llywenan (22^nd).  A Water Rail showed well at Trewan Common (20^th).

Waders:

A Jack Snipe was near Ynys Leurad, Inland Sea (19^th) and a Greenshank was seen at Beddmanarch Bay (19^th).

Seabirds:

8 Black Guillemot were in Holyhead harbour (18^th), with 1 at Beddmanarch Bay (21^st).  70 + Common Guillemots were seen at Red Wharf Bay (18^th).

Gulls and Terns:

There was a report of a Tern, that couldn’t be assigned to a species, between the Menai and Britannia bridges (22^nd).

Raptors:

5 Marsh Harriers were seen at RSPB Cors Ddyga (18^th), with sightings of Hen Harriers including ring-tailed birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga (18^th) and at Parc (23^rd).  Red Kites were reported over Pentraeth (18^th) and at RSPB Cors Ddyga (18^th).  There was a report of a Short-eared Owl near Llyn Coron (18^th) and a Barn Owl was at RSPB Cors Ddyga (20^th).

 

Forthcoming week – 25^th December – 31^st December?

5 Cattle Egrets were at Pont Marquis (25^th) in 2016, a Killdeer was at Holyhead (30^th) in 1994 and a Cirl Bunting was at Moelfre (31^st) in 1968.